A new, fast-rising doom metal band has been making waves in the metal scene lately, known as Castle Rat. They are a rat-themed medieval doom metal band from New York. Castle Rat just got off a tour opening for Amon Amarth and Dethklok and have booked themselves a one-off headlining show at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Though doom metal isn’t the most accessible genre to the general public, Castle Rat has managed to break through that barrier to appeal to the masses. With the House of Blues sold out, fans packed the venue for their chance to support this band on their biggest headlining show to date.

Stepping into a Castle Rat show feels like you are being transported out of the modern world and back to the days of peasants and kings, as fans get into the fun, dressing in their best Renaissance faire garb, fantasy characters, or any medieval-themed attire. Before the show officially started, the band’s Rat Reaperess mascot could be found in the lobby of the venue, taking pictures with all the fans. This added a level of fan appreciation that many of us were happy to join in with.

Opening the night was an EDM DJ known as Wraith King, draped in a large cloak that gave him an ominous presence. Looking like a Nazgûl from Lord of the Rings, he specialized in dark atmospheric music, with melodies and beats that could fit perfectly into any Dungeons and Dragons game night as adventurers quested across their world.

The next band to take the stage was Deathchant. I was fortunate to have seen them a few years ago at Psycho Las Vegas and was excited to get to truly take in their show this time. Opening their set with “Enemy,” Deathchant delivered a sound that felt like a culmination of a few different genres of music, from hard rock to heavy metal and stoner rock. Vocalist and guitarist T.J. Lemieux sings with a style akin to Lemmy from Motörhead, with deep, screamed vocals that feel like the everyman is on stage performing. Fellow guitarist Doug Stuckey helped layer in the emphatic guitar lines and solos, while bassist George Camacho worked the entire stage, running around and performing at the foot of the stage like he was trying to scream in the fans’ faces. Drummer Joe Herzog maintained the pocket, keeping the tempo moving and pushing the beat for an added layer of movement for the fans when needed. Deathchant kept this tempo moving with songs like “Gallows,” “Holy Roller,” “Black Dirt,” “Chariot,” “Coma,” “Ruin,” “Canyon,” and ending with “Worshipper.”

Before our headliner could take the stage, there was a costume contest that featured the best of three categories: fantasy characters, spell casters, and warriors. A very method-acting goblin was eliminated in the first round, which caused oceans of boos to ring out from the crowd, followed by chants of “Goblin! Goblin! Goblin!” from fans disappointed to see him gone. Regardless, this was another fun way to incorporate the fans into the show, and the three winners got to leave with a trophy goblet. As a service to the fans, the goblin was brought out one more time to sweep the floor so the band could take the stage, and he received enormous cheers.

It was then time for Castle Rat to take the stage. Opening their set with “Dagger Dragger,” every band member was theatrical in their own right, helping to create a show, not just a concert. Each member bears a character in the overall story of Castle Rat: our vocalist and rhythm guitarist bearing the name of the Rat Queen; our lead guitarist donning the moniker of The Count, a vampire; the bassist playing the Plague Doctor; and the drummer, the Druid. They weren’t just a band, but a DnD party of adventurers.

The Rat Queen, Riley Pinkerton, adorned in chainmail bikini armor and big ’80s curly hair, felt like the medieval version of Farrah Fawcett. Seeing Pinkerton in this aesthetic, I now understand why every ’80s high-school boy had that famous poster of Farrah Fawcett hanging in his room. Not only was she just candy to the eyes, but her voice also carries presence and power. You can believe she is the leader of the party, leading her fellow adventurers into another battle.

Castle Rat really does bring the DnD adventurer motif to life with story points that have Pinkerton preaching Dungeon Master-type monologues about where the adventurers are going next, bringing in a 10-foot-tall castle rat mascot to run amok around the stage and having the Rat Reaperess engage in a sword battle with our Rat Queen. Though our Rat Queen appeared victorious and seemed to slay the Rat Reaperess, the Reaperess cannot be stopped by mortal wounds and revived herself to slay our Rat Queen. The Plague Doctor thankfully had a potion that was able to revive our Queen, though who knows what lasting effects it could have, as she spewed and dripped blood for the remainder of the performance.

This was a DnD opera of a show, filled with engaging characters, storylines, and its own musical score featuring songs like “WIZARD,” “WOLF I,” “Fresh Fur,” “UNICORN,” “Path of Moss,” “Feed the Dream,” “DRAGON,” “SERPENT,” an encore performance of “Cry For Me,” and ending with “SIREN.”

The description of Castle Rat being “a rat-themed medieval doom metal band” may turn people away before they even give them a chance. But if you are open to listening or have the opportunity to see them live, they will convert you to the love of doom metal. Castle Rat is quickly building loyal followers by crafting a live show that makes the fans feel like they are part of the adventure, along with music that can still be accessible to all who are willing to open their ears to something a bit different. I felt honored to be in the crowd for their biggest headline show to date, and can’t wait to see where they go from here.