Castle Rat, a medieval fantasy heavy metal band out of New York City, is led by the Rat Queen, Riley Pinkerton, on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. Wrapping up their 2025 tour celebrating their second album, Bestiary, which was named the best metal album by Rolling Stone, NPR, Decibel, and All Music, Castle Rat announced its spring 2026 tour with fellow heavy metal bands Amon Amarth and Dethklok, with two special headlining shows: Grand Rapids, Michigan, at The Pyramid Scheme on April 26 with Sacred Leather, and in Anaheim, California, at House of Blues on May 24 with Death Chant.
In 2026, Castle Rat will have their first cover feature for Metal Hammer Magazine, the U.K.-based heavy metal rock publication. If you have never heard of them, you need to check out their 2026 spring tour. The band has acquired a loyal following by performing a dramatic, interactive, lore-laden live performance, complete with choreographed battle scenes, and draws on a fanbase that craves swords and sorcery, stoner and doom, battle-babes and beasts. On her mission to expand and defend “The Realm” from those who seek to destroy it, The Rat Queen is joined by “The Count” Franco Vittore on lead guitar and backing vocals, “The Plague Doctor” Charley Ruddell on bass, and “The All-Seeing Druid” Joshua Strmic on drums. Together they are plagued by their arch nemesis: death, herself — “The Rat Reaperess.”
Here is a list of cities that Castle Rat will be invading this spring on their 2026 spring campaign.
CASTLE RAT Tour Dates:
Apr 15 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Apr 17 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center At Tech Port
Apr 18 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Apr 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
Apr 21 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
Apr 22 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory
Apr 24 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
Apr 25 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
Apr 26 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme (HEADLINE SHOW)
Apr 28 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
Apr 29 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
May 1 – Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort
May 2 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
May 5 – Oxon Hill, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville Pre-Party (FESTIVAL)
May 9 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
May 10 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
May 12 – Johnstown, PA – 1st Summit Arena
May 13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre Detroit
May 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music (FESTIVAL)
May 19 – Denver, CO – The Junkyard
May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
May 21 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
May 24 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues (HEADLINE SHOW)
July 29 – Bergen, NO – Beyond The Gates 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 6 – Jarom??, CZ – Brutal Assault 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 8 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 15 – Eindhoven, NL – Dynamo Metal Fest 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Tickets for the tour can be purchased now at the following link:
To order a copy of their featured cover on Metal Hammer, follow link:
More links to follow Castle Rat below:
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