Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – Castle Rat time-traveled to The Belasco to perform their unique style of medieval rock before a sold-out fan base. The stop was part of a tour to support their sophomore album “The Bestiary.”
A bestiary is a medieval art form that was meant to teach lessons. That definition applied to the night as the band combined their metal music with a theatrical production that featured a range of mystical beings. Are New York booking agents approaching the band to bring their set to Broadway? They should be.
The atmosphere for the night was set well before the band took to the stage. As crews were working the changeover from guest performers Unto Others to Castle Rat, haunting night sounds filled the venue. Howls could be heard – both from the speakers and the audience. A witch’s voice came over the loudspeakers to tell a story of the realm as a wizard and a wolf walked out onto the stage.
The band also takes part in the performance. There is The Druid drummer (Joshua Strmic), The Plague Doctor bassist (Charley Ruddell), The Count Guitarist (Franco Vittore), and The Rat Queen lead singer / guitarist (Piley Pinkerton).
Strmic and Ruddell were given moments to shine on the musical front as both had solos. Strmic had one remembering the movie Whiplash. Vittore took the opportunity during “Path of Moss” to see what side of the venue would cheer the loudest. As smoke erupted around him, he pointed to stage left to hear their screams. He then pointed to stage right for a similar response. there is little doubt that stage right won the award for loudest fans. Every time Pinkerton sang at pitch high vocals along with the backing of the guitars and bass, everyone erupted into cheers.
“I see you and now let me hear you!”
A highlight of the storytelling was towards the end with a demon fighting The Queen Rat. The Queen Rat was over-confident and believed that she had slain the evil demon. Yet, the demon rose up and viciously cuts The Queen Rat’s throat. (It’s a theatrical production). All is not lost even as The Queen Rat is sprawled dead on the floor. The Plague Doctor comes and provides a potion to resurrect her. The Queen Rat rises up and lifts her sword high in triumph.
The band ended the set with two encores. As if to celebrate The Queen Rat’s return from the dead, the crowd erupted into a mosh pit for the final encore “Siren.”
Special guest performers Unto Others integrated metal and new wave into their set that had many screaming for an encore. They opened up their set with “Over Western Shores” and “Give Me To The Night” that were speed metal to the core and set the hearts pumping. It was an aggressive start to the set. Then with amusement, they introduced their third song as “Butterfly.” The set was filled with guttural vocals that had the crowd responding with devil horns. Floor fans sent long hair flying and the band members played off each other. It all resulted in the crowd screaming loudly every time they were requested to do so.
Opening up the night was Wraith Knight, dressed in a black cloak. In front of him, was an elevated double level synth. He played it like a pipe organ. A doom synth set where one wondered if he was attempting to open the Gates of Hades. Were the opening of those gates going to destroy us all? It was not fully determined though there were perhaps hints in sections of his set where the music induced magical trances.
Castle Rat Setlist: PHOENIX I, Dagger Dragger, WIZARD, WOLF I, Feed the Dream, UNICORN, PATH OF MOSS, CRYSTAL CAVE, Fresh Fur, DRAGON, SERPENT. Encores: Cry for Me, SIREN.
Unto Others Setlist: Over Western Shores, Give Me To The Night, Butterfly, Nightfall, Can You Hear The Rain, Jackie, It Doesn’t Really Matter, Heroin, When Will Gods Work Be Done, I Feel Nothing, No Children Laughing Now.
Wraith Knight Setlist: By Way of Torchlight, With the Great Ancestral Sword, Decrepit Wings & Rotting Bones – The Dracolich, Through Blackest Marshes and Darkest Caverns.
Check out Castle Rat’s ‘Siren’ video here: