Castle Rat: Summon The Beasts Tour 2026

It’s been a little over a year since I first made the drive to see Castle Rat at The Ship in Kansas City in September of 2025. Despite the long drive, I knew this was my last chance to see them in a 300-cap room. Then came the excitement of watching them open for Amon Amarth and Dethklok at the Armory in Minneapolis, an 8,000-cap room. Despite their short opening slot, they capitalized on the opportunity, earning the respect of a whole new fanbase. Many of the fans I spoke with at The Varsity Theater show stated they were won over at the Amon Amarth/Dethklok show; one man talking excitedly about how he hadn’t seen a band putting on an act at this level in decades.

And in one year, you see a band transformed. The show I saw in Kansas City would have been more than enough to fill the stage tonight, but one thing was abundantly clear, this band is not waiting for success to validate them, every opportunity is being capitalized upon to push the show to new levels. New custom Dunable guitars and bass sit upstage ready for action, two actresses handling at least six characters assist with the storyline, beautiful handcrafted puppets and costumes made by The Rat Queen herself, and lead guitar, bass, and drum solos showing off the talent and musicianship of the band. And of course, two fight scenes with the Rat Queen battling beast and foe alike. The band is watching all aspects—songwriting, technical ability, performance, visuals, and storyline—and making sure none is sold short of its potential.

A candlelit stage flanked by torches comes to life before the band steps onto stage. A white wolf enters, followed by a towering, bearded wizard, glowing staff in hand. The story begins—a time before the Realm—a wizard battling to save his world of magical beasts. He forms the Bestiary and hides it in the Realm of Castle Rat for its protection. With that, the band takes their positions: the All Seeing Druid on drums, the Plague Doctor on bass, the Count on lead guitar and backing vocals, and the Rat Queen on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. The band sets the scene, playing Phoenix I, a short instrumental piece. The Rat Queen steps up to center stage: “We Are Castle Rat! Welcome to the Realm!” The crowd cheers, and the band launches full force into Dagger Dragger.

Tonight the show is sold out, as are many dates on their current tour. The Varsity Theater is packed tight and the energy flows through the crowd to the very back. I’m one of several photographers scrambling on my knees from a very small photo pit just trying to capture it all. The show pivots between flamboyant doom rock show, a narrated story unfolding on stage, and actresses bringing The Rat Reapress, The Wizard, a Wolf, Serpent, Unicorn, and Dragon to life. The costuming is impressive, with the dragon being a favorite of mine. As the show builds, the Rat Queen trades her axe for a sword and shield to fight off both a snake and the Rat Reapress before being slain on stage. Then comes the fan favorite—a resurrection scene where the Plague Doctor calls on the audience to assist him in reviving her. The Rat Queen famously spews blood before returning to battle and finishing the show.

Musically, Castle Rat is Doom and Metal done the way one remembers it. Before getting too flashy, a bedrock of solid doom riffs provides instant entry and understanding of what Castle Rat is about. That classic low-tuned combination of rhythm and movement earworms its way into your brain instantly. You can sink right into it, with full support to observe the more complex elements in each song. Lead guitar that gets satisfyingly shreddy without getting lost in the sauce. Guitar solos are emotional and meaningful; they move the song rather than dominate it. At the same time, there is plenty to chew on for any guitarist who wants to learn to play them. Drums are weighty and transition from lumbering to dramatic. The All Seeing Druid is perhaps one of the most theatrical drummers out there, often standing and intensely staring the crowd down… or invoking sacred beasts… while playing. Rolling, loose, and weighty, the groove-based rhythms are punctuated by dramatic fills and aggressive strikes. …And what the hell would doom be without bass? This band is a bass player’s revenge. Often overlooked, even drowned out in some genres, bass is given an almost exalted position in doom. Castle Rat clearly adheres to this reverence; you could dedicate an entire listening session simply to the great bass lines.

Vocally, we have a return to metal’s roots. The Rat Queen’s vocals are one of the crowning jewels of this band. Metal has given us extraordinary singers and an ever-expanding number of vocal styles, from clean belts and operatic wails to the harshest screams. But I can’t help asking: Did we forget about the bluesy clean vocals that helped start it all? The Rat Queen’s voice is strong, clear, and beautifully controlled while remaining a bit slippery. She commands every note with force, deviating when it pleases her. That bluesy element lends thorns to the roses of Castle Rat’s melodies. Those small pangs bring the complexity of human emotion into her performance and add interest beyond her already impressive technical ability.

One thing is for certain watching Castle Rat present their largest spectacle to date: the Realm is expanding. Mingling before the show, I met young fans with black X’s marking the back of their hands as well as people past retirement: some noting the band got them into metal, while others stated the band brings back memories of seeing Iommi and Dio live. One thing repeats in my head, the same as it did in Kansas City… this is my last chance to see this band in a venue this size. Castle Rat is riding a rising tide and making it look like it’s the stage that can’t keep up with them, and not the other way around.

If you missed the opportunity to enter the Realm this time, be assured this band is only just getting started. There are a handful of tickets left if you live near a show that is not yet sold out. Should you not catch them this tour, know that Castle Rat will be waiting for you to join in its quest to save all things magical for many years to come.