Castle Rat conquers The Chapel in San Francisco

The Chapel in San Francisco always promises incredible shows, but last Friday was a night like no other. The fantasy, medieval doom metal band Castle Rat from Brooklyn, New York, took over the venue with an unforgettable performance. Led by the formidable Rat Queen, the band delivered an opening set that felt stadium-worthy, thanks to their theatrics, costumes, commanding stage presence, and all-around kick-ass music. With echoing guitars, thunderous bass, hard-hitting drums, and powerful vocals that spanned an impressive range, they had the crowd completely mesmerized.

The Rat Queen was joined by her bandmates—The Count, The Plague Doctor, and The Druid—who together wove a spectacular storyline through their performance. The crowd was fully invested, and by the time they left the stage, chants of “Castle Rat!” echoed through the venue in hopes they’d return for an encore. While they didn’t come back that night, one thing is certain: Castle Rat gained a room full of new fans. Here’s hoping their next trip to San Francisco sees them in a well-deserved headlining spot.

Check out photos from their set by Rockin Ryan:

In addition to their spectacular performance, Castle Rat also brought some of the coolest merch I’ve seen at shows. I picked up their Chainmail Gold Metallic Swirl vinyl of Into The Realm,  as well as their Now is  Forever blacklight poster and a stunning Castle Rat mirror silver  belt buckle. Make sure to check out all the killer  items they have available—you won’t be disappointed!