The pro-shot video of Castle Rat’s full performance at Bloodstock Open Air 2026 has surfaced online.
The New York band played on the Ronnie James Dio stage on Sunday, August 9, 2026, the last day of the 25th anniversary edition at Catton Hall and Park in Walton-on-Trent, Derbyshire, England. It was Castle Rat’s first appearance at Bloodstock, with an afternoon set on a bill headlined by Judas Priest and also featuring Body Count, Black Label Society and Testament.
“`The video comes after the pro-shot clip of «Wizard» from the same show, which had been released in September 2026.
Castle Rat played seven songs: five from their second album, «The Bestiary», and two from their 2024 debut, «Into The Realm».
The setlist at Bloodstock 2026
- Dagger Dragger
- Wizard
- Wolf I
- Fresh Fur
- Siren
- Dragon
- Serpent
Castle Rat formed in Brooklyn in 2019 and describe their music as medieval fantasy heavy metal. Up front is singer and guitarist Riley Pinkerton, known on stage as The Rat Queen, alongside guitarist Franco Vittore (The Count), bassist Charley Ruddell (The Plague Doctor) and drummer Josh Strmic (The Druid).
Their shows are staged like a performance, with costumes, sets and a choreographed sword duel between Pinkerton and the band’s villain, The Rat Reaperess.
«Into The Realm» was released in April 2024 by King Volume Records. «The Bestiary» followed on September 19, 2025, via King Volume in North America and Blues Funeral Recordings in Europe, and reached No. 11 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart. In April 2026 the band signed to Loma Vista Recordings and re-released the album through their new label.
In North America, Castle Rat are on the «Summon The Beasts» tour, their biggest headline run to date, with support from Unto Others and Wraith Knight, which wraps up on October 21, 2026 at Webster Hall in New York.
Earlier in 2026 the band toured North America as special guests of Amon Amarth and Dethklok, while in the summer they played European festivals, among them Wacken and Brutal Assault. On May 27, 2027 they will appear at the Electric Ballroom in London.
See also: Amon Amarth: «The Allfather Awakens» was written on tour and recorded song by song and Judas Priest: a show without Ian Hill for the first time in 56 years.
