Castle Rat conjures up new single “Wizard” ahead of September album release

New York’s fantasy-fueled heavy metal outfit Castle Rat has unleashed their brand-new single and music video, “Wizard”. The track is a haunting taste of what’s to come from their highly anticipated second album, “The Bestiary”, set to drop September 19th via King Volume Records.

Officially titled “Wizard: Crystal Heart”, the song unfolds across three core themes: magic, creature, and fate. It’s a slow-burning doom anthem filled with thunderous riffs and theatrical storytelling, immersing listeners in the eerie, enchanted world of the upcoming record. On “The Bestiary”, more than a dozen mystical beings have been captured and imprisoned by The Wizard, forming the twisted collection known as the Bestiary.

The album is produced by Randall Dunn, whose past credits include collaborations with Sunn O))) and Wolves in the Throne Room. Mixing duties were handled by Jonathan Nuñez, known for his work with Torche and Restless Spirit.

Frontwoman and guitarist Riley Pinkerton, who performs under her stage persona The Rat Queen, describes the record as a concept album centered around the final souls—strange, powerful beings trapped by The Wizard. With “The Bestiary”, the band’s ambitious fantasy universe continues to expand.

Castle Rat is currently tearing across Europe on tour. This fall, they’ll launch their next North American leg under the name The Book of Beasts Tour, kicking off in September.

1. Phoenix I: Ardent
2. Wolf I: Tooth & Blade
3. Wizard: Crystal Heart
4. Siren: The Pull of Promise
5. Unicorn: Carnage and Ice
6. Path of Moss
7. Crystal Cave: Enshrined
8. Serpent: Coiled Figure
9. Wolf II: Celestial Beast
10. Dragon: Lord of the Sky
11. Summoning Spell
12. Sun Song: Behold the Flame
13. Phoenix II: Cinerous

Castle Rat European Tour Dates: 
June 10, 2025: Die Trompete, Bochum, Germany
June 11, 2025: Feierwerk e.V., Munich, Germany
June 12, 2025: Rock For People 2025, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
June 13, 2025: Arena, Vienna, Austria
June 15, 2025: Quarterdeck Summer Bar, Basel, Switzerland
June 17, 2025: Freakout Club, Bologna, Italy
June 18, 2025: Blah Blah, Turin, Italy
June 20, 2025: Hellfest 2025, Clisson, France
June 21, 2025: Copenhell Festival 2025, Copenhagen, Denmark
July 27, 2025: Unhinged Fest 2025, CO
August 7–9, 2025: Sonic Blast 2025, Vila Praia De Âncora, Portugal

Castle Rat The Book of Beasts Tour:
September 4, 2025: Assembly, Kingston, NY
September 5, 2025: Sonia Live Music Venue, Cambridge, MA
September 6, 2025: Otis Mountain Get Down 2025, Elizabethtown, NY
September 7, 2025: Piranha Bar, Montreal, QC, Canada
September 8, 2025: Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, Canada
September 9, 2025: Ace of Cups, Columbus, OH
September 10, 2025: Reggies Rock Club, Chicago, IL
September 12, 2025: The Ship, Kansas City, MO
September 13, 2025: What’s Left Fest 2025, Colorado Springs, CO
September 14, 2025: The Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
September 16, 2025: Clock-Out Lounge, Seattle, WA
September 17, 2025: Star Theater, Portland, OR
September 18, 2025: Fantastic Fest, Austin, TX
September 20, 2025: Cornerstone Craft Beer & Live Music, Berkeley, CA
September 21, 2025: Zebulon, Los Angeles, CA
September 22, 2025: Casbah, San Diego, CA
September 23, 2025: Last Exit Live, Phoenix, AZ
September 24, 2025: Sister, Albuquerque, NM
September 26–28, 2025: Levitation 2025, Austin, TX
September 27, 2025: Last Concert Cafe, Houston, TX
September 28, 2025: Gasa Gasa, New Orleans, LA
September 30, 2025: The EARL, Atlanta, GA
October 1, 2025: Eulogy, Asheville, NC
October 2, 2025: Chapel of Bones, Raleigh, NC
October 3, 2025: The Southern Cafe and Music Hall, Charlottesville, VA
October 4, 2025: Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
October 5, 2025: Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
November 6, 2025: Electric Ballroom, North London, United Kingdom