My summer had officially kicked off on a warm Tuesday night this week when I strolled along to the recognisable venue of Legends on Edinburgh’s Cowgate. When I arrived just before doors there was already a ionate ambience displayed from the queue of dedicated fans out front. Once entering the upstairs gig space, I witnessed flashes of chain mail and excitement for the sold-out show that was to take place. Once everything was settled, we began our journey to discover Castle Rat.
Kicking things off with an alluring start were Cwfen. A gothic doom band from Glasgow brought their energy right from the start, an energy that could only be brought on from old magic. Their lead singer Agnes brought an incredible druidess vibe that hypnotised the crowd, in particular I found their last song “Embers” to be the most inviting for the crowd to immerse themselves into the occult sound emanating from the stage. Despite a couple of lighting issues, Cwfen did not lose their momentum and delivered an opening set that left the audience ready to journey further into the evening.
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After everyone had got a chance to load up on their power potions from the tavern keepers, and the stage had been dawned with display lanterns and a sword front and centre, the room was ready to begin their quest with Castle Rat. As mentioned earlier it was apparent that Castle Rat had built up a loyal and ionate community, and this was displayed even more as the band got into their set. When playing their track “Dagger Dragger” everyone was well versed on the lyrics, and you could see smiles travelling through the crowd.
Castle Rat’s look and onstage presence tied in beautifully with dooming riffs and enchantingly powerful vocals, the band seemed to have drawn aesthetic inspiration from the likes of The Dark Crystal or Dungeons & Dragons, and a slight touch of Xena: Warrior Princess. The lead singer Riley Pinkerton explained the lore of Castle Rat throughout the show, with mentions of vampires, the plague, evil rats, and a plague doctor bassist who could save the day with a mysterious blood like potion.
The show came to a spectacular conclusion when the Rat emerged and could only be defeated through the chanting of the crowd, and the command of Castle Rat leading us all to victory.
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Photos by Love And War Photography
