Blog

In an exclusive interview with Loaded Radio, Castle Rat mastermind Riley Pinkerton revealed that a massive, multi-year Type O Negative obsession has completely taken over the creative direction of the band’s highly anticipated new album. The frontwoman broke down her deep reverence for Peter Steele’s complex vulnerability, why “Love You to Death” stands as the ultimate metal masterpiece, and how these heavy gothic-doom soundscapes are fundamentally shaping the next era of the Brooklyn outfit.

Listen to Today’s Metal Breakdown Daily:

“My Favorite Band of All Time”: The Sonic Shift Gearing Up

The gatekeepers of the realm are expanding their territory, and they are channeling the gods of gothic doom to do it. Speaking exclusively with Loaded Radio, Castle Rat leader Riley Pinkerton pulled back the curtain on the creative mindset guiding their upcoming material, making it clear that a specific Brooklyn legacy has hijacked her writing process.

“I’ve been on a huge Type O Negative kick for like the past two years,” Pinkerton reveals. “My favorite band of all time, dude. Seriously. And that’s definitely majorly on the next album mood board right now. That’s the direction we’re headed.”

While Castle Rat’s signature aesthetic is heavily steeped in high-fantasy medieval lore, transitioning into a darker, more melancholic environment makes flawless thematic sense. The band is fresh off an explosive wave of touring momentum—including their massive, recently announced “Summon the Beasts” headlining tour with Unto Others—but Pinkerton admits that creating under the shadow of Peter Steele brings an undeniable level of psychological pressure.

“I always feel I’m like… I’ve said it a couple of times in interviews and I’m like, what if we don’t deliver? But you know, it’s always going to be through the lens or through the filter of Castle Rat. It’s going to, you know, no one can be a Type O Negative. No one should even try, but as an influence, it’s great.”

Also Recommended – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Johnny Kelly and Kenny Hickey Reveal Unreleased Type O Negative Song Discovery

The Vulnerability of “Love You to Death”

During the exclusive clip, Loaded Radio posed a compelling hypothetical scenario: If the surviving members of Type O Negative staged a tribute concert to Peter Steele and called upon the Rat Queen to step up to the microphone, would she accept the mantle?

“I mean, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. What a daunting, yes,” Pinkerton smiles.

When pressed on which track from the goth-metal icons’ catalog she would choose to front, Pinkerton pointed directly to the October Rust crown jewel.

*”I’m such a sucker for ‘Love You to Death.’ It’s the perfect song. When the piano comes in, it’s just… I melt every time. And the ending of it is so… that’s the thing that really grabs me and moves me. You’ve got Peter Steele, who’s just like this black stallion of a human being, like 6-foot-8, long luscious hair, piercing green eyes. And he’s like, ‘I’m going to love you to death.’ And you’re like, ‘Yeah, you are. Absolutely.’

But then the ending refrain being like, ‘Am I good enough? Am I good enough for you?’ That twist at the end always just like wrecks me where I’m just like, oh, what a real, what a real, real thing.”

Also Recommended – Type O Negative Albums Ranked: Members Johnny Kelly & Kenny Hickey Shatter Legacy Debates [Exclusive Video]

About Castle Rat

Formed in Brooklyn, New York, Castle Rat is a conceptual traditional doom metal band that treats the live stage as an interactive theatrical battlefield. Led by Riley Pinkerton as The Rat Queen, the band performs in full stylized armor, enacting an ongoing high-fantasy narrative against their arch-nemesis, The Rat Reaperess. Musically blending heavy, old-school riffs reminiscent of Black Sabbath and Candlemass with ethereal vocal hooks, the band released their critically acclaimed sophomore full-length The Bestiary via Loma Vista Recordings, quickly establishing themselves as one of the most visually stunning and rapidly ascending forces in the modern heavy underground.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ Block)

Q: Is the new Castle Rat album a Type O Negative tribute album?

A: No. While Riley Pinkerton confirms that Type O Negative is the primary sonic and emotional influence on the upcoming record’s mood board, the material will remain completely original and delivered strictly through the signature creative filter of Castle Rat.

Q: When does the next Castle Rat album come out?

A: An official release date has not yet been finalized. The upcoming project follows their highly successful late-2025 sophomore record, The Bestiary.

Q: What is Riley Pinkerton’s favorite Type O Negative song?

A: Pinkerton revealed to Loaded Radio that her favorite track is “Love You to Death” from the 1996 masterpiece October Rust, citing the emotional vulnerability of the song’s ending refrain as its most powerful element.

Q: Is Castle Rat currently on tour?

A: Castle Rat recently finalized the dates for their massive fall headlining campaign, the “Summon the Beasts Tour,” which will feature direct support from Unto Others and Wraith Knight across North America this September and October.

Check This Out – THE GREEN MAN LIVES: 13 Facts That Define the Dark Genius of Type O Negative’s Peter Steele

TL;DR: The Quick Breakdown

• The Sonic Blueprint: Riley Pinkerton confirms Type O Negative is the primary pillar on the mood board for the next Castle Rat album.
• Peter Steele’s Dichotomy: Pinkerton analyzes the devastating lyrical twist at the end of “Love You to Death,” highlighting the emotional insecurity behind Steele’s imposing 6-foot-8 stature.
• The Dream Tribute: If the surviving members of Type O Negative ever stage a tribute show, the Rat Queen gives a “daunting yes” to fronting the performance.
• On the Horizon: This creative evolution follows the band’s massive, recently announced “Summon the Beasts” headlining tour sweeping North America this fall.

STAY LOUD – Never miss a beat in the heavy music world. You can catch this exclusive interview, along with daily extreme music breakdowns, artist deep-dives, and non-stop rock by subscribing to the Loaded Radio Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform.

Want to take the heavy metal community wherever you go? Download the official Loaded Radio App right now on iOS and Android to access our high-quality 24/7 live stream, exclusive news updates, and on-demand podcast archives natively from your phone.

What do you think about Castle Rat shifting into a gothic, Type O Negative-inspired direction for their next album? Can anyone truly capture the magic of Peter Steele’s vulnerability? Let us know your thoughts and your favorite Type O track in the comments section below!

The post EXCLUSIVE: Castle Rat’s Riley Pinkerton Obsessed With Type O Negative; Confirms Next Album Inspired By Gothic Doom Masters appeared first on Loaded Radio.

(Our DGR makes a rare (for him) foray into sludge/doom territory with the following review of a new album by the Nebraska crew Weaving Shadows, which they released in April of this year.) Two things that have always been difficult to write about in this corner of the internet sewer: one, doom metal as a […]

The post WEAVING SHADOWS: “EXISTENTIAL DECAY” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

Unfortunately, your Stereogum staff is not at Primavera Sound in Barcelona this year as we were last year. (It was amazing.) Fortunately, we can join the rest of you in streaming all the action live for free. The fest has partnered with Amazon Music to broadcast a selection of nearly 40 performances live from Parc del Fòrum via Prime Video, the Amazon Music app, and Amazon Music’s official Twitch channels.

The post Livestream Primavera Sound 2026 For Free appeared first on Stereogum.

Judas Priest have unveiled four additional visualizer videos tied to their upcoming compilation The Best Of Judas Priest, which arrives on June 19 through Sony Music. The release gathers material from across the band’s long career, highlighting the songs that helped establish them as one of heavy metal’s most influential acts.

The collection spans more than five decades of music from Judas Priest, a band that has played a major role in shaping both the sound and visual identity of heavy metal. With more than 50 million albums sold worldwide and over 2.5 billion streams across their catalog, their legacy continues to resonate with fans across generations.

Among the featured tracks are fan favorites such as “Breaking The Law,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming,” “Electric Eye,” “Turbo Lover” and “Painkiller.” Together, the songs provide a snapshot of the band’s evolution while showcasing some of the recordings that became cornerstones of the genre.

Designed to appeal to both newcomers and longtime followers, The Best Of Judas Priest serves as an accessible introduction to the band’s catalog while also offering a concise overview of their most recognizable material.

In addition to the compilation release, Judas Priest will remain active on the live front throughout the summer with a series of European performances. The band is also scheduled to appear at the Bloodstock festival in the U.K. on August 9, followed by a headline concert at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on September 21.

Fans can also look forward to The Ballad Of Judas Priest, a new documentary directed by Tom Morello and Sam Dunn. The film recently premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and offers an in-depth look at the band’s extensive career. Its wider release is expected later this year.

You can now pre-order the collection here.

The post JUDAS PRIEST Shares Track Visualizer Videos For Upcoming Album appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

We’re getting a new Smirk album at the beginning of next month. Nick Vacario, the mastermind behind Smirk, recently announced Speculative Fiction alongside its lead single, “Dogs Years.” Today, we get another glimpse of the forthcoming album with the release of “Abide.” “Abide” is a downtrodden post-punk track that opens with a guitar riff ringing…

The post Smirk – “Abide” appeared first on Stereogum.

Four releases spanning the project’s full arc; from early tape compilations to the 2024 sophomore album, with pre-orders open now Season of Mist is pleased to announce the forthcoming reissue of four releases from the HULDER back catalogue: De Oproeping Van Middeleeuwse Duisternis (2019), Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry (2021), The Eternal Fanfare (2022), and Verses in Oath (2024). The four titles span the […]

Source

Wes and Fred both updated their fit.

The post Limp Bizkit Kicked Off Their 2026 Touring With A Brand New Look appeared first on Theprp.com.

Posted on June 4th 2026, 5:39p.m.

W.A.S.P. have unveiled a new video trailer for their upcoming 1984 To Headless North American tour, which will feature K.K.’s Priest as special guests. The trek begins on September 10 in California and will run through October 31, covering the United States and Canada.

The tour focuses on material from the band’s first four studio albums, revisiting the era that established W.A.S.P. as one of heavy metal’s most recognizable acts.

According to the band’s announcement: “1984 To Headless”, the fall 2026 North American tour, W.A.S.P. returns playing live in the US and Canada, paying tribute to their first four albums… Live!

Selected hits from W.A.S.P.’s first four abums promise to create a true rock ‘n roll spectacle complete with a live stage show bringing those albums alive for the first… and only time.

The first five years of artist’s careers most always determine what their legacy will be if they go on to greatness, or be remembered as a footnote in music history. W.A.S.P. cemented their place in rock history in those first five years with their iconic first album in 1984, followed the next year with The Last Command, Inside The Electric Circus in 1987 and capped with the their greatest yet, The Headless Children in 1989.

In their fabled 44 year history, W.A.S.P. have been pioneers of shock rock, psycho drama and live spectacles that are now legendary in the world of rock.

The band will take the “1984 To Headless” Tour to Europe and the world in 2027.”

Frontman Blackie Lawless shared his thoughts on the upcoming run: “It’s hard to express the genuine excitement I’m feeling in describing the “1984 To Headless” U.S. Tour. Playing those songs from those first four albums in a combined package like this is something we’ve never attempted before. In addition to the songs, the entire stage show will look like the album covers from those records will come alive… right right before your eyes!

“Complete with all the history and bombastic live presentations that’s made this band one of the great live bands in the theatrical rock world. When elements of those album covers start to come alive, right on the stage before the people it’s gonna be something they’ll not soon forget!

“I’m also equally thrilled to bring K. K.’s Priest and those iconic hit’s onboard for all the fall 2026 U.S. shows. Both bands… together… on the same stage… on the same night… where do I get my ticket?

“It’s gonna make the “1984 To Headless” tour one for the rock ages!”

K.K. Downing also commented on the tour partnership: “Great news! KK’s Priest is going to be returning to the US and Canada this September and October 2026! We will be teaming up together with metal legends W.A.S.P. and with over 40 shows, this is going to be an epic metal and steel tour featuring lots of Priest classics! We look forward to seeing you all again very soon so please get on board early, we do not want you to miss this one.”

In addition to the concerts, W.A.S.P. will once again offer VIP packages. Fans purchasing VIP tickets will have the opportunity to meet Blackie Lawless, receive autographs, take a personal photo with him, access the traveling W.A.S.P. museum featuring new additions since the band’s previous U.S. tour, and participate in a question-and-answer session with the singer.

With a setlist built around the band’s formative years and a production designed to recreate the visual identity of those classic records, the 1984 To Headless tour will revisit the albums that helped establish W.A.S.P. as a major force in heavy metal during the 1980s.

Find W.A.S.P.’s complete tour itinerary, tickets, and VIP here. Watch the new trailer below.

The post W.A.S.P. Shares Video Trailer For “1984 To Headless” North American Tour With Special Guest KK’S PRIEST appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.