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The medieval doom metal underground is officially expanding its borders. Castle Rat, the rapidly rising theatrical force spearheading the modern doom movement, has officially announced a massive North American headlining tour for Fall 2026. Dubbed the “Summon the Beasts Tour,” the sprawling trek marks the band’s largest and most ambitious headlining run to date.
The announcement comes during a monumental surge for the outfit, who are currently riding a massive wave of momentum following the explosive success of their sophomore studio record, The Bestiary.
The “Summon the Beasts” Fall 2026 Tour Lineup
The highly anticipated tour is set to kick off on September 23 in Baltimore and will cut a path across major markets in the United States and Canada before wrapping up on October 21 with a hometown-adjacent celebration in New York.
To ensure the nightly live experience feels like a fully immersive plunge into dark fantasy, Castle Rat has assembled a brilliant supporting package. Joining them on the road will be acclaimed goth rock heavyweights Unto Others alongside the cinematic dungeon synth project Wraith Knight.
Tickets for all dates are scheduled to go on sale to the general public this coming Friday.
Get yours here.
Defending ‘The Realm’ and Laughing Off “Industry Plant” Viral Drama
Castle Rat’s meticulous attention to world-building has turned their live shows into highly interactive, mandatory viewing events. Each performance is packed with rich, fantastical lore and features elaborately choreographed battle scenes where the band actively beckons fans to join their crusade to expand and defend “The Realm” from destruction.
This highly polished aesthetic—combined with a massive career boost opening major arenas for death metal icons Amon Amarth and Dethklok—has caused online skeptics on platforms like Reddit to launch cynical “industry plant” accusations against the band.
In a recent talk with Full Metal Jackie, lead singer and definitive “Rat Queen” Riley Pinkerton completely laughed off the internet gossip, transforming the criticism into a badge of DIY honor: “I don’t go on Reddit or anything, but my bandmates do. And so I hear reports back of people being like, ‘They’re industry plants,’ which is hilarious and a compliment. I’m like, damn, we’re doing all this super DIY and you think that we’re industry plants. That’s the funniest comeback, because other people will chime in and they’ll be like, ‘Who would plant a medieval rodent-themed doom metal band in the industry and be like, “You know what’s really gonna make us money? This rodent-themed medieval doom metal band.”‘”
EXCLUSIVE: “Rat Queen” Riley Pinkerton Set for Loaded Radio Podcast
The lore, the riffs, and the unfiltered truth behind the band’s sudden rise are about to be blown wide open. Loaded Radio can exclusively confirm that Riley Pinkerton will be appearing on an upcoming edition of the Loaded Radio Podcast.
The “Rat Queen” herself will sit down with us to dive deep into the writing process behind The Bestiary, the mechanics of their grueling live sword-fights, and what fans can expect when the “Summon the Beasts” production hits the stage this fall. Stay tuned to our official podcast feeds so you don’t miss the complete, unedited interview dropping soon.
Official Castle Rat 2026 Tour Dates
- Sept. 23 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
- Sept. 25 – Charlotte, NC @ Neighborhood Theatre
- Sept. 26 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
- Sept. 28 – Dallas, TX @ The Studio at The Bomb Factory
- Sept. 30 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
- Oct. 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco
- Oct. 3 – Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre
- Oct. 6 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
- Oct. 7 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox Market
- Oct. 9 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
- Oct. 10 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club
- Oct. 11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Grand
- Oct. 12 – Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre
- Oct. 14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
- Oct. 15 – Chicago, IL @ Concord Music Hall
- Oct. 16 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre
- Oct. 17 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
- Oct. 19 – Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield
- Oct. 20 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
- Oct. 21 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
FAQ: Castle Rat’s Fall 2026 North American Tour
When do tickets go on sale for the Castle Rat 2026 tour? Tickets will officially become available to the general public on Friday. Check local venue listings for specific regional pre-sale times.
Who is opening for Castle Rat on the Summon the Beasts Tour? The tour features direct support from goth rockers Unto Others and the highly cinematic dungeon synth project Wraith Knight.
What album is Castle Rat touring behind? The band is touring in support of their massive 2025 sophomore studio album, The Bestiary.
STARE INTO THE VAULT: Do you think theatrical bands like Castle Rat are exactly what the modern doom metal scene needs to break into the mainstream? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below, and make sure to subscribe to the Loaded Radio Podcast ahead of our exclusive feature interview with Riley Pinkerton!
TL;DR:
Medieval doom metal titans Castle Rat have announced their massive 20-date “Summon the Beasts” headlining tour for Fall 2026 with support from Unto Others and Wraith Knight. Frontwoman Riley Pinkerton has publicly laughed off internet “industry plant” rumors, citing the band’s strict DIY work ethic. Pinkerton is also locked in to appear on an upcoming episode of the Loaded Radio Podcast.
The post Castle Rat Shatters Industry Rumors and Announces Massive 2026 North American Tour appeared first on Loaded Radio.
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