Rising doom-metal sensations CASTLE RAT have officially dropped the music video for “Wizard,” the lead single from their forthcoming and hotly anticipated second studio album with a…
Rising doom-metal sensations CASTLE RAT have officially dropped the music video for “Wizard,” the lead single from their forthcoming and hotly anticipated second studio album. With a sound as mystical as it is menacing, the track marks a bold evolution in the band’s medieval-fantasy-meets-heavy-rock style — and the video brings their mythical universe to life like never before.
Released across digital platforms and YouTube earlier today, “Wizard” plunges viewers into a world of sorcery, shadows, and slow-burning riffs that ignite like torchlight in a dark catacomb. Fans of occult rock, doom metal, and fantasy storytelling will find much to love in this spellbinding new era from the New York-based quartet.
♂️ A Sonic Invocation
“Wizard” wastes no time conjuring Castle Rat’s signature sound — thunderous drums, ritualistic guitar progressions, and the commanding vocals of the band’s enigmatic frontwoman known only as The Rat Queen. The song’s lyrics tell the tale of an ancient spellcaster who holds dominion over time, using forbidden powers to alter fate and bend reality.
“This track is about temptation — the kind that seduces even the strongest among us,” said The Rat Queen in a statement. “The Wizard is a metaphor for power unchecked. He offers salvation but takes your soul in return.”
Musically, “Wizard” blends elements of doom, stoner rock, and NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal), echoing influences from Candlemass, Black Sabbath, and Witchfinder General, while maintaining a distinct theatrical flair that has become Castle Rat’s hallmark.
A Cinematic and Arcane Video Experience
The video, directed by underground horror filmmaker Maya Blackthorne, was filmed in upstate New York inside the crumbling ruins of a 19th-century chapel and castle-like estate. Cloaked figures, ancient tomes, glowing eyes, and smoke-drenched rituals set the tone for what the director calls “a visual homage to Hammer Horror and Dungeons & Dragons.”
Blackthorne elaborated:
“We wanted to capture the feeling of watching an old VHS tape found buried in a crypt — part concert film, part cursed relic. Castle Rat lives in a universe where everything is mythic, and ‘Wizard’ invites fans deeper into that mythology.”
The video’s premiere was met with immediate acclaim, trending on YouTube’s Rock section within hours and drawing comparisons to early works by Ghost and King Diamond for its narrative depth and visual inventiveness.
A Glimpse Into the New Album
Though Castle Rat have kept details about their upcoming album closely guarded, “Wizard” gives a strong indication of the heavier, more theatrical direction the band is embracing. Their as-yet-untitled sophomore effort is expected to be released in late Fall 2025 on King Volume Records, and insiders describe it as a “fully conceptual” record based around a battle between four legendary beings representing each band member: The Rat Queen, The Count, The Plague Doctor, and The Druid.
“The new album is less about songs and more about sagas,” said bassist The Plague Doctor in an interview. “Each track tells a story from the Kingdom of Ratonia — the realm we created.”
Production credits include famed doom-metal producer Billy Anderson (Sleep, High on Fire), who reportedly helped the band refine their sound into something “more massive, more layered, and more cinematic than anything they’ve done before.”
♀️ A Cult Following Awakens
Castle Rat have steadily built a cult following over the past few years, largely through their immersive live performances. Costumed in cloaks, crowns, and armor, the band transforms each stage into a ritual chamber, complete with candles, fog, and battle cries. Their shows blur the line between concert and ceremony, and fans — often dressed in their own fantasy attire — have become part of the lore.
The release of “Wizard” has only intensified the anticipation for their upcoming North American tour, which is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Venues in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Toronto are already teasing Castle Rat appearances via social media.
A Band on the Rise
With “Wizard,” Castle Rat isn’t just releasing a single — they’re making a declaration. This isn’t metal for the faint of heart; it’s a descent into the realm of myth and doom, led by a band that plays as if every note is a magic spell and every lyric a prophecy.
As one YouTube fan commented within minutes of the video’s release:
“This isn’t just music. This is a portal. Long live the Rat Queen.”
Castle Rat’s dark kingdom is rising. And with “Wizard,” the first spell has been cast.
**CASTLE RAT Launch New Video for First Single “Wizard” from Upcoming Album — A Dark Spell Has Been Cast**
*June 20, 2025 – Brooklyn, NY* — Rising doom-metal sensations **CASTLE RAT** have officially dropped the **music video for “Wizard,”** the lead single from their forthcoming and hotly anticipated second studio album. With a sound as mystical as it is menacing, the track marks a bold evolution in the band’s medieval-fantasy-meets-heavy-rock style — and the video brings their mythical universe to life like never before.
Released across digital platforms and YouTube earlier today, “Wizard” plunges viewers into a world of sorcery, shadows, and slow-burning riffs that ignite like torchlight in a dark catacomb. Fans of occult rock, doom metal, and fantasy storytelling will find much to love in this spellbinding new era from the New York-based quartet.
### ♂️ **A Sonic Invocation**
“Wizard” wastes no time conjuring Castle Rat’s signature sound — thunderous drums, ritualistic guitar progressions, and the commanding vocals of the band’s enigmatic frontwoman known only as **The Rat Queen**. The song’s lyrics tell the tale of an ancient spellcaster who holds dominion over time, using forbidden powers to alter fate and bend reality.
> “This track is about temptation — the kind that seduces even the strongest among us,” said The Rat Queen in a statement. “The Wizard is a metaphor for power unchecked. He offers salvation but takes your soul in return.”
Musically, “Wizard” blends elements of doom, stoner rock, and NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal), echoing influences from **Candlemass**, **Black Sabbath**, and **Witchfinder General**, while maintaining a distinct theatrical flair that has become Castle Rat’s hallmark.
### **A Cinematic and Arcane Video Experience**
The video, directed by underground horror filmmaker **Maya Blackthorne**, was filmed in upstate New York inside the crumbling ruins of a 19th-century chapel and castle-like estate. Cloaked figures, ancient tomes, glowing eyes, and smoke-drenched rituals set the tone for what the director calls “a visual homage to Hammer Horror and Dungeons & Dragons.”
Blackthorne elaborated:
> “We wanted to capture the feeling of watching an old VHS tape found buried in a crypt — part concert film, part cursed relic. Castle Rat lives in a universe where everything is mythic, and ‘Wizard’ invites fans deeper into that mythology.”
The video’s premiere was met with immediate acclaim, trending on YouTube’s Rock section within hours and drawing comparisons to early works by Ghost and King Diamond for its narrative depth and visual inventiveness.
### **A Glimpse Into the New Album**
Though Castle Rat have kept details about their upcoming album closely guarded, “Wizard” gives a strong indication of the heavier, more theatrical direction the band is embracing. Their as-yet-untitled sophomore effort is expected to be released in **late Fall 2025** on **King Volume Records**, and insiders describe it as a “fully conceptual” record based around a battle between four legendary beings representing each band member: The Rat Queen, The Count, The Plague Doctor, and The Druid.
> “The new album is less about songs and more about sagas,” said bassist **The Plague Doctor** in an interview. “Each track tells a story from the Kingdom of Ratonia — the realm we created.”
Production credits include famed doom-metal producer **Billy Anderson** (Sleep, High on Fire), who reportedly helped the band refine their sound into something “more massive, more layered, and more cinematic than anything they’ve done before.”
### ♀️ **A Cult Following Awakens**
Castle Rat have steadily built a cult following over the past few years, largely through their immersive live performances. Costumed in cloaks, crowns, and armor, the band transforms each stage into a ritual chamber, complete with candles, fog, and battle cries. Their shows blur the line between concert and ceremony, and fans — often dressed in their own fantasy attire — have become part of the lore.
The release of “Wizard” has only intensified the anticipation for their upcoming North American tour, which is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Venues in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Toronto are already teasing Castle Rat appearances via social media.
### **A Band on the Rise**
With “Wizard,” Castle Rat isn’t just releasing a single — they’re making a declaration. This isn’t metal for the faint of heart; it’s a descent into the realm of myth and doom, led by a band that plays as if every note is a magic spell and every lyric a prophecy.
As one YouTube fan commented within minutes of the video’s release:
> “This isn’t just music. This is a portal. Long live the Rat Queen.”
**Castle Rat’s dark kingdom is rising. And with “Wizard,” the first spell has been cast.**
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