“If it sounds heavy on a classical guitar, then it will sound even heavier once I’m plugged in”: Foam swords, steel riffs – and medieval raga? Meet the queen of fantasy doom metal guitar, Castle Rat’s Riley Pinkerton

Castle Rat frontwoman Riley Pinkerton poses in her stagewear with her trusty white Gibson SG.

When it comes to Castle Rat’s onstage arsenal, the fantasy outfit’s axes are mightier than their swords.

Though founding vocalist-guitarist Riley Pinkerton (a.k.a. the Rat Queen) is often swinging a big broadsword in photoshoots and music videos, she explains that their concerts actually have her wielding a foam weapon, so as to not “accidentally kill my bandmates on stage.”