Castle Rat, Unto Others
UC Theatre
Berkeley, CA
October 3, 2026
I was pretty stoked about seeing this show and have been looking forward to it since I’ve been home. I unfortunately missed the opener Wraith Knight. The two bands I did see both delivered in very different ways.
Unto Others had the middle slot of the night. This was my second time seeing this quartet from Portland. I actually saw an earlier incarnation of them called Idle Hands so I guess it was the third time seeing them. I’ve enjoyed them a bit more each time with this performance at The UC Theater being the best.
The sound was uncharacteristically killer at The UC. Unto Others were crystal clear with a ton of low end. Punishing and melodic all at once. Their music is a very unique blend of styles. They’re like an amalgam of all eras of The Cult (including Death Cult) and Paradise Lost. It’s a complete breath of fresh air.
They played a powerful 45 or so minute set that in all honesty felt too short. I could’ve watched at least another half hour. I talked to guitarist Sebastian Silva after the show and we had a good laugh about the W.A.S.P. tour they and Death Angel were supposed to do a while back but it wasn’t meant to be. Cool dude and great band. I picked up their EP from a year ago.
Next up was headliner Castle Rat. I saw some of their set a few months back at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona but didn’t get the full scope of their performance. It’s quite impressive how much popularity they’ve gained in the past few years.
I remember my friend Chris Corona telling me about them in 2024. Being a D&D nerd myself his description intrigued me. And now in two short years I’m seeing them play to a sold out crowd at The UC Theatre. Not a small room. Before I get into their set let’s talk about the crowd for a second.
It was a sold out Metal show in Berkeley and outside of some of the staff I didn’t know a fucking soul. Who were all these short haired people and where did they all come from? Walking down the street with Dave on our way to the venue, these three poindexters behind us asked if we were going to the “Rock concert?” Rock concert? That reminds me of The Brady Bunch when Greg or Marsha would ask the folks if they could go to the “Rock concert?
I never once asked my parents if I could go to a “Rock concert?” I would ask by name like, “hey Mom, can I see KISS or Judas Priest or Lord Tracy next week?” Who talks like that? I’ll tell you who….GAMERS!! The house was full of them…and Goth chicks. Castle Rat’s appeal goes way beyond a Metal audience…which is why they’re selling out places the size of The UC Theatre.
Now to their set. I’ve heard their music described as “Fantasy Doom Metal”. The fantasy part I completely get with the stage show and theme of the band. It’s the Doom Metal part I have a hard time with. They have doomy passages for sure but their sound is more of traditional Heavy Metal with again, Doom laden parts throughout their songs.
The label “Doom” is really being thrown around haphazardly nowadays. Even Stoner Rock bands are being labeled “Doom”. Doom Metal to me is Candlemass, early Trouble, Gates Of Slumber, Sabbath’s Master Of Reality, Cathedral’s FOREST OF FUCKING EQUILIBRIUM!! Now that’s Doom for ya.
Castle Rat are all fantastic musicians and to prove it each one had their moment to shine. Solos aren’t usually a high point for me at any “Rock concert” but all three (lead guitar, bass and drums) solos were fantastic and not too long.
The drummers kit sounded amazing. Especially the toms which he did a ton of Kim Ruzz-esque fills on. Very creative. I wasn’t able to get a good look at what brand of kit he was playing but it sounded great.
Now for the visual aspect of the show. I loved every second of it. There was a wizard, unicorn, rat queen, swords clashing, a death and resurrection! The master of ceremonies, vocalist guitarist Riley Pinkerton commanded the stage handling the roles of vocalist, narrator and actor quite well.
It was like watching a live action Red Sonja set to the tune of rad 80’s inspired Metal. Their performance was very satisfying in that it pleased the Metalhead AND the fantasy/Conan The Barbarian dork in me. Not many bands can successfully pull that off.
–Bleeding Priest
