> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # CASTLE RAT BRING THE REALM TO TORONTO - URL: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/castle-rat-bring-the-realm-to-toronto/ - Published: 2026-10-21T18:17:29.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-21T18:17:29.000Z - Description: Castle Rat transformed Toronto’s Opera House into a theatrical medieval realm on Saturday night, with Wraith Knight opening the evening before the band unleashed their unique blend of heavy metal, fantasy and spectacle. - Author: Rae Chatten - Tags: Castle Rat, This Day In Metal On Saturday night, the lines between Toronto and fantasy lore completely blurred as a packed Opera House stepped into Castle Rat’s theatrical Realm. Opening the night was Wraith Knight, a solo multi instrumentalist. I'll be honest, when I walked in and heard the synths I honestly thought it was the intro music for Unto Others and rushed to the stage. I quickly realized my mistake and stopped, to then see a friend rush past me thinking the same. I only caught the last song but it was very minimalistic medieval sounding, something you would put on while playing Dungeons & Dragons maybe. Next up, Unto Others, a rock/heavy metal band all the way from Portland. I've always enjoyed their imagery, from their cobwebbed logo and dark stage design to their goth set displays. Unlike a lot of other shows where fans stroll in late just for the headliner, the venue was absolutely packed from wall to wall when these guys hit the stage and tore into their set. They ripped through a tight performance filled with heavy riffs and dark hooks, making every second of their 45min set count. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/10/CASTLERAT3-RaeChatten@raerocknroam.jpg) Photo by Rae Chatten [@raerocknroam](https://www.instagram.com/raerocknroam/?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) Then, the main event, Castle Rat. When the Rat Queen and her comrades took the stage, the Opera House ceased to be a venue in Toronto and became a gateway directly into the Realm. The performance was an entertaining mix of heavy metal and a 1980's fantasy film brought to life. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/10/CASTLERAT4-RaeChatten@raerocknroam.jpg) Photo by Rae Chatten [@raerocknroam](https://www.instagram.com/raerocknroam/?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) Their set leaned heavily into D&D vibes, featuring a giant wizard, mythical stage characters like dragons and a dancing wolf, and a little backstory for every member of the band. Was it a little cheesy? Not if you took it too seriously. I didn't and I really enjoyed the show! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/10/CASTLERAT5-RaeChatten@raerocknroam.jpg.jpg) Photo by Rae Chatten [@raerocknroam](https://www.instagram.com/raerocknroam/?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) What made their performance even more impressive was that the Rat Queen was battling a sickness of her own, telling the crowd she was fighting "the plague." Being in the photo pit and spending the rest of the set right next to the stage, I could tell she was giving it all she had despite having a hard time, leaning on other members and having quiet moments of exhaustion. But otherwise, you would never have known, her vocals were insanely good from start to finish. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/10/CASTLERAT7-RaeChatten@raerocknroam.jpg-1.jpg) Photo by Rae Chatten [@raerocknroam](https://www.instagram.com/raerocknroam/?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) The theatrical narrative reached a fever pitch toward the end of the set with a dancing sword-and-scythe battle between the Rat Queen and the Rat Reaperess. In this epic battle, our Queen was seemingly defeated, only to come back to life in a bloody, dramatic climax. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/10/CASTLERAT2-RaeChatten@raerocknroam.jpg.jpg) Photo by Rae Chatten [@raerocknroam](https://www.instagram.com/raerocknroam/?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) Unlike other shows where people slip out during the encore to beat traffic or get home early, the venue stayed absolutely packed right to the very end. They wrapped up their set with their hit, and the song I've had stuck in my head all week, "Siren", as a massive mosh pit finally erupted across the floor. I kinda wish they had played this earlier, as I would've liked a bit more time to jump in the moshpit myself. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2026/10/CASTLERAT6-RaeChatten@raerocknroam.jpg) Photo by Rae Chatten [@raerocknroam](https://www.instagram.com/raerocknroam/?ref=thisdayinmetal.com) With that, Castle Rat bid farewell and stepped back into their portal, closing out a ridiculously fun trip into the Realm for Toronto. If you have a chance to catch the Rat Queen and friends on their current journey around North America, do not miss it. SETLIST Dagger Dragger WIZARD WOLF I Bass Solo Feed the Dream UNICORN Fresh Fur Guitar Solo CRYSTAL CAVE DRAGON Drum Solo SERPENT ENCORE: Cry For Me SIREN