Metal Mixtape: HP Lovecraft, vol 1

You practically can’t write a metal album these days without a passing reference to the Cthulhu mythos, so it’s no surprise I have songs enough to fill several Metal Mixtapes.

Metallica – Call of Ktulu

Thank you Cliff Burton, for generally being amazing and for introducing me to Lovecraft. RIP, dude.

If you’ve never heard Metallica before (what? Shocking, I know), this is a haunting instrumental piece written mostly by Metallica’s legendary late bassist.

Here’s the S&M version (that’s Symphony and Metallica – live with an orchestra, not the other kind, for those not in the know)

Cradle of Filth – Cthulhu Dawn

I first got the idea for HP Lovecraft month from reading the extensive chapter on the man in the Gospel of Filth, which I was sent for review by the amazing Fab Press many months ago (and still have to put up my review! Urgh – I’m hopeless). So Cradle deserves a mention in the first Cthulhu mixtape.

Black Sabbath – Beyond the Wall of Sleep

Inspired by the Lovecraft story of the same name, a classic Black Sabbath song.

Deicide – Dead but Dreaming

Fucking love this song. From the album Legion, Deicide gives us a death metal take on Lovecraft.

Electric Wizard – Dunwich

This is one of my favorite Stoner / Doom songs ever – it’s that awesome riff. Electric Wizard, doing what they do best – mixing horror and drugs.

HP Lovecraft Historical Society – Tentacles

Your non-metal song for the week, and my favorite HP Lovecraft song EVER. Written by the HPLHS, this is a parody of the first song from The Fiddler on the Roof. They’ve written an entire album, The Shoggoth on the Roof, which I happen to own, because I am a geek, and this always makes me smile. I love the argument about the Elder Sign (I hope YOU don’t think it’s a star).

Enjoy.

HP Lovecraft – At the Mountains of Madness

Old school psychedelica – I couldn’t compile an HP Lovecraft mixtape without including HP Lovecraft, the band.

Darkest of the Hillside Thickets – The Sounds of Tindalos

Random indie rock band I’d never heard of until this week, but practically every song they wrote is about Lovecraft. “The Sounds of Tindalos” is one of their only music videos. Crazy stuff.

Therion – Call of Dagon

Another masterpiece from Therion. If you like symphonic metal and haven’t heard this song … well, what are you waiting for?

Vadar – R’Lyeh

I could only find this song in a video with “The Wrath” – both songs form the closing of Vadar’s 1994 EP, “Sothis”.

Now, I know I have missed TONS of songs, because I’m saving them up for the next two Metal Mixtapes, but if you have any suggestions, I would really like to hear them – chances are, you will know at least some I don’t.

Chtulhu Fhtagn!