Lovecraftian Themes In Metal
How Howard Phillips Lovecraft Became A Major Metal Inspiration
Aug 20, 2008
The works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, a science fiction writer who wrote for Weird Tales and other pulp fiction in the 1920’s and 1930’s, have been very influential in the lyrical content of many metal bands. H.P. Lovecraft’s stories have a shade of darkness and powerful element of fear regarding the abnormal side of the psyche and celestial wars, and this combined with his archaic and ultimately romantic style of writing give an instant rapport with metal lyricists.
Lovecraft’s bleak cosmic horror stories depicting the frailty of mankind’s sanity in light of extra-terrestrial intelligence spawned such deities as Cthulu and Azathoth. The Cthulu Mythos is a common reference point for many metal bands. The latter is the name of a band, as well as the stage surname of guitarist from legendary death metal band Morbid Angel.
Metallica Cannot Resist The Call Of Cthulu
Former Metallica bass man Cliff Burton had a fondness for all things cult and occult. This included the shady worlds of b-movie style science fiction and horror and in turn was inspired by the Misfits (whom Metallica still cover to this day) and bands like W.A.S.P. who embraced this horror imagery.
Burton was a big fan of Lovecraft’s work, and introduced other band members to the surreal and disturbing worlds of said writer’s imagination, so much so that many songs were lyrically inspired by Lovecraftian themes; and also in terms of nomenclature with (the aforementioned god) ‘The Call of Kutlu’ from 1984’s Ride the Lightning.
Lovecraft’s friends and fellow writers formed the Lovecraft Circle, which carried on after Lovecraft himself died in 1937. The supposed direct insight into his unconscious mind through night terrors and the associated unparalleled horror perception are the reasons that Greek dark metal band Septicflesh wrote the song ‘Lovecraft’s Death’, from the album Communion.
An Affection For The Arcane
Evidently metalheads have a distinct affection with Lovecraft as a visionary as he channelled his imagination into dark tales of mystery and the supernatural. Septicflesh dedicated the opening track to the great author and how his spirit and arcane scope transcends death. In a delicious Russian doll style construct, a metal song inspired by Lovecraft talks about another metal song inspired by Lovecraft. ‘Lovecraft’s Death’ references ‘The Call of Kutlu’ (mentioned earlier). The lyrics read:
“The Call of Cthulhu we disguised
With notes and raving rhythms
To spread the seed of lurking fear
Into the heart of man”
Similarly Dani Filth, of prominent British metal outfit Cradle of Filth, manifested his love of Lovecraft through the band’s lyrics and song titles. Naming a greatest hits album Lovecraft and Witchhearts in a delightful twist of wordplay and also the song ‘Cthulu Dawn’, which is a live staple are his manifestations of Lovecraft admiration.
Finally, to mention Metallica again, guitarist Kirk Hammet has been known to wear a Re-Animator t-shirt, which was a 1985 film by Stuart Gordon based on “Herbert West - Re-Animator”. There are many more musical and theatrical nods to the mighty Lovecraft; merely a few metallic instances are given here.
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