Parts of this song were written way, way back. The chorus was originally about some kind of evil god but it lent itself well to the dragon concept.
Though describing it sounds like some kind of fever dream, the bass riff during the part about burnt fish in the sea was actually written in the early 90s for a school band project that didn't go anywhere, and it was inspired by a rubber fish from a box of cereal which my brother and I set alight with methylated spirits. (Hence the working title was "Burnt fish in the meths" but that word has taken on different connotations so, burnt fish in the sea is what you get). This was my first ever guitar solo, short as it is, and I think the Alpha Juno added a nice flavour to this part as well. The Juno parts were added as an improvisation after listening to the test mixes.
It was originally intended to have lyrics, but as with "Dragon King" I hit a big roadblock with the writing process and in the end did Bal-Sagoth style narration - both in the delivery and prose style - which I think worked out really well.
lyrics
Evil Dragon
"As the priests intoned the forbidden ritual from the Dark Bible, a terrifying shape rose forth from the Void. Dragons are not uncommon in Arcaia, but this was no ordinary dragon."
He wants to see us all die
How can I put it less subtly?
With fire from the sky
He turned our tale into a tragedy
Beware the Evil Dragon
"Swooping low across the villages in ways no civilised creature would dare, the grey shape disgorged vast gouts of flame, setting afire the thatched roofs of the ancient settlement. Panic ensured as the rogue lizard returned again and again, taking pleasure from the chaos and death. Ice-dragons attempted to douse the flames, but in vain, as they were driven back by their more powerful foe."
He wants to see us all die
How can I put it less subtly?
He opened up the sky
And turned the Word into a blasphemy
Beware the Evil Dragon
We were drifting along like they said in that song, living life how it should be
Now he’ll scorch us to death with his firey breath like a burnt fish in the sea
"Heroes of men and dragon alike flew to the province’s aid, but the grey dragon was more than a match for them. Taking counsel from the wise, their lord decreed that a band of heroes must match forth to the realm of Taria, there to seek an audience with the overking, a mighty warrior, one never yet defeated in battle – and to plea for his aid."
He wants to see us all die
How can I put it less subtly?
With fire from the sky
He turned our tale into a tragedy
Who’ll stop the Evil Dragon?
The hard-hitting, genre-agnostic songs on the latest from Dan Webb were inspired by conversations he had with a wide range of musicians. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 18, 2023
With their blend of playfulness and graduate-level instrumentation, Dorcha deftly prove that improvisational zeal and conservatory-level precision aren't mutually exclusive. Bandcamp Album of the Day Nov 16, 2020
Post-Worthless, Annique Monet makes solo LP of magical, psychedelic pop songs that drift in and out of consciousness. Bandcamp New & Notable May 22, 2015
