The Shadow over Merthyr (2014)

from Project Retake by DOUG the Eagle

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about

Strangely enough, this was the song which originally gave me the idea of a 'revisit your old songs' album. I love the orchestration, the Bal-Sagoth-inspired vocals and the Lovecraft parody, and decided that it would be great to try and redo it.

The vocals were dubbed over from the original tape because I felt they worked well enough. I added bass - with a couple of flubs in places - and it was during the recording of the bass part that I decided to rework the ending so that it came to a halt instead of fading away.

lyrics

The Shadow Over Merthyr
(Original recording appears on 'Pancake Ferret, 2008)
With apologies to Bal Sagoth, and the inhabitants of Merthyr Tydfil

I had heard many tales of Merthyr Tydfil, tales of lootings... car crimes... evil cults that worshipped Cthulu... but I dismissed these as mere foolish superstition.

At the time I had no interest in this place, shunned and feared as it was by its neighbours, until a private matter took me to the Brecon Beacons. My train stranded by the wrong kind of leaves on the line, I was forced to seek shelter in a hotel in Merthyr. It was a night I would not soon forget...

Tossing and turning that night, I found myself unable to sleep in the uncomfortable bed in my hotel. As I went to find another pillow I became aware of noises in the corridor outside my room, the sounds of prowling footsteps and hushed voices. The whispering of ancient tongues... nighted creatures who had been sent to bring me before their dark master!

What ancient evil creatures flee before the sunshine?
What loathsome nighted horrors dwell beneath the coalmine?
What sinistrous powers lurk 'neath fear-shadowed Merthyr?

Gathering my wits and what possessions I could cram into my valise, I plotted my escape from shadowed Merthyr Tydfil.

Fleeing the hotel by means of the fire escape, I promptly found myself trapped within a darkened alleyway. From out of the shadows came the minions of darkness, their suits visible only as black shimmering against black, they dragged struggling into the depths of the ancient and disused coal-mine.

But I could see that struggling was of no use, so I did not resist as the darkling creatures drew me before the throne of the Taxman!

Such horrors that lurk unseen beneath the town... such evil!

The remnants of my sanity... lashed by P60s!

credits

from Project Retake, released May 6, 2014

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DOUG the Eagle Cwmbran, UK

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