A chatty and inspired podcast of all occult. Everything from the Illuminati, secret societies and black magic. It is superbly researched and manages to rely the dry historic research in a witty way together with the alchemic actors, breaking into songs, taking unexpected side roads in the conversations.
Butter smooth voice taking you on a journey with the witches and a peep behind the curtain as how to live the witch life in the modern era. The host is a great interviewer and a great and optimistic view on the occult, even the most skeptics can respect and appreciate.
A sort of roadhouse bar playing stomping rock and metal, talking with practitioners of several types of magic, occult traditions. And even though the host, Cooper Wilhelm is a practitioner himself he really lets his guest take the place and comes off as an interested and a guy willing to ask questions about anything! Too bad this is a finished podcast, but enjoy the episodes that were made.
For the more researched based distanced podcast, check out Night Tide. A bi-monthly production, these guys really take their time doing the research, and presenting it in a great way. The host Stacy is super pleasant listening to and is one of the podcast host that manage the balance between music/narrating and the stories are the perfect blend of creative and informative storytelling.
Love a niche podcast, and this is it! Satanic panic was raving through the 80’s America, where a numerous cases accusing others for satanical acts. The hosts takes you through what really happened, covering the court cases, rumors, dungeons and dragons and the Church of Satan. Yeah, its great, check them out.
Some of them uses him more of a muse of exploring the dark sides of humanity. Some use him just for financially gain, like Jack Black himself said when saying: “Satan sells tickets.” Some have gone even further, dabbling in the occult or being straight believing in Satan and worshiping. This is mostly harmless, but then again, churches have definitely burnt down in the name of Satan.
Satan was something of a multi-instrumentalist himself, because as well as playing the fiddle, Ezekiel 28:13 states that he had his own instruments built into his very being. So perhaps not that strange that many musicians find him alluring as a character.
The Deamon Lover
This is a famous Scottish ballad about a man (usually the Devil) returns to his former lover after a very long absence, and finds her with a husband and a baby. He entices her to leave both behind and come with him, luring her with many ships laden with treasure. It can be traced back to the 1700.
Lyrics
Well met, well met, my own true love Well met, well met, cried he I’ve just returned from the salt, salt sea And it’s all for the sake of thee
I’ve come for the vows that you promised me To be my partner in life She said my vows you must forgive For now I’m a wedded wife
Yes I have married a house carpenter To him I’ve born two fine sons For it’s seven long years since you sailed to the west And I took you for dead and gone
If I was to leave my husband dear And my two babies also Just what have you to take me to If with you I should now go
I have seven ships out upon the sea And the eighth one that brought me to land With four and twenty bold mariners And music on every hand
It was then she went to her two little babes She kissed them on cheek and on chin Saying fare thee well my sweet little ones I’ll never see you again
They had not sailed much more than a week I know that it was not three When altered grew his countinence And a raging came over the sea
When they reached the shore again On the far side of the sea It was there she spied his cloven hoof And wept most bitterly
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Me and the Devil Blues
One of the most famous Made-A-Pact-With-The-Devil stories must be Robert Johnson, that made a deal for some crazy guitar skills. In the crossroad of highway 61 and 49 intersect a legend was born. In 1930 it is alleged he went out to make a Faustian pact with the devil to be the greatest guitar player. In any case, talent he got. When he died he was only 27 and it is said he was poisoned by the devil. The legend goes he heard the howling of the hell hounds, coming for him when the devil claimed him as his own.
Lyrics
Early this mornin’ When you knocked upon my door Early this mornin’, ooh When you knocked upon my door And I said, “Hello, Satan,” I believe it’s time to go.”
Me and the Devil Was walkin’ side by side Me and the Devil, ooh Was walkin’ side by side And I’m goin’ to beat my woman Until I get satisfied
She say you don’t see why That you will dog me ’round
Now, babe, you know you ain’t doin’ me right, don’cha
She say you don’t see why, ooh That you will dog me ’round It must-a be that old evil spirit So deep down in the ground
You may bury my body Down by the highway side
Baby, I don’t care where you bury my body when I’m dead and gone
You may bury my body, ooh Down by the highway side So my old evil spirit Can catch a Greyhound bus and ride
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Sympathy For The Devil
The Rolling’s stones is perhaps not remembered as a satanic rock band, but once upon the time, they kind of were. Mostly Mick Jagger was the one interested in occult books like Taoist Secret Of The Golden Flower. And in 1969 sympathy for the devil came out. There were also claims that the Church Of Satan used the song as an anthem. Hey, it was the late 60s!
Lyrics
Lyrics: Please allow me to introduce myself I’m a man of wealth and taste I’ve been around for a long, long year Stole many a man’s soul and faith
I was ’round when Jesus Christ Had his moment of doubt and pain Made damn sure that Pilate Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name But what’s puzzling you Is the nature of my game
I stuck around St. Petersberg When I saw it was a time for a change Killed the Czar and his ministers Anastasia screamed in vain I rode a tank Held a general’s rank When the blitzkrieg raged And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name, oh yeah What’s puzzling you is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee as your kings and queens Fought for ten decades For the Gods they made I shouted out “Who killed the Kennedys?” When after all It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself I’m a man of wealth and taste And I lay traps for troubadours Who get killed before they reach Bombay
Pleased to meet you Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game, oh yeah Well, get down, hit it
Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name, oh yeah But what’s confusin’ you is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails just call me Lucifer ‘Cause I’m in need of some restraint
So if you meet me Have some courtesy Have some sympathy, and some taste Use all your well-learned politesse Or I’ll lay your soul to waste, mmm yeah Pleased to meet you Hope you guess my name, mmm yeah But what’s puzzling you is the nature of my game
The Devil Went Down to Georgia
Released in 1979, the song was the most successful one for the band Charlie Daniels Band. It is a pretty upbeat song, but with a more sinister lyric. Inspired by a poem the song deals with the deal with the devil motif. The song begins as a disappointed Devil arrives in Georgia, apparently “way behind” on stealing souls, when he comes upon a fiddle-playing young man named Johnny.
Lyrics
The devil went down to Georgia He was lookin’ for a soul to steal He was in a bind ‘Cause he was way behind And he was willin’ to make a deal When he came across this young man Sawin’ on a fiddle and playin’ it hot And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump And said, “boy, let me tell you what” “I guess you didn’t know it But I’m a fiddle player too And if you’d care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with you Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy But give the devil his due I’ll bet a fiddle of gold Against your soul ‘Cause I think I’m better than you.” The boy said, “my name’s Johnny And it
The devil went down to Georgia He was lookin’ for a soul to steal He was in a bind ‘Cause he was way behind And he was willin’ to make a dealWhen he came across this young man Sawin’ on a fiddle and playin’ it hot And the devil jumped up on a hickory stump And said, “boy, let me tell you what””I guess you didn’t know it But I’m a fiddle player too And if you’d care to take a dare, I’ll make a bet with youNow you play a pretty good fiddle, boy But give the devil his due I’ll bet a fiddle of gold Against your soul ‘Cause I think I’m better than you.”The boy said, “my name’s Johnny And it might be a sin But I’ll take your bet, you’re gonna regret ‘Cause I’m the best there’s ever been.”Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard ‘Cause Hell’s broke loose in Georgia, and the devil deals the cards And if you win, you get this shiny fiddle made of gold But if you lose, the devil gets your soulThe devil opened up his case And he said, “I’ll start this show.” And fire flew from his fingertips As he rosined up his bowAnd he pulled the bow across the strings And it made an evil hiss Then a band of demons joined in And it sounded something like thisWhen the devil finished Johnny said, “well, you’re pretty good, ol’ son But sit down in that chair right there And let me show you how it’s done.””Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun Chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough Granny, does your dog bite? No, child, noThe devil bowed his head Because he knew that he’d been beat And he laid that golden fiddle On the ground at Johnny’s feetJohnny said, “Devil, just come on back If you ever wanna try again I done told you once you son of a bitch I’m the best that’s ever been.”He played “Fire on the Mountain” run boys, run The devil’s in the House of the Rising Sun The chicken in a bread pan pickin’ out dough Granny, will your dog bite? No child, no
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Houses Of The Holy
Songs like this made people talk aboud Led Zeppelin being a Satanic Band. Jimmy Page himself was extremly occupied of exploring the occult, attending séances, collected occult artefacts. He also bought a house in Loch Ness. Page once said that mixing in Satanic influences was like an “alchemical process”.
Lyrics
Let me take you to the movies Can I take you to the show Let me be yours ever truly Can I make your garden grow
From the houses of the holy, we can watch the white doves go From the door comes satan’s daughter, and it only goes to show, you know
There’s an angel on my shoulder, in my hand a sword of gold Let me wander in your garden and the seeds of love I’ll sow you know
So the world is spinning faster are you dizzy when you’re stoned Let the music be your master will you heed the master’s call Oh Satan and man
Said there ain’t no use in crying ’cause it will only, only drive you mad Does it hurt to hear them lying? Was this the only world you had? oh oh
So let me take you, take you to the movie Can I take you, baby, to the show Why don’t you let me be yours ever truly Can I make your garden grow, you know
The 2019 faux movie-within-a-movie type of horror has taken up interest again, the movie, “Antrum, the deadliest film ever made”. I can’t really remember that a so popular movie have fooled so many people since Blair Witch. Correct me if I’m wrong, but most of the trending now is challenging people to watch it, believing the intended myth behind this mockumentary-found footage type of movie. The premise of the cursed horror movie is of a real cursed movie from the 70s, now resurfaced. After watching it, jumping on the wagon a bit late, I couldn’t help noticing, what truly terrified me after watching. So after the initial hype has died out, and the truth is sort of “out there”, this is my take on it.
Spoilers ahead, so be warned.
Synopsis
The movie opens with a documentary type of style, talking about a horror movie from the 70s allegedly from the Soviet that caused the death of many many people, from casual movie goers to film festival leaders. It claims that it caused the death of 56 people in Budapest when it screened in a cinema that burned down in 1988. And also it injured and killed a woman in San Francisco in 1993 when someone laced the popcorn with LSD. Then it does a countdown of a clock, and the movie Antrum starts. Simple, but so effective. Then the “real” movie begins.
It tells the story of a teen sister and her kid brother, hiking. They recently lost their dog, and the boy is convinced the dog went to hell. So they travel to a place and try to dig their way to hell to get the dog back. They follow the instruction of a book the sister claims she got from a certain “Ike”. All told through a beautiful European art-house film from the 1970s filter, but with a horror twist in the cinematography. The rest of the movie is them battling hillbillies, what is dream, what is reality and the lurking shadows in the corner of their eyes. An honest discussion about what happens when one believes a lie.
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Background of the “movie legend”
Of course, none of this is true, but it is some of the allure of the movie, and in my eyes, some of the social commentary the movie Antrum brings to the table, elevating it from mere horror-flick, to more of a drama with a purpose and moral. We learn halfway through the sister is behind it all, making the book, lying about meeting the devil and that it was all made up in order to help her brother, suffering from nightmares and the belief that the dog went to hell. But the fiction turns on her, making her lie true because of people believing in it.
Perhaps, it is a long time since a mockumentary was able to fool as big of an audience as it did. What is truly frightening is the way some with so many followers, like the teens on Tik-Tok, blogs and YouTube channels fuels this “found footage” story. Isolated, this is fun. Harmless lies we tell in the dark as we always have, as good horror intends to. It is also fascinating that even in the time of internet, were the truth is literary one google search away, people still believe the hype, the narrative, the story. On the other side, it is in these time of “fake news”, a bit sad of when we see how actual important news, fake as well as real, can be manipulated, believed and not believed in. But never mind that (puts the media education away) let’s look at how genius they did it (puts on horror loving hat):
For one, it is clear they put a lot of effort in making it be in the 70s. From the clothes, filming style, the grainy filter and color palette. Even down to that creepy CGI of the squirrel. A truly demonic entity that is.
As with other cult movies, they did something cool in the way they let the influencer who were fooled market the thing for them, making the viewing something of an event rather than just a standard movie night. Also it is something quite endearing about the collective watching of it that is only found in the horror community, I think.
Even with my obsessive googling, it took a couple of searches to truly find evidence of the falseness. Even down to the actors’ age was removed from their IMDb profiles, making it easier to keep up the belief. It is also cool about how it is finally a movie thinking more about the movie being bigger than the actors, not the other way around.
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The terrifying thing about the movieAntrum
Is this a scary movie? In some regards, yes. Like the Blair Witch Project, it is the format that makes the scares, the legend behind it, the myth bigger than a simple movie. And the way the shaky camera movements from most found footage makes movies unpredictable and scary, it is the the overlaying of “cut in clips no one knows were came from” and the clip in of the sigils and Latin phrases making one question: Could it really be?
Is it truly “bad” enough to be believed in though? I think not, and I was sort of bothered about how perfect it all looked from a Soviet movie from the 70s. But then again, it did sort of look too rough to be a more “proper” movie. Also they spoke English, and none of the non-English speaking people can sort of believe that mash up. It just seems weird and sort of a very American thing to do, making it in English instead of just putting subtitles on.
What my main take of it was that it was more of a heart felt movie than a demonic one. I felt more sympathy for the siblings and believed in their relationship than I believed I was cursed by Satan after watching it.
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It occurred to me mid movie, what scared me the most though. Even the myth, claims I would die few days after watching it, and that creepy demon between the trees, it was none of them though that made my heart race. It was the threat of people:
True, jump scares don’t really work on me in the long run, great costumes sort of blend in when watching as many horror movies as I do. But what never cease to scare me, are the threat of real humans. It never goes away. In the movie, not only do they have to fight of demonic entities, but some good old fashioned hillbillies, that does these random gruesome things like: fucking dead animals, boiling people alive, shooting children and wear antlers on a trucker hat. Yes, not really the most original or in depth type of characters. But when checking my pulse throughout the movie, it is sort of only in those scenes a steady rush of fear comes. I found that very interesting. That no matter how much of a supernatural, demonic myth, claiming it would take your life, nothing is as scary as the threat of real humans, wanting to do you harm.
And that is what really was terrifying about this cursed movie.
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
