Horror Prog

meAsoi wrote: I would tag the Legendary Pink Dots' album The Museum of Human Happiness as progressive horror-pop. I believe it would be adequate.

Jacob Schoolcraft wrote: meAsoi wrote: Horrors Waiting in Line by Vaisseau is an album that screams for attention in this thread! Somewhat impressionable to me. It brings back some haunting memories of a occultism environment as a child. ...not so much horror movies and music as much as real people around me. To be precise...occultists. Wealthy people dressing in costumes you might recognize seeing on Dark Shadows. Strange people. Odd people who believe in the devil. Who seem to be deluding in life...who have multiple personalities..

Is it an occult oligarchy? That's cool, man!

I would tag the Legendary Pink Dots' album The Museum of Human Happiness as progressive horror-pop. I believe it would be adequate.

A lot of "Horror Prog" is written around the idea or belief that there is a deity called Satan. In some cases it has been portrayed through a made up story or a Black Mass. For example...Black Widow , Coven, or Jacula. The subject matter itself has a theatrical presentation and through the lyricism or sing-song chanting you can feel acting.


On a personal level I enjoy Univers Zero, Art Zoyd, and Goblin who all seem to focus on mysterious sounding music ...much more than the aforementioned. When listening to Univers Zero, Art Zoyd and Goblin you can interpret the music differently than a piece which rubs off on your consciousness as a Black Mass.

Throughout the history of Avant Garde, Electronic Music,Classical, Jazz and many sub-genres of Progressive Rock it is evident that some composers were occultists. In some cases...( though delusional), they felt a connection to the "spirit world" and pursued supernatural experiences of their own through music they created. Steve Jolliffe is an ideal candidate, but there are many others.

Instead of going the distance to purchase Aleister Crowley's house they extend their interest in the "Black arts" by sitting on a fence, ( so to speak) and their state of being undecided over what they read and believe surfaces through their music...while other musicians are pure occultists that have an inordinate interest in dangerous magic.

Some composers were subjected to a occultism environment as children and have triggers in adult life. Nightmares are a source to draw from when composing a piece that is dark. Not in all cases would you even think about that as in most cases your creativity is influenced by your Nightmares and is a feeling that cannot be described with words...not unlike Gnosis.

The music channels through you. It all occurs naturally. You have come into being...like the shadows and phantoms of the night. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to not think of theory during this creative process. It's a better connection between you and the music if your mind is wiped clean. You think of nothing at all and the music controls your mind...

Musicians writing dark sounding pieces often utilize the tri tone interval. Supposedly there has never been any evidence of the tri tone interval being banned from churches throughout history...but are you pulling my leg?? Are going to perform a piece which repeats the tri tone interval in a Christian church? I don't think so. No...playing Larks Tongues In Aspic Part I in a church where people believe in Christ? How do you think that would work out? You wouldn't allow it...correct?

You can write variations of the tri tone interval..
you can create a harmony which is uneasy to the human ear. The unsettling nature of its tone when played on various instruments simultaneously can be luring, hypnotic and bewitching. I don't believe in the supernatural...but I'm merely stating a fact about the music and it's affect on people who are swept up by it ..when subjected to it.



Edited by Jacob Schoolcraft - February 09 2025 at 20:33

omphaloskepsis wrote: ^ Great to see another reader of Dennis Wheatley.

Cosmiclawnmower wrote: ...

Unreal City - Horror Vacui

An exceptional blend of 70's Italian Prog, vintage horror music and... cartoon underscores.

verslibre wrote: Have you heard David Hughes' score for C.H.U.D.?

Unfamiliar to me. Great tune.

Starshiper wrote: Vrajitor's Tenebrarium – E.N.L.D.

That one is a great album, methinks. Pity that it has been overlooked.