The Thing That Should Not Be

Song Meaning

This track plunges into a visceral, cosmic horror. It paints a scene of ancient evil stirring from a deep, disturbed slumber, manifesting as a "crawling chaos" from "underground." The dominant tone is one of dread and encroaching madness, as a "cult has summoned, twisted sound" to awaken something "immortal" and terrifying. The lyrics establish a palpable sense of unease, hinting at a "living death" that has been "upset" from its "timeless sleep." The core tension lies in the inevitable confrontation with this awakened entity, referred to as "the thing that should not be." The lyrics suggest this being is a "hunter of the shadows" that "searches" and "watches," intent on draining its victims of their sanity. The repetition of "in madness you dwell" underscores the psychological toll this entity inflicts, trapping its prey in a state of perpetual insanity. The narrator appears to be warning of or experiencing this descent into the abyss. The craft here relies heavily on evocative, fragmented imagery and a sense of overwhelming, ancient power. Phrases like "fallen city, living death" and "stranger eons death may die" create a sense of vast, unfathomable time and decay. The recurring motif of "insanity" and the direct command to "face the thing that should not be" build a claustrophobic, inescapable dread. The structure, with its repeated refrains and escalating intensity, mirrors the encroaching horror. What makes these lyrics so effective is their ability to evoke a primal fear of the unknown and the incomprehensible. The language is stark and direct, yet hints at a vast, unseen mythology. The relentless focus on the psychological breakdown – the "drain you of your sanity" – makes the cosmic threat deeply personal and terrifying. It’s the feeling of being overwhelmed by forces beyond human understanding, leading to a complete loss of self.