The Thing That Should Not Be

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a grim picture of an ancient, malevolent entity stirring from its slumber. A sense of dread permeates the verses, describing a "messenger of fear" and "dark deception" that "kills the light." The imagery of "hybrid children" praying for a "roaming free" Father hints at a corrupted lineage or a desperate hope tied to this awakening power. The dominant tone is one of impending doom and cosmic horror, where sanity itself seems to be under siege. The central conflict lies in the awakening of a "fearless wretch" and a "great old one" that lurks "beneath the sea." This entity is a hunter of shadows, a source of "insanity" that "awakens" and "searches." The lyrics suggest a cyclical or eternal nature to this threat, with phrases like "immortal in madness you dwell" and the unsettling idea that "stranger eons death may die." The "cult has summoned" this power, implying a deliberate act that has unleashed chaos. The most striking aspect of the writing is its relentless focus on corruption and the breakdown of order. The "fallen city, living death" and "crawling chaos, underground" create a visceral sense of decay and unnatural existence. The repeated command to "Face the thing that should not be" directly confronts the listener with the terrifying inevitability of this entity's presence, suggesting that resistance is futile and madness is the only outcome. The lyrics masterfully build tension through these dark, evocative images and the sense of an unstoppable force rising. This piece is effective because it taps into primal fears of the unknown and the loss of control. The language is stark and direct, avoiding complex metaphors in favor of blunt pronouncements of horror. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the inescapable nature of the threat, while the final verse's contemplation of death and eternity amplifies the cosmic scale of the dread. It leaves the listener with a chilling sense of vulnerability against forces beyond comprehension.