For centuries in Europe and it's colonies, the dominant newer religion of Christianity has been flexing it's muscle and successfully purging the world of the old beliefs such as pre-Christian paganism and it's surviving adherents, the Witch-Cult. Much as unchecked industrialisation has purged the Earth of much of it's natural ecosystem and biodiversity, the militant materialism of the "new" religions has all but wiped out the nature-respecting Earth worship of the old beliefs.
Pete Jay (Assück), through his metal band blackQueen, posits an alternative interpretation of Argento's famous Witch cycle. He suggests that the Mothers Suspiriorum, Tenebrarum and Lachrymarum are not aimlessly malevolent in their intention to do harm to the human status quo. Rather, they are meting out punishment on humanity for the despoilment and destruction wrought on our planet in the name of "progress" and personal gain. They can also be seen to be reacting defensively to centuries of violent persecution from the establishment. Torture and execution at the hands of inquisitors and witch-hunters - not out of misunderstanding (as is often suggested by apologists), but a deliberate agenda of religious persecution with the ultimate aim of extermination.
From this viewpoint the Three Mothers become sympathetic characters, in hiding for their very survival, only killing to protect their identities. This is a refreshingly thought provoking perspective, and adds a new dimension and depth to Argento's trilogy.
Thanks to Pete for letting me post blackQueen's '99 demo, Witch Metal, here on the EYE. It's a killer dose of filthy, raw, blackened occult metal followed by a great cover of Goblin's "Suspiria". You can and should download it by clicking on the Latin quote at the end of this post. A new incarnation of blackQueen is working on some fresh material and you can be in touch with them here and here.
Silentium
I do not know what price I shall have to pay for breaking what we alchemists call Silentium. The life experience of our colleague should teach us not to upset laymen by imposing our knowledge upon them. I, Varelli, an architect living in London, met the Three Mothers and designed and built for them three dwelling places. ...I failed to discover until too late that from these three locations the Three Mothers rule the world with sorrow, tears, and darkness... And I built their horrible houses, the repositories of all their filthy secrets...
The land upon which the three houses have been constructed will eventually become deathly and plague-ridden, so much so that the area all around will reek horribly. And that is the first key to the mothers' secret, truly the primary key. The second key to the poisonous secret of the three sisters is hidden in the cellar under their houses. There you can find both the picture and the name of the sister living in that house. This is the location of the second key. The third key can be found under the soles of your shoes; there is the third key.
Suspiriorum
THE THIRD KEY
Underneath the soles of your shoes
Weeping in the dark, unbridled fear emerges
Gripping, hollow, ripping, shallow, hanging over chasms, slipping
She has a secret, old as time, know her name, know her crime
Undefinable, her face is black
Hell awaits behind that door, you are going to meet death now!
Your throat is slit, pretty eyes cut out
Your heart hangs on her bedroom wall bleeding, rotting in the dark
Underneath the soles of your shoes
Weeping in the dark, unbridled fear emerges
Gripping, hollow, ripping, shallow, hanging over chasms, slipping
She has a secret, old as time, know her name, know her crime
Undefinable, her face is black
Hell awaits behind that door, you are going to meet death now!
Your throat is slit, pretty eyes cut out
Your heart hangs on her bedroom wall bleeding, rotting in the dark
Tenebrarum
CRUELEST OF THE THREE
Grinding into sausage, your poor sister, say goodbye
Fed to dogs that prowl, hunting vermin in the night
From behind a curtain, slashing through subconscious mind
Raven blades take flight
Hear something behind you in the pathway, a bell that rings inside
Fear something behind you, hear a crying
The last thing you will hear alive
Darkness is her legion, mother of the cold and blind
Sickly sweet her region skulks, question not her secret crimes
Eyes of her familiar, walls have ears that tell her why
She will take your eyes
Hear something behind you in the pathway, a bell that rings inside
Fear something behind you, hear a crying
The last thing you will see alive. Oh Mater!
Mother take the autumn, eclipsing my heart in the sorrow of shades
Enigmatic queen I bleed for thee,
Through your curses mortal hearts will cease
Clock strikes twelve, from shadows winds will blow, I know...
Anahl Nathrahk, Uth Basbethuhd, Dothyel Tienthrae
Grinding into sausage, your poor sister, say goodbye
Fed to dogs that prowl, hunting vermin in the night
From behind a curtain, slashing through subconscious mind
Raven blades take flight
Hear something behind you in the pathway, a bell that rings inside
Fear something behind you, hear a crying
The last thing you will hear alive
Darkness is her legion, mother of the cold and blind
Sickly sweet her region skulks, question not her secret crimes
Eyes of her familiar, walls have ears that tell her why
She will take your eyes
Hear something behind you in the pathway, a bell that rings inside
Fear something behind you, hear a crying
The last thing you will see alive. Oh Mater!
Mother take the autumn, eclipsing my heart in the sorrow of shades
Enigmatic queen I bleed for thee,
Through your curses mortal hearts will cease
Clock strikes twelve, from shadows winds will blow, I know...
Anahl Nathrahk, Uth Basbethuhd, Dothyel Tienthrae
