#galaktikon2

Glad I discovered this magnificent album this year as well as rediscovering Metalocalypse for helping me make me feel less alone in my place in the universe.

Verse by verse,

I don't think you know who I am

But I have a tale to tell

Born from a wicked spell

Mephistopheles isn't me

But they see what they want to see

Blinded by everything

The narrator is either new to us, or new to us seeing their perspective/truth. He became what he is now through a spell, whether a literal curse or the cruel hand of fate. He is seen as a servant of the Devil, most likely not literally, but still as supernatural, horrible, and of ill intent, even though he does not see himself that way. He's seen as both hero and villain, both sides too caught up in their own agendas to see how much power he holds back, and how his only intervention is to further the prophecy he calls home.

I remember lying in my bed

I remember dirt above my head

Never ever wanted this to be

I am half of what I used to be

Going back to his "birth" from the first verse, through his eyes. I visualize his death, peaceful even, but to be awoken from a sleep, forever feeling out of place and wrong. Brought back to life against his will, perhaps part of him was sold, perhaps the people around him were doing the bidding of a higher power, or religiously fulfilling the prophecy.

The last two lines here I think are the cue for the who, when, and why. "I am half of what I used to be," is my clue-in that this could be sung by The Half Man, aka Mr. Salacia. He could be saying, yes, he WAS once a man, in the past, before his birth, and that he never asked to be whatever he is now.

He connects to his prior humanity, and while long accepted his fate and role, grieves his past self and the unfairness of his demise. In turn, we empathize, and realize he is another gear in the klok, playing his part in all this, and possibly not the highest power involved here.

I do not want to let it go

This has been all but foreseen

Star will shine bright in the sky tonight

Magnetized planets sing

I don't have any strong feelings or visuals on this verse, simply the same as I was saying, with him knowing what comes next and resigning himself to guide it all to fruition. Giving us hints to the climax of the albums action.

As far as "letting it go?" Possibly the last amount of humanity he's held on to, which could mirror what Dethklok themselves may have to give up in the end.

This cold heart keeps on beating

I'm the darkness you're feeling

Okay, first off, this moment musically and vocally... So emotional, so stunning, just overwhelms me. One of my favorites moments out of all of Brendon's work.

Anyway, two meaningful lines here. Salacia confirming he is reanimated, but still here and active, followed by his presence being felt. This could be in an overarching sense of terror, but I like the idea that he's speaking to Murderface. Murderface feeling the possession overtake him, and being flooded with Salacia, his power, his goals and words, but possibly some of his feelings and memories.

I visualize the shot of Murderface at the end of Doomstar; we've seen some of the bizarre and prophetic nightmares of the band, and this may be Murderface's turn. As the possession pulses through his veins, into his heart, mind, eyes, Murderface is awash with visions of the past. He feels a chill and slow beating pulse in tandem with his. The rage of Salacia's body being betrayed, and the internalized resentment of Murderface towards all who have cast him aside, melt together and rise up within him. Salacia and Murderface become one, and the built up anger hiding behind them following the rules and working behind the scenes is too much to bear. There is much less of a plan now, and the rampage ("My Name Is Murder") begins.

I still wait

Time will tell

Falcon flies

Magnetize

Backing up a bit, there is room between this song and "My Name is Murder." Salacia may be in him, and this Nightmare may happen, but he bides his time as always, waiting to strike, following the movements of each chess piece (Falconback, Doomstar, Dethklok, etc.). The prophecy may not be in stone.

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Also self-indulgent addition: I'm working on a crossover between Fear Street Part One and "Galaktikon II." That's a touch of my visual inspiration for the Nightmare itself:

(slight spoilers for Fear Street following)

A character touches an area that she was unaware to be the burial site of a witch. She is knocked back, nose bloodied, and shows a visceral slideshow of images from the past, out of context and in first-person. These images haunt her, both figuratively and literally, but we later see that it wasn't the intention; the body needed it's story to be heard. The unfairness of how it became something horrible against it's will. This would be Murderface being flooded with the eyes of The Half-Man.