The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets
Template:Short description Template:Infobox musical artist
The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets is a Canadian rock band from Chilliwack, British Columbia. Their music largely consists of often tongue-in-cheek homages to the works of H. P. Lovecraft, specifically the Cthulhu Mythos.
History
Band formation (1992)
The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets formed in January 1992<ref name="WiredAtkinson2008"/><ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/> after meeting at Fraser Valley College in Abbotsford, British Columbia.<ref name="MussbacherUFV2012"/> Lead singer Toren Atkinson and lead guitarist Warren Banks formed the band so they could open for local group Mystery Machine.<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/> Even though they "had no musical training or experience"<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/> they were able to create a three song set list and play the opening act for their first show. Jordan Pratt of Mystery Machine joined as the band's drummer in 1993 and quit Mystery Machine in 1999 to focus on The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets.
The band's name is drawn from a phrase in Lovecraft's story The Tomb: "I will tell only of the lone tomb in the darkest of the hillside thickets".<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/><ref name="WiredAtkinson2008"/> Atkinson and Banks decided to create a band around the Cthulhu mythos because it was a topic they were interested in, and it was a unique "niche that [needed] to be filled".<ref name="AbsoluteUndergroundInterview"/>
In their early years the band produced three demo tapes: Gurgle Gurgle Gurgle', Hurts Like Hell!, and Cthulhuriffomania.<ref name="ThicketsMusic"/> Most of the songs were later re-released on other albums.<ref name="ThicketsMusic"/>
Cthulhu Strikes Back (1995)
The band's first CD release was Cthulhu Strikes Back.<ref name="ThicketsMusic"/> Cthulhu Strikes Back was re-released as a Special Edition in 2003, containing two new songs. <ref name="ThicketsMusic"/><ref name="ThicketsCSBSE"/><ref name="CthulhuStrikesBackCD2003"/>
Great Old Ones (1996)
In 1996, the band released Great Old Ones.<ref name="ThicketsGreatOldOnes"/>
Spaceship Zero (2000)
Template:Seealso In 2000, the Thickets released Spaceship Zero: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.<ref name="SSZSoundtrack"/><ref name="SpaceshipZeroCD"/> The singer Toren said the album was "heavily inspired by the science fiction movies and reruns we'd all grown up with like Lost in Space and Angry Red Planet".<ref name="InnsmouthFreePress2009"/> Spaceship Zero was released under a new record label, Divine Industries.<ref name="ChilliwackProgressSSZ2000"/><ref name="SpaceshipZeroCD"/>
Let Sleeping Gods Lie (2002)
In 2002, the Thickets collaborated with Wizards of the Coast to release Let Sleeping Gods Lie - an all-Cthulhu Mythos themed CD. The album was used to promote Wizards' new d20 edition of the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game.<ref name="WotCd20CoCThickets"/> The album contained twelve previously released Thickets tracks, and had a special tie-in with the Call of Cthulhu game rules. If the CD is played during a roleplaying session, the game contains rules for die roll modifiers that take effect depending on what song is currently playing.<ref name="WotcCoCThicketsRules"/>
The Shadow Out of Tim (2007)
The Shadow Out of Tim is the Thickets' second theme album, after Spaceship Zero. The title is a play on words from the H.P Lovecraft short story The Shadow Out of Time. The album is an adaptation and a rock opera based on Lovecraft's story.<ref name="AbsoluteUndergroundInterview"/> The album recounts the tale of a marine biologist who found his body had "been possessed by an alien intelligence" and works to find out what happened.<ref name="AbsoluteUndergroundInterview"/> The album was released at the Summer Solstice (June 21) 2007.<ref name="ThicketsSolsticeStreetDate"/>
Among the songs recorded during The Shadow Out of Tim sessions were "Shhh...." and "(We're Gonna) Kill the Chupacabra (Tonight)." They were not included on the album as they "didn't fit in with the [album] narrative".<ref name="PopShifter2009"/> Both were later released on The Dukes of Alhazred in 2017.<ref name="DukesOfAlhazredCD"/>
In 2009, the Shadow Out Of Tim song "Blackout" was nominated for the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards for Hard Rock/Metal Song of the year.<ref name="IMAPastPrograms"/>
PAX, Child's Play, and Rock Band (2008)
In 2008, the Thickets were invited to play at the Penny Arcade Expo.<ref name="PAPAX2008Gabe"/> Their performance at the event led to their previously unreleased song "Shhh...." being included as a downloadable track in the PAX 2008 Collection for the video game Rock Band.<ref name="RockBandPaxDLC2008"/><ref name="KotakuPAXPack2008"/> A Thickets song was also included on the "Child's Play CD 2008" compilation.<ref name="WiredChildsPlay2008"/><ref name="OneUpStudiosChildsPlay2008"/>
In December that year the Thickets organized a fundraiser dubbed "Cthulhupalooza".<ref name="ProvinceLovein2008"/> The event included a show by the band, as well as screening of The Call of Cthulhu and a Rock Band contest. The winner of the Rock Band contest won the opportunity to perform a Rock Band song with the Thickets. Proceeds from the event were donated to Child's Play charity. A second Cthulhupalooza festival was run in 2011.<ref name="ProvincePalooza2"/>
The Dukes of Alhazred (2017)
In March 2016, the Thickets launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund creation of a new album.<ref name="AlhazredIndiegogoUpdates"/> The album successfully funded later that year.<ref name="AlhazredIndiegogoMain"/> The album was released in 2017 with the title The Dukes of Alhazred.<ref name="DukesOfAlhazredCD"/> A Stranger Aeons review said "If you like some catchy rock with your cosmic horror, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets are your guys!"<ref name="StrangerAeonsDukesReview2017"/> After the release, Jordan Pratt retired from the band and was replaced by Byron Slack from the band Invasives. In 2018, the Thickets won the "Rock" category for the Fraser Valley Music Awards.<ref name="AbbyNewsFVMA2018"/>
Upcoming sixth album (2022–present)
In September 2022, the band announced on Facebook that they had started working on their sixth album.
Musical style
Lead singer Toren Atkinson classified the Thickets' music as "rock and roll" and "power pop".<ref name="WhispererThickets2003"/> Toren notes that they try to be creative and original with their music and ideas. "One thing I'm proud of ... is that while we don’t necessarily take a Lovecraft poem or story and directly put it to music ... [our songs are] steeped in Lovecraftian lore. We make ... the Cthulhu Mythos our own by putting it in a more punk-rock milieu and a distinctly new, and often tongue-in-cheek, place".<ref name="InnsmouthFreePress2009"/>
In "The Strange Sound of Cthulhu: Music Inspired by the Writings of H.P. Lovecraft", Gary Hill described "One Gilled Girl" from Great Old Ones as "The Ramones take on H. P. Lovecraft".<ref name="Hill2006"/> Hill describes several Thickets songs as having "thrash and punk influences merge".<ref name="Hill2006"/>
Several reviewers have specifically called out praise for the Thickets' song lyrics. A review in The Unspeakable Oath said "the lyrics really are what sets this band apart".<ref name="UnspeakableOathKlepac1997"/> For his part, lyric author Toren Atkinson said "I like to challenge myself when writing music. I love playing with language".<ref name="InnsmouthFreePress2009"/>
Toren notes that he tries to use the Thickets' music to spread knowledge of Lovecraft and other related topics. "I try to use our music to promote literacy and that includes scientific literacy, but I don’t let that goal get in the way of our number one mandate: goofiness".<ref name="MussbacherUFV2012"/> "Trying new things and being fun is our core ethos".<ref name="AbsoluteUndergroundInterview"/>
Creative process
While the singer Toren admits to writing "95% of the band's lyrics",<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/> he attests that the rest of the Thickets' creation process is a group effort.<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/> "Usually when we practice, one or more of us will come with some melodies and riffs we've cooked up over the past couple weeks, and we 'jam it out' until we either get a song or we get sick of it".<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/> He also notes that the band uses deadlines as external motivation to create: "As a collection of lazy procrastinators, we will usually 'throw our hat over the fence' by booking time at a recording studio. Then we have x months/weeks to come up with an album".<ref name="InnsmouthFreePress2009"/>
Toren notes that they also reach out to the Thickets fan base for help when they need special subject expertise. "For example, for "The Math Song" and "Dies Ist Unverschamtheit" I had a brain friend help me with the algebraic equation and the German lyrics, respectively. On The Shadow Out of Tim, I put the call out ... for help with writing the Middle Egyptian lyrics".<ref name="GatesBoiseStateInterview2009"/>
Costuming
A large part of The Thickets live shows involves the band members wearing "imaginative and bizarre" stage costumes.<ref name="AbsoluteUndergroundInterview"/> The outfits are usually Cthulhu Mythos-themed. The band has gone through various iterations over the years, from plush gug and fungi from Yuggoth outfits to the red jumpsuit/astronaut motif for their Spaceship Zero concerts, to their Satyr costumes, and most recently, their early twentieth century nautical styles featuring mustaches.
Shows
The Thickets have toured across North America a few times, performing with such bands as GWAR, Dayglo Abortions, MC Frontalot, Freezepop, BlöödHag,<ref name="ThicketsBloodHagArtsVic2009"/><ref name="ThicketsBloodHagLiveVan2009"/> Bad Brains and Nomeansno.<ref name="ThicketsNoMeansNoArtsVic"/><ref name="LiveVanThicketsNoMeansNo2006"/> They played at Dragon Con in 1997.<ref name="DragonCon1997"/><ref name="DragonConPastGuests"/> The Thickets opened for They Might Be Giants at GenCon in 1998.<ref name="ChilliwackProgressAug141998"/> They were invited to play at the first annual H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival in 1996, and returned to play at the festival for three years afterward. <ref name="HPLFF2000"/> They returned again to play at the festival in 2008<ref name="LovecraftFilmFest2008"/> and Anime Evolution in 2010.<ref name="AnimeRevolution2010"/>
Members
The original three members of the band, at the January 1992 formation, were Toren Atkinson, Warren Banks and Quentin Rogers. Quentin, though, never appeared on any of their releases, nor played at any of their public performances. The first bass player to appear with the band at a show was Devon Presseau.<ref name="AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013"/> The band has gone through several bassists and drummers since its inception. Thomas R. Falk has toured and played with the band as a second guitarist.
The current line-up of the band consists of vocalist and lyricist Toren Atkinson, guitarist Warren Banks, guitarist/bassist Mario Nieva, drummer Byron Slack, and bassist/backup vocalist Merrick Atkinson.
Timeline
<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:135 bottom:110 top:0 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1992 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1992 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1994
- Note: color scheme is intended to match the green/black/grey
- of the Thickets in general,
- as well as the cover of their Dukes of Alhazred album.
# rgb(0.15, 0.48, 0.27) middle-green # rgb(0.33, 0.3, 0.49) elder-sign blue # rgb(0.21, 0.33, 0.57) eyeball blue # rgb(0.57, 0.54, 0.52) silver # rgb(0.51, 0.34, 0.21) brown # rgb(0.22, 0.65, 0.6) creature green
Colors =
# order by join date (see PlotData) id:vocals value:rgb(0.15, 0.48, 0.27) legend:Lead_vocals id:guitar value:rgb(0.33, 0.3, 0.49) legend:Guitar id:bass value:rgb(0.21, 0.33, 0.57) legend:Bass id:drums value:rgb(0.57, 0.54, 0.52) legend:Drums id:guitar2 value:rgb(0.51, 0.34, 0.21) legend:Second_guitar id:back-vocals value:rgb(0.22, 0.65, 0.6) legend:Backing_vocals id:lines value:black legend:Studio_albums id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
LineData=
color:lines layer:back # MM/DD/YYYY # TODO: find more exact dates with refs at:07/01/1992 # Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! at:03/01/1993 # Hurts Like Hell. ref: AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013 at:01/01/1994 # Cthulhuriffomania! at:04/02/1995 # Cthulhu Strikes Back at:01/01/1996 # Great Old Ones. Note: ref: AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013 claims 1997, but other release info disagrees at:01/01/2000 # Spaceship Zero. Note: ref: AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013 claims 1999, but other release info disagrees at:06/14/2007 # The Shadow Out Of Tim at:01/13/2017 # Dukes Of Alhazred
BarData =
# order by join date (see PlotData) bar:Toren text:Toren Atkinson bar:Warren text:Warren Banks bar:Presseau text:Devon Presseau bar:Drummers text:(Various Drummers) bar:Pratt text:Jordan Pratt bar:West text:Chris West bar:Fugger text:Bob Fugger bar:Mario text:Mario Nieva bar:Merrick text:Merrick Atkinson bar:Byron text:Byron Slack
PlotData=
# order by join date - MM/DD/YYYY width:13 bar:Toren from:01/22/1992 till:end color:vocals # vocals, melodica bar:Warren from:01/22/1992 till:end color:guitar bar:Presseau from:01/22/1992 till:01/01/1993 color:bass # ref: AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013 bar:Drummers from:01/22/1992 till:01/01/1993 color:drums bar:Pratt from:01/01/1993 till:01/13/2017 color:drums # drums, percussion bar:West from:01/01/1993 till:09/14/1993 color:bass # ref: AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013 bar:Fugger from:09/14/1993 till:01/01/2001 color:bass # TODO: need tighter date on change between Fugger bass and Merrick bass bar:Mario from:01/01/2003 till:end color:guitar2 # TODO: need better start date bar:Merrick from:01/01/1995 till:end color:back-vocals bar:Merrick from:01/01/2001 till:end color:bass width:7 bar:Byron from:01/13/2017 till:end color:drums
</timeline>
Side projects
Several members have other artistic side projects outside of the band. Lead singer Toren Atkinson co-hosted a science/comedy podcast named Caustic Soda.<ref name="CausticSodaPodcast"/> Former drummer Jordan Pratt, former bassist/video director Bob Fugger, and former guitarist Chris Woods formed and co-hosted comedy podcast Speedway Squad. Upon Fugger's departure, Pratt and Woods were joined by Thickets guitarist Warren Banks to create a new podcast, Horsetrack Hooligans.<ref name="HorsetrackHooligans"/>
Toren Atkinson is also an artist, having illustrated books for several role-playing games including Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu (and Delta Green), as well as the Lovecraft-inspired collectible card game Mythos. Warren Banks and Toren Atkinson also co-wrote the roleplaying game Spaceship Zero, published by Green Ronin Publishing, along with contributions by John Scott Tynes and Monte Cook.
Discography
- Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! (1992, cassette)<ref name="AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013"/>
- Hurts Like Hell! (1993, cassette)<ref name="AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013"/>
- Cthulhuriffomania! (1994, cassette)<ref name="AtkinsonFacebookTimeline2013"/>
- Cthulhu Strikes Back (1995, CD album) – Reissued 2003 as a Special Edition with two extra tracks<ref name="CthulhuStrikesBackCD2003"/>
- Great Old Ones (1996, CD album) – Re-release of material from Hurts Like Hell and Cthulhuriffomania, with a few additional tracks
- Spaceship Zero: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2000, CD album)<ref name="SpaceshipZeroCD"/>
- Let Sleeping Gods Lie (2002, Special issue CD compilation)<ref name="WotCd20CoCThickets"/>
- The Shadow Out of Tim (2007, CD)<ref name="ShadowOutOfTimCD"/>
- The Dukes of Alhazred (2017, digital download & CD)<ref name="DukesOfAlhazredCD"/>
Compilations
- Fraser Valley Champions (1994, CD compilation) – 1. "A Thousand Fists", 11. "Big Robot Dinosaur"<ref name="FraserValleyChampionsWorldCat"/>
- iMpact Music Volume 3 (CD compilation)
- Collections and Conceptions for the Critically Confused (1994, CD compilation), Closet Rock Entertainment
- Raw M.E.A.T. Vol 4 (CD compilation)
- Fight Prime Time (1996, CD compilation), Kathode Ray Music
- Tombstone Park (1998, CD compilation), Reanimator Records
- For Lucio Fulci: A Symphony of Fear (1999, CD compilation) – 11. "House Of Clocks"<ref name="ForLucioFulciCD"/>
- Weird Fiction Horror Comp (date unknown, CD compilation), Valiant Death Records
- Child's Play CD 2008 (2008, CD compilation), Penny Arcade Merchandise – 2. "Kill the Chupacabra"<ref name="OneUpStudiosChildsPlay2008"/><ref name="WiredChildsPlay2008"/>
- Hymns From the House of Horror, Vol. II (2011), Rue Morgue – 1. "Shhh..."<ref name="RueMorgueHymns2"/>
Soundtrack appearances
- Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 2 – "Some Things Man Was Not Meant To Know" (plays during ending credits)<ref name="Rainslick2Game"/>
- Fort Zombie – "Ride the Flying Polyp" (instrumental) –Toren Atkinson also supplied voice acting
- Dead Rising: Watchtower - "Cultists On Board"
Videography
- "Diggin' Up the World" (Director: Bob Fugger)
- "Worship Me Like A God" (1993) – Directed by Bob Fugger.<ref name="WorshipMeFugger1993"/> Played at the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival in 1997.<ref name="HPLFF2000"/>
- "Colour Me Green" (1995) – Directed by Bob Fugger.<ref name="ColourMeGreenFugger1995"/>
- "Walking on the Moon" (Director: Bob Fugger)
- "Sounds of Tindalos" (Director: Scott Winlaw)
- "20 Minutes of Oxygen" (2011) – Directed by Mike Jackson.<ref name="20MinutesOxygenJackson2011"/>
- "Arachnotopia" (2019) - Directed by Mike Jackson
Filmography
- Bloodsuckers (2005) – "Slave Ship"<ref name="BloodsuckersDVD"/>
Further details and credits
- "The Sounds of Tindalos" and "Slave Ship" appear in the trailers for the video game Sword of the Stars, for which Toren Atkinson also supplied voices.
- Chapter ten of Gary Hill's "The Strange Sound of Cthulhu: Music Inspired by the Writings of H.P. Lovecraft" is titled "The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets: Lovecraftian Humor Set To Music".<ref name="Hill2006"/>
- According to the introduction of My Tank Is Fight!, author Zack Parsons says he took the title from a song by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets (a verse of the song "My Tank").
- The lyrics to "The Math Song" appear in calculations on a chalk board in an episode of the cartoon series Rocket Monkeys.
- The Laundry RPG contains a scenario called "Going Down To Dunwich", quoting the two first verses of the song of the same name in its introduction.