The Queen of the Swords Part Two

Simon Perrins (artist, graphic designer and co-host of Can I Pod With Madness) returns to Derry and Toms so we can finally conclude our re-read of the second Corum adventure, The Queen of the Swords.

Between wading gods, crackles from beyond the veil and other interventions from the old gods of chaos, we managed to get through books two and three of this adventure intact. So join us for small talk about Moorcock, fighting fantasy books, Loz's Lovecraft formula and our favourite close-harmony choir of chaos oddballs...

The artist whose name we couldn't remember, responsible for the Berkley edition covers as above, is David McCall Johnston.

Simon is, of course, the geezer behind the visual identity of BITR too. Find him on Instagram and check out his store.

Also, have a look at Karmanal of Zert by Blaze Atoms - Here's some info from their bandcamp page (sadly I can't find any evidence of their  "Swords & Space Wizards" demo - if you know of it... LET ME KNOW):

"This is an instrumental, almost completely mixed preview of the version of "Karmanal of Zert" that will appear on the upcoming "Swords & Space Wizards" demo in early May 2016. This recording is completely unadvertised and uploaded solely so Michael Moorcock himself can hear it. So if you found it, good job. :)

lyrics

all music conceived, composed and arranged by Aaron DiDonato



all guitar, bass, and drums performed and recorded by Aaron DiDonato



lyrics (when vocals are added) adapted from the chapter "The Frozen Army" in the book "The Queen of the Swords" by Michael Moorcock (1971)



Looming in the distance

Over the valley now, come the hopping things

Bouncing, several-legged creatures

Multiversal nomads, indestructible beings



Knowing not of mortality

Pledging no allegiance to Law or Chaos

Knowing not true existence

Having no souls



The Karmanal of Zert are coming

The Karmanal of Zert, yeah, are coming for you

The Karmanal of Zert are coming



Here they come - look up and see



They lope down the slopes of the hills

Seeking the Champion Eternal they’ve been sent to kill – to kill

Altering the fates of untold civilizations

On untold planes of existence – parallel dimensions of the Earth



Massive fangs clash, huge eyes roll

Many tentacles lash, fighting for Cosmic control

Doing the bidding of the Chaos Lords

While in another time and plane they are fighting for Law



Fighting for no purpose, no sought-after end

Fighting indifferent to consequence



The Karmanal of Zert always sing before they feast – always

The Karmanal of Zert always sing before they feast – hear them sing



Maim

Slay

Feast



The Queen of the Chaos Swords’ laughter fills the sky



Maim

Slay

Feast



The Queen of the Chaos Swords’ laughter fills the sky

As the Eternal Champion prepares to die



Prepare to die



Hear the Karmanal of Zert sing

Hear them, hear them (repeat)



Hear them, hear the Karmanal of Zert sing"