During a diving operation, scientists found an expanse littered by the corpses of several marine animals, their carcasses torn and half consumed, in a state of decay. Still, however, no scavengers were feasting on such a bountiful harvest, leaving them to slowly rot in a low-oxygen, devoid of life grave.
The marine snow was so dense it was almost fog-like, gently accumulating on the ocean floor at a glacial pace.
This find baffled the investigators, sending a wave of conspiracies and thalassophobia amongst the public, as no reasonable explanation could be found for the lack of life or the scale of death present.
More teams were sent to try and find answers, to seek a natural possibility, like excessive salinity, chemicals present in the water, heat difference etc.
But none was found. There were simply no living multi-celled organisms in the surrounding area, as if they were avoiding it.
At some point it was decided to start digging into the corpse pile and this, unknowingly, signaled the end of all we ever knew.
Footage from the dig is scarce, but widely spread.
At some point in the recording a massive tremor occurs and out from the ground slowly rises a gargantuan figure unlike any animal we had ever seen before.
Its body exhibited traits from both vertebrate and invertebrate animals, with fins, tentacles, crustacean-like legs, and bioluminescence. It appeared to be scaleless, but instead a smooth translucent skin, akin to that of jellyfish, which revealed its glowing brain, organs, veins and spine.
It had, however, no visible eyes.
While the tremor was felt through most of the world, what we all heard was an indefinable sound. A song. A call.
Most of us at the time didn't know what it was, or even that it was related to the Rot Zone.
The people who had been near the find, began to scratch their bodies frantically, leading to lesions and, occasionally, self-mutilation. They then returned to the site and threw themselves into the waters.
Eventually we all started to experience similar thoughts and dreams.
This need to return to... something. Whatever it was.
Humanity all over the globe decided to submit itself to the depths.
People walked miles across land, day and night, to submerge themselves, many dying on the way, either of starvation, thirst or fatigue.
I write this in an increasingly empty land in the hopes that not all were cursed to drown themselves as I ready myself to walk to my destiny, for I cannot avoid it any longer.
My mind is set.
It's weird when someone tells you your music has been an influence on their own, especially if you know them, but with results like this i'm not complaining.
Give her a listen, it's worth it. Ísfjall
Post-rock musician and World Within Worlds label head Lachlan R. Dale returns with his debut full-length, a suite of ambient explorations. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 27, 2024
Putting a disquieting spin on baroque pop, the UK experimentalist pairs immaculate neoclassical strings with dark, billowing synths. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 29, 2024