The Scavengers awake for Halloween!

This one’s been rattling round my mind since it really happened to me a few years ago – except I didn’t die. I was wandering through a churchyard at dusk and three crows were pecking at something on the path ahead of me. Two of them flew off as I approached, but the last fixed me with a clearly evil stare that said, “You have got in my way. I would kill you right now if I could.” And so the idea formed… what if it really could kill me?

It was a slow but fun development as I channelled Edgar Allan Poe and a whole world of long-part melodrama. My old chum Hal SInden (of the noble Sinden acting dynasty) agreed to perform the vocal with suitable drama, leading Jacob Holm-Lupo to compose some very dramatic music that I loved on first listen. Finally, Kelly Phillips brought to life the character of the Demon Bartender, to wrap a bit of ‘70s B-movie vibe into it, and here we are. Suitably old-fashioned – as Prog Magazine noted: “Performance art, irreverent humour and disquieting music combine in an eerie tale that might just send shivers down your spine!"

Here’s Hal’s take: “The pursuit of absolute realism in dramatic performance, while meaning that bodies of work are more relatable on a basic level, has meant that we have lost an immersive element in genres such as horror and fantasy. So much so that now many look back to the ‘golden era’ of British homegrown horror – Hammer, Amicus et al – with a nostalgic view and even mourn its passing. The late heroes of classic horror such as Lee, Cushing and Price used not to shy away from giving otherworldly performances that, rather than alienating their audiences, allowed the viewer a moment’s respite from the modern day and a chance to suspend their disbelief by being presented with a portrayal that was larger than life. Their characterisations commanded attention and trust that their story was worth telling. As a voiceover artist, I can only aspire to touch at the base of the monoliths they left behind.

“Martin's Ravens piece harks back to a sumptuous and evocative period of gothic storytelling. Its unashamed approach to melodrama is what attracted me to the opportunity of narrating it; and I feel that this part of the year is a perfect time to provide a listener with some true escapism. The world is currently harsh enough not to need reminding of that fact at all times of the day – so why not enjoy a moment to explore the whimsical and wantonly esoteric? My only hope is that it is as fun to listen to as it was to perform.”