I wrote the lyrics for this epic metal song on Halloween, based on a book from 1486 called the Malleus Maleficarum, commonly known as the Hammer of the Witches. The book was written as a guide for identifying, prosecuting, and punishing individuals accused of witchcraft. It recommended torture to extract confessions and execution as the only certain remedy. The hysteria surrounding the CV19 era helped me see that past historic event in a clearer light. It showed how fear and moral certainty can fuse into something dangerous and cruel — how easily people surrender reason to join a crusade.
