Erlik Khan - The Lord of the Underworld — Ancient Shamanic Music

A dark journey into the world of Erlik, the ruler of the underworld in ancient Turkic mythology. Inspired by Altai shamanic traditions, ritual drums, and epic folklore. --- Hail, Erlik, Rider of the Black Steed! Upon a couch of sable beaver thou dost rest. Broad are thy hips beyond all clasping, no embrace of man may compass them. Mighty is thy neck, no warrior’s arms may encircle it. Thy brows span a hand’s breadth, thy beard is black as midnight’s pit, thy visage is stained with blood. O Erlik of the Blood-Rich Hall, thy hair gleameth and casteth sparks. The breast of the dead thou usest for thy vessel; the skulls of mortal men serve thee as drinking-cups. Green iron is thy sword, iron are thy shoulders, thy dark face burneth with embers, and thy locks billow like smoke. Before thy tent-door stand many glorious thrones. Of earth is thy table wrought, and iron is the roof above thee. Upon a mighty bull thou ridest. To cover thy saddle, the hide of a single horse sufficeth not. With but the stretching of thy hand thou castest down heroes. With the drawing of thy girth thou overturnest the beasts of the field. O Erlik, Father Erlik, wherefore dost thou watch mankind so? Speak! Why bringest thou their undoing? Ever black is thy countenance, black as soot, yet shining as coal in the forge. O Erlik, Father Erlik! Through kin after kin, through ages uncounted, day and night we reckon thy name. From generation unto generation thou remainest the high chieftain, worthy of awe and dread.