The original lineup consisting of Kody Templeman, Zack Rawhauser, Cory Laurence, and Tim (Timmy V) O'Hara as a four-piece only recorded the first 7",I Lost My Marbles, produced by Joe King of The Queers for his More Bounce to the Ounce compilation. The band continued as a three-piece after Zack quit.
Their first full-length album, titled Shit Out of Luck, was released on Clearview Records in 1996. Following the release of their first album the band changed their lyrical focus. In 1999 they went into the studio with producer-engineer Mass Giorgini to record a new LP. This was done with the band's own money, and without the benefit of a record label. The result was Death By Television, an album that took sci-fi movie-themed songs such as War Of The Worlds and Invasion Of The Saucermen and combined them with tracks that made references to other retro themes, such as X-Ray Specs. The recordings instantly created a buzz. Successful label Fat Wreck Chords offered to release the album, but the band had already accepted an offer of Panic Button Records, an imprint of influential punk label Lookout! Records that was overseen by Ben Weasel of Screeching Weasel fame.
The band spent the next two years touring heavily within the punk scene and disbanded after teaming with Giorgini for their final Panic Button/Lookout! release, the spy-themed LP The Backchannel Broadcast, which was released in February, 2001. The album included the song Wait It Out, written by Ben Weasel and later re-recorded by The Riverdales for their record Phase Three.
John Jughead (of Screeching Weasel and Even in Blackouts) filled in as second guitar on many tour stops on the Death by Television and Backchannel tours. Other notable appearances on these tours include Ben Weasel (at The Fireside in Chicago, his first stage appearance since 1995), and Lurch Nobody. Timmy V left the band after Death by Television and was replaced by Austin, Texas drummer Scott.
Red Scare Industries reissued Death By Television (remastered) and Backchannel Broadcast in 2005.
The band split for a few years before reuniting with all original members to release an album, [album artist=the lillingtonsThe Too Late Show in 2006, with no plans on reuniting for a tour to support due to the members' other commitments.
In 2017 they released an album [album artist=the lillingtons]Stella Sapiente.
Frontman Templeman is currently a member of Laramie, Wyoming pop punk band Teenage Bottlerocket.
Drummer Timmy V is currently playing as a hired hand with Albuquerque, New Mexico all girl three-piece The Eyeliners, and plays drums in his own project Stabbed in Back, with a hardcore/punk album entitled A Portrait of Noise.
Cult of Dagon
The Lillingtons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[?] while few are still around
Disfigured [?] with a secret not to tell
Assembled at the black church where they (took) the vow
[?] fills the chapel when the sun goes down
The high priest finally emerges with the two-pronged crown
The preachers advocate faith from long ago
Late at night when the full moon is shining
Out on the [?] and the [?]
And you can hear perverted words vibrating
The sacred rights have been initiated
The offering is almost dead and bleeding
The air is sharp so they commence with breeding
They copulate with the submerged while seeding
To ensure their god continues feeding
I can′t tell if I'm awake or dreaming
I hear the sound of something awful screaming
[?] of centuries of mis-redeeming
Awaken aliens of cosmic being
The Lillingtons's song Cult of Dagon speaks about a mysterious and secret cult that worships an underwater creature. The lyrics describe the decrepit buildings on the seaboard of a town where only a few people are still living. The disfigured members of the cult gather at a black church, where they take a vow and listen to the high priest preaching about faith from long ago. The chapel is filled with a strange energy when the sun goes down. The high priest finally emerges with the two-pronged crown, and the preachers speak of the undertow, which is a metaphor for the irresistible pull towards destruction.
The song also mentions copulation with the submerged and the initiation of the sacred rights. The offering to the underwater creature is almost dead and bleeding, and the cultists commence with breeding to ensure their god continues to feed. The lyrics talk of the sound of something screaming, and the awakening of aliens of cosmic beings as a result of centuries of mis-redeeming.
Overall, the song speaks of the allure of the unknown, and how people can be drawn to dark and mysterious cults that promise enlightenment and otherworldly experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Decrepit buildings on the seaboard of this town
Old, rundown buildings line the coast of this town
[?] while few are still around
Very few people remain alive in this town
Disfigured [?] with a secret not to tell
The people in this town are disfigured and have a dark secret
Assembled at the black church where they (took) the vow
The disfigured people gather at the black church to take a vow
[?] fills the chapel when the sun goes down
A mysterious energy fills the church when the sun sets
The high priest finally emerges with the two-pronged crown
The leader of the cult emerges wearing a special crown
The preachers advocate faith from long ago
The cult leaders preach an ancient faith
And speaks of [?] the undertow
And talks about the power of the undertow
Late at night when the full moon is shining
Late at night under the full moon's light
Out on the [?] and the [?]
Out on the water and the shore
And you can hear perverted words vibrating
And you can hear disturbing words being spoken
The sacred rights have been initiated
The cult has begun their sacred rituals
The offering is almost dead and bleeding
The sacrifice is nearly dead and bleeding
The air is sharp so they commence with breeding
The group begins to reproduce in the sharp, tense atmosphere
They copulate with the submerged while seeding
They have sex with underwater creatures to ensure their god's survival
To ensure their god continues feeding
To ensure their god stays alive
I can′t tell if I'm awake or dreaming
I'm not sure if I'm awake or dreaming
I hear the sound of something awful screaming
I hear a terrible, screaming sound
[?] of centuries of mis-redeeming
Centuries of wrongdoing and deceit
Awaken aliens of cosmic being
Aliens with cosmic powers are awakened
Writer(s): Michael Amott, Christopher Amott, Daniel Erlandsson, Angela Gossow
Contributed by Hunter Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.