#skinwalker — Public Fediverse posts

Appalachian Werewolf Legends: Skinwalker & European Lore #werewolf #appalachia #skinwalker

Navajo Skinwalker Encounters: Terrifying True Stories Revealed #navajo #skinwalker

Skinwalker Terrors: Navajo Legends and Chilling Truths #skinwalker #navajo #werewolf

You have been taught to fear the moon, but the real nightmare does not wait for a lunar cycle. A werewolf is a cursed victim. A skinwalker is a predator by choice. #werewolf #skinwalker https://youtu.be/DEgS9fsrDAU

The Grand Canyon, significant in Native American lore, especially the skinwalker legend, intertwine natural beauty and the paranormal. Ancient beliefs and contemporary accounts create a captivating narrative of eerie encounters. #skinwalker #grandcanyon https://connectparanormal.net/2025/01/21/exploring-skinwalker-legends-in-the-grand-canyon/

Wonder when #skinwalker ranch is back on? Need my non science-science fix

Australian Gothic doom act The Eternal came into my life with their 2018 opus Waiting for the Endless Dawn and caused me much consternation. I loved their depressive Paradise Lost / Sentenced / Katatonia style, but struggled with the sheer length of the compositions, which ranged from 10 minutes upward to 20. I underscored the album despite some amazing material due to its sheer size, and I regret that still. 2024s Skinwalker saw them tone down the running times somewhat, and it was another glum victory with huge moments of sadboi glory. Now, The Eternal drop a mini-album/EP named Celestial, and lo and behold, it’s economical in size and scope.1 You get 4 new tracks, a remix from their sophomore release, and one short intro.2 It’s not much on paper, but it hits way above its weight and again proves these Aussie doomers have something special going on that every doom fan needs to be aware of.

After a throwaway intro, “Celestial Veil” comes in to mop the floor with your emotions with a vulgar display of poignant Gothic doom. It has strong similarities to the classic Black Sun Aeon and Dawn of Solace playbook of Tuomas Saukkonen, with weepy guitar lines and plaintive clean singing designed to fill your heart with grief. The chorus is so perfect and gripping that you can’t unhear it after one exposure. And the most amazing part? It’s relatively short at just over 6 minutes! “It All Ends” is even shorter and carries the torch of despondency with another downcast paean to misery that’s emotive, morbid, and catchy, with a killer chorus designed to stick like a prison shank.

The hits keep coming on “Bleeding into Light,” which milks the band’s streamlined template for all its worth. It’s simple but uber-memorable, part Goth rock and part doom. It works a charm, and it’s so easy to listen to as it hollows out your soul. The big surprise comes with “Casting Down Shadows,” where the band takes their core approach and layers it with epical Middle Eastern symphonics to arrive at something grandiose like a doom version of Led Zeppelin’s immortal “Kashmir.” It creates a strange hypnotic effect, and you lose yourself in the haze of time and space. It’s a really interesting song and shows a side of The Eternal that I want to hear more of. Things round out with “Everlasting MMXXVI,” a remix of a track off their 2004 Sleep of Reason album. It works here, and though the overall style is more stripped-down and Goth rock-based. These shorter style cuts remind me of the early stuff from Deathwhite, and that’s a good thing.

The Eternal know how to nail their chosen style to the wall, giving the Gothic/melodoom fan everything they could want. Mark Kelson’s vocals are perfect for this kind of dour doom, and he sells negative emotions by the truckload without having to strain or contort his voice to get the point across. His sullen crooning is beguiling, and when he steps the urgency up, things really pop. Kelson and Richie Poate are a potent guitar tandem, often keeping things minimalist while crafting classic Goth/melodoom harmonies that remind of what Greg Macintosh (Paradise Lost) does so well. Their playing is the mortuary drape that covers everything in cold hopelessness. This isn’t the most flashy of bands musically, but they don’t need to be to ensnare and bewitch you.

In my review for Skinwalker, I wrote, “If they ever learn to resist their fatter angels, they’ll drop a magnum opus that will shake the heavens.” Here we find The Eternal associating with angels on Ozempic, and the results are impressive indeed. I’m anxious to see if Celestial is indicative of where the band is heading. I’m fully on board if that’s the case, and if not, I can deal with the zaftig angels too. I’m easy when the doom is this sexy.



Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Reigning Phoenix
Websites: the-eternal.com | facebook.com/theeternal | instagram.com/theeternalofficial
Releases Worldwide: January 16th, 2026

¡Libera a la bestia! SKINWALKER, el plataformero retro de hack and slash es presentado

https://powerups.es/libera-a-la-bestia-skinwalker-el-plataformero-retro-de-hack-and-slash-es-presentado/

#Noticias #Skinwalker #Team17Digital

#vss365 #comicbookart #skinwalker #shapeshifter #funny

"I can feel it crawling like worms under my #skin. Like I'm bursting at the seams, splitting open. I'm starving, so hungry!"
"Yeah, bro, it's your turn to pay for sushi."
"Bro, are you for real? We all feel the same. It's a full moon. Now, get out of the shower."
"Never!"

Skinwalkers are often seen in the Grand Canyon. #skinwalker #grandcanyon https://youtu.be/pXvy80dU0m8?si=iGolOZTfcDXdfTPD

Pop Cryptid Spectator #1

In this edition:

• What’s up with this project
• Pop Goes the Cryptid explainer
• r/cryptid aims to be inclusive
• New cryptid media
• Texas’ Chupacabra coaster
• Cryptozoology.com shuttered

Hello! Welcome to the first edition of the Pop Cryptid Spectator, my regular (hopefully) posting of observations and commentary on my current favorite personal project – watching the parade of “cryptids” in popular culture. 

I recently recalled that when I was a kid, like 9 years old, I used to collect interesting things about whatever I was interested in at the time and send to my friends or just pretend to be running a newspaper. Here I am, still doing that decades later. It seems to be what I do.

My intent with this regular posting is, roughly:

• To highlight the fun ways legendary or dubious animals are showing up in modern media. 
• To explore the expansion of cryptozoology from what was originally framed as a “science-based” endeavor to what is now a mass cultural phenomenon – a profusion of strange entities that are labeled “cryptids”.
• And, to share interesting news bits I find related to “hidden” or legendary creatures.

If you are looking for me to criticize Bigfoot believers, or to make fun of Hodag hunters, there will be none of that. I would suggest that might a.) lighten up because this is not a highly serious subject and, b.) stick around to just enjoy it, because the cryptid scene is crazy right now. It’s so diverse, creative, and complicated. It’s so much more than monster hunting or extinction guilt. Cryptids are a way to express personal and regional identity, attract tourism, inspire art, examine history, explore spiritual ideas, represent liminality and a sense of the “other”. I could go on and on. There is a lot to say. So I’m going to get started.

But, I feel I have to backtrack just a bit first. 

Pop Goes the Cryptid

I put out an explainer presentation called Pop Goes the Cryptid a little while ago as part of the Virtual Folk Zoology conference hosted by researcher and data scientist, Floe Foxon. Check it out if you haven’t already. I reworked the presentation a little bit and put it up on my website, as well as re-recording it into a video for people who prefer that. The reaction has been interesting. I received comments by some respected colleagues that highlighted some hot button issues in the cryptozoo. My subsequent post noting these issues just fanned the flames. In short – there is a bifurcated view of the world of cryptozoology in more than one way. And each side can be broken into additional factions. It’s messy. The two opposing camps argue a lot.

First, there is the division between those with a scientific view of cryptozoology and those who embrace the paranormal and supernatural. Now, that is grossly oversimplifying it. I’ll may try to address that at some later time but I think you get the general idea.

There is also a more nuanced break between those who wish cryptozoology would return to a more scientific framework and those who say it never was scientific and might never be. And, that’s also is an oversimplification. You can take a look at my recent writings for more explanation on that dispute.

And, there is the evergreen argument about what does or doesn’t fit under the label of “cryptid”? What’s the definition? How should the word be used? The reasons for the bickering about labels and boundaries is very much under the umbrella of my Pop Cryptid framing. However, I’ll attempt to be neutral in this forum.

Alternative naming

Venturing into the latest goings-on, I begin with a specific dispute regarding the inclusion of two popular “cryptids”. The moderator of the cryptid subreddit has broached the sensitive topic of the use of two entity names that represent Native spiritual creatures. I’ll say them once, with apologies, to clarify. It is common to see Skinwalker and Wendigo referred to as “cryptids” in the broadest sense of being secretive or hidden creatures of dubious existence. They are in no way zoological animals to be named and collected, which is why many on the subreddit don’t think they should be mentioned at all. However, they are both extremely popular in media. The “what is a cryptid” question remains the core of contention. For now, the moderator is asking contributors to come up with alternative names for these two beings. The ’S’ word has already been substituted with options “flesh gait”, “flesh pedestrian” (which is objectively stupid) and “pale crawler” based on modern storytelling, not indigenous lore. The W creature doesn’t seem to have a ready substitution, and the floor is open to suggestions. If you are familiar with the legend of the cannibal monster with a heart of ice, you probably noticed how the modern depictions play fast and loose with the lore.

And they will continue to change because they are not physical things able to captured and measured, they can morph into whatever we need them to be. 

New cryptid media

The venerable Adrian Shine has a new book out on sea creatures titled A Natural History of Sea Serpents. You certainly know him – he’s the exceptionally bearded scholar of Loch Ness legends. The book was out in the UK in October and is now available in US markets and looks like a worthy volume.

Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd are starring in a very bizarre-looking film featuring life-saving and life-threatening unicorns. In a setup that reminds me of Harry and the Henderson’s, they have a vehicular encounter with the magical creature. Death of a Unicorn is set to be released in the next few months.

Once again, we see how the line between cryptid and not-a-cryptid is more porous than a bad email spam filter. The title unicorn is labeled in at least in some media outlets as a cryptid even though it historically was not seen as such. However, in this case, it seems to literally be one.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas amusement park in San Antonio announced that it’s changing the branding of its Goliath roller coaster into that of the Chupacabra. The news release for the transformation includes mention of the chupa as a “Texas folklore legend”. Indeed! I was interested to see which version of the chupacabra they picked – the spiky alien kangaroo or the mangy vampire dog. Turns out they combined them both and added additional parts, embracing the chupacabra tradition of being a cultural shape-shifter representing any weird thing that looks scary.

Loss of an OG cryptid website

WordPress sent me a notice that I’ve been blogging for 18 years on that platform. But 25 years ago, there was cryptozoology.com. The site was registered in 1998, before some of you were even aware that the subject, or the internet, even existed. The site had articles about lots of popular creatures and stuck mostly to the zoological framing, as much as I can remember. I hadn’t visited in a while but, when looking for other cryptid forums online, I checked in. And it was gone. Shut down. This happened in (oops) November 2022! The domain name is still registered for the next several years. I have no clue as to what might happen to the site. 

During those 25 years, the scene changed drastically. Most of the content on cryptids has shifted to Cryptid Wiki which includes more modern media and depiction of many new creatures that seem to appear or resurface from the past on a weekly basis. 

Will the original .com site return all new and shiny? If it doesn’t, what a lost opportunity. However, the loss of this place on the web feeds into the Pop Cryptid trend very neatly. People don’t do an internet search for the word “cryptozoology” like they do for “cryptids”. The zoology part, while still guarded by the stalwart old-school gatekeepers, is completely overrun by the pop cryptid scene all over the web that deals in folk horror, AI and game-based creatures, cosplayers, DeviantArtists, and pokecryptids. Although a bit sad, it seems appropriate that cryptozoology.com would fade away at this time as a symbol of how things used to be.

For more on this trend from cryptozoology to cryptids, check out my post called “Cryptid” out-trends “cryptozoology”, which includes the Google trends data results comparing the two terms. There is a story being told there. 

Pop Goes the Cryptid Facebook group

If you are still on Facebook, I have a page where I drop all the links I find to new cryptid content. Read them there first at facebook.com/Popcryptids

Here are some recent posts:

• Cryptid dogs subreddit r/crytpiddogs
• A Russian creature called the Witkes that may have been inspired by buried frozen mammoth carcasses
• A cryptid themed holiday bar that popped up in Wilmington, NC
• A cryptid themed band called Beach Creeper. Their surf rock content is creative and cover art is hilarious. Check them out on BandCamp.

That’s all wrap for the Pop Cryptid Spectator. I hope to be back soon to supply new observations from the world of mystery creatures.

Go to SharonAHill.com and click on Pop goes the Cryptid landing page. While you’re there, make sure you subscribe to all the posts – it’s always free and I don’t send annoying spam. 

You can also email me with comments, suggestions or questions at Popcryptid(at)proton.me

Watch the video version of Pop Cryptid Spectator on my YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/Q5MXw_uOd3k

#1 #chupacabra #cryptid #Cryptozoology #deathOfAUnicorn #popCryptid #reddit #rollerCoaster #scientific #seaSerpents #Skinwalker #Wendigo

https://sharonahill.com/?p=9144

Perhaps naming a highway Route 666 was asking for trouble. Skinwalkers, hell hounds, a ghostly woman in white and a phantom semi-truck were all witnessed on the road, which ran from Utah to New Mexico. In 2003, "The Devil's Highway" was rechristened US Route 491. #FolkloreSunday

📷: Gilberto Parada

#Folklore #Route666 #Highway #Skinwalker #Ghosts #HellHounds #Paranormal

#TheMetalDogArticleList
#BraveWords
THE ETERNAL Release Official "Skinwalker" Lyric Video
Finnish-Australian metal quartet, The Eternal, recently returned to the screen with a bang - the announcement of their long-awaited new album, Skinwalker, which is set to be released on June 28 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). In contrast to the first single's title, "Deathlike Silence", the outfit's latest tune...

https://bravewords.com/news/the-eternal-release-official-skinwalker-lyric-video

#TheEternal #Skinwalker #ProgressiveMetal #TuvanThroatSinger

#skinwalker #cryptid #mythology #darkfantasy #woods #forest #painting #darkart #rpg #midjourney #photoshop #horrorart #comicbookart

... ∇ ...
#myth #mythological #cryptid #woods #forest #notdeer #nodeer #wildhunt #skinwalker #monster #rpg #darkfantasy #dartart #comicbook #illustration #midjourney #aiia #photoshop

This is Saming her name comes from:

Suea Saming (เสือสมิง), a male or female who transformed into a tiger as a result of the power of black magic. Suea Saming is similar to a Skin-walker or Werecat.

Samings life attitude is: you don't mess with me and I don't mess with you. This is expressed with a voracious salvo of bites and scratches in the event of unsolicited petting.

#caturday #tonkinese #saming #thai #werecat #blackmagic #catsofmastodon #skinwalker #tiger

https://linktr.ee/menfromthesky

For anyone still tuned in!

My rap group put out a single on all major streaming platforms!!! We've got a few more lined up over the next few months so this is just a taste of what we've been cookin up!

Our latest:
Tales from the Cryptids
by Men from the Sky

#hiphop #rap #cryptids #bigfoot #yeti #skinwalker #facestealer #music #spotify #youtube #itunes #indie

I'm surprised by the #SkinwalkerRanch History Channel show. I found the books laughable (dino-beavers!), but the new owners have had no such experiences. Instead, they got scientists to study the ranch, and #UFOs are constantly buzzing over their heads. They have said that they simply happen to have cameras around to document their findings, not make a scripted show. So far, they've found two cloaked objects that bend light, and impenetrable underground tunnels.

#ufo #aliens #uap #skinwalker

Oh boy! It’s time for #Skinwalker #Snark

Oh hey, new title sequence flogging the “new team.”

I've started watching the #skinwalker docudrama on hulu, and it's just an absolutely bonkers concept.

I don't mean the paranormal schmaranormal angle, I mean a couple PhDs, an awkward techie, some experienced ranch hands, a worn-out and over-armed security guard all trying to work together and overseen by a fundie billionaire who happens to be into UFO hunting.

It will be a miracle if they don't murder each other before the last episode.

I have watched the third #season of "The Secret of #Skinwalker Ranch" and I am puzzled. Another show in the #Uinta basin region with the same #phenomena is "The #Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch".

#TheSecretOfSkinwalkerRanch
#TheMysteryAtBlindFrogRanch
#UintaBasin #uap #ufo #paranormal #phenomenon #portal

I can't tell you if it's real but I dig this #show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Skinwalker_Ranch

It's one of the rare #tv #series I'm looking forward for the next episodes.

#skinwalker #TheSecretOfSkinwalkerRanch #uap #ufo #paranormal #HistoryChannel #strange

#midjourney #art #digitalart #ancient #native #skinwalker #skull #myth #creature