GODS OF THE NORTH

«The giants answered with roars like the grinding of ice-bergs on a frozen shore and heaved up their shining axes as the maddened Cimmerian hurled himself upon them. A frosty blade flashed before his eyes, blinding him with its brightness, and he gave back a terrible stroke that sheared through his foe's thigh. With a groan the victim fell, and at the instant Conan was dashed into the snow, his left shoulder numb from the blow of the survivor, from which the Cimmerian's mail had barely saved his life. Conan saw the remaining giant looming high above him like a colossus carved of ice, etched against the cold glowing sky. The axe fell, to sink through the snow and deep into the frozen earth as Conan hurled himself aside and leaped to his feet. The giant roared and wrenched his axe free, but even as he did, Conan's sword sang down. The giant's knees bent and he sank slowly into the snow, which turned crimson with the blood that gushed from his half-severed neck.»

                             

 

 

 

Scene no 5: Conan the Cimmerian killing the Snow Giants (Frazetta Snow Giants, ReelArt Studios and Dark Horse Deluxe, Limited edition statue # 361 of 2.000, Sculpted by Tony Cipriano). In the background, the cover of the second Dust LP.

The Album: HARD ATTACK (Dust, 1972). Early American Hard Rock. Cover painting by Frank Frazetta.   

The Painting: SNOW GIANTS (Frank Frazetta, 1967). Cover for the book CONAN OF CIMMERIA (1967, Lancer Books).

The Text: From the novel GODS OF THE NORTH, by Robert E. Howard. First published in Fantasy Fan magazine (March 1934).