Berserkers were special warriors common to the Vikings and the ancient Celtic tribes who would work themselves into a frenzy with mead, mushrooms and hyperventilation to achieve performances of ferocious courage in battle. Although deadly in combat, the berserking process was paradoxically a suicidal one since, having lost their senses, they were vulnerable to a more stealthy attack.

The initial burst of inspiration for this work came in 1989 after watching a soccer game in which Glasgow Celt...