I’ve been following Desolation Plains for several years now and it’s safe to say that with each album release there is an implicit layer of musical growth as well as an expanded improvement with regards to musical composition. On the latest album, ‘Celestial Sorcery’, there is a profound range of audial eloquence that I’ve not heard in a long time. These tracks flow seamlessly as if a spacial void was vastly penetrated by composite modulations destined for distant stars. This album as a whole is like one massive meditative simulation that draws the listener in without hesitation and then proceeds on a spectral trip down a medieval – yet futuristic – passage of infinite dreams and illustrious oblations. Without a single debacle across these eight tracks, Desolation Plain presents thirty two minutes of fascinating canticles that gratifying and completely mesmerizing.
Dreamy album opener, “Altar Of Eltanin (Prelude)” gets things going with an enthralling sequence of lush keys and dark ambient hums. A soft cadence kicks in and layers of sonic synths collaborate in victorious fashion. “Astral Draconic Worship” begins with somber modulations that could easily place the listener in a hypnotic state. Radiant tones and beats follow almost immediately, creating an enchanted space for Medieval doings. Synth leads dominate the track and imply a battle-ready environment and a quest for ascendancy. The excitement continues as “Forgotten Shards of Thuban” spews forth a retrospective groove that could have easily been a part of the Stranger Things musical universe. Synth leads sound heavily reverberated, producing a thick atmosphere of electronic greatness. Next up is the powerful, “Rising Tides Of Eternity”. This track rages with melody and ethereal vibes that create a calming ambience that is a joy to soak in and listen to. Clean synth leads merge seamlessly with the backing sounds generating a smooth montage of tones that is instantly enjoyable. “Neon Druids Of Gamma Draconis” is a whimsical piece that introduces capricious loops, elongated cords, and rhythmic percussion patterns that come together harmoniously! Some of the reverberated tones are stringent and truly represent the emotional context of Medieval times. “Moonstone Dagger Rituals” reminds me of Cosmic Terror-era Varkana and that’s not a bad thing. As a matter of fact, that’s one of my favorite Dungeon Synth albums of all time. The lush key tones, echoing keys and sonic soundscapes complete this amazing track. This is probably my favorite track on the album and sort of summarizes the whole musical concept of the entire outing. “Creatures Of Moonlight” has a very nostalgic tone of late 90’s, early 2000’s synth music. The pensive instrumentation is very refined in style and everything mixes extremely well through the song. The final track is the eerily somber, “Star Magic Ascension”. There is a strong melancholic vibe that creates a pleasant context for this musical journey finale. The backing percussive elements are different but mesh well with the overall atmosphere of the track. This is a fitting way to end this immersive experience full of meandering electronic transmissions and vast soundscapes.
Desolation Plains is one of those projects that gets better and better with each release. With already a strong discography of six releases, the sky is the limit for this incredible act. From the songwriting and instrumentation to the excellent production effort, ‘Celestial Sorcery’ is already a top contender for my “Best of 2026” list. I know there is still a lot of time left in this year but I continually come back to this album on a regular basis. I highly recommend this if you’ve not already checked it out. Definitely check out the rest of the discography as well.
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Links:
https://desolationplains.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-sorcery
https://weregnomerecords.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-sorcery
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