Hexelwir Deliver A Flawless Medieval Score For Dark Enchanted Times

From the deep, hollow forests where dragons sleep, to the kings mighty castle on an oceanside plateau; to the villages where younglings are pilfering goods from the local market, to the halls where knights proudly practice their craft, and to the mystical lands where witches conjure up spells to bring back their dead, Hexelwir’s ‘Manifestation Of Forgotten Souls’ runs the gamut Of audible damnation and provides the soundtrack for which these territories tell their story of war, peace and survival.

Musically, this album is much more than a product of the dungeon synth genre, it’s a score to an imaginary story set in a fantastical medieval times that adds multiple layers of acoustic instrumental passages, haunting field recordings, dark ambient textures and the occasional black metal vocals to provide a sonic layer of morbidity that mixes extremely well amongst the lighter, more traditional dungeon synth tracks. “Silent Night In Transylvanian Forest” begins with soothing choir-like vocals and some nighttime field recordings before easing into some spooky keyboard arrangements with the occasional evil laugh that can be heard in the distant background. “My Trees Are Your Coffins” takes you deep in the woods in the middle of the night with black metal-like vocal narrations (that seem to be backwards) and distant screams. An acoustic guitar passage eases in about halfway through the track and closes it out in that fashion. “Fire In The Night” is probably one of the lighter tracks on the album that reminds me of an after-battle party song, where everyone in the village is gathered at a central location and drinking until daybreak. “The Land Of Fire And Steel” is another track with traditional dungeon synth elements but also contains black metal style vocals, as if an Order of Chivalry are being prepared for battle by the Knight’s Commander. “Dark Medieval Ceremony” is a twisted track containing screeching vocals, choir-like chanting and layered dark ambience with a touch of sinister field recordings to add to the overall grimness within. These are just some of the standout tracks on this amazing recording that presents a story meant for the dark imagination.

Hexelwir’s fourth album is an extraordinary album that contains elements of dungeon synth, dark ambient, black ambient, tribal & medieval beats and atmospheric folk music. Even though firmly rooted in the dungeon synth genre, this album is sure to garner more fans from other musical genres as well. The album art is amazing, the production is spot on, and for fifty five minutes, your mind will be taken on the most satisfying journey like never before. Please click on the link below and support this fascinating artist:

Link:

https://hexelwir.bandcamp.com/album/manifestation-of-forgotten-souls

Melanohelios Finds Warmth On The Brink Of Infinite Space

The struggles of fathoming time and space are real and the theme for a lot of space ambient releases is to expose the elements of deep space to the point where certain aspects are justified for exploration. Typically in most releases, there is an introduction of calmness before journeying to the outermost regions of the unknown. There, the music becomes darker with obsidian themes, usually resulting in a harsh ending with no turning back. However, on the latest recording by Melanohelios called, ‘VII: Warmth Within Endless Emptiness’, the cosmic ambient adventure takes us in the opposite direction.

Album opener – the near twenty minute long, “Void” – slowly builds into a dreadful flight of the unknown, that at first seem hopeless and endless for the protagonist. By the end, deep drones provide optimism for the mission at hand. Continuing on with “Inner Self”, morbid field recordings and industrial-like soundscapes provide an additional nightmarish spectacle that once again abolished all hope of success. “Fathoms” is twenty eight minutes of purgatory for the protagonist as the transition to light space is upon him. During this reasonably lengthy blackout period, we hear heavy breathing as he can only hope and wait out the middle-ground terror that is providing the safe passage to warm space. “Warmth” and “Warmth II” is the culmination of light space travel and the successful completion of the mission and/or the arrival at a safe destination to an Earthly environment where the scenery is alive and two way communication between beings exists.

As with all of the previous Melanohelios albums, there tends to be a well thought out theme that encompasses each track, that takes the listener on an unfathomable journey. ‘VII: Warmth Within Endless Emptiness’ is an exceptional story that is told well by a voiceless protagonist. Not only is the name – Melanohelios – a cool name for a dark ambient artist, but the logo has to be one of the best of the genre! Initially, one would think this would be a black metal album based solely on the logo, and although black metal & dark ambient do have similarities, this is strictly ambient art at its best! If dark, space ambient is your thing, it doesn’t get much better than Melanohelios so click on the link below and support this amazing artist!

Link:

https://melanohelios.bandcamp.com/album/vii-warmth-within-endless-emptiness

Nameless King side project, Halberdier, deliver dark fantasy debut in ‘To Return Victorious’

Dungeon Synth fanatics that are familiar with the works of Nameless King know that it is full of medieval, mellow song structures and contains elements of acoustic arrangements. Although a bit different from your typical DS album, it is firmly rooted in the genre and last months ‘Disciple Of The Dark Sun’ is one of my favorite DS releases of the year so far.

Halberdier is conjured from the same mastermind that created the aforementioned project, but this time fantasy-style keyboards and esoteric-themed arrangements battle to the forefront to make ‘To Return Victorious’ another DS album of the year contender.

First of all, the preparation of each track is extremely smooth and well thought out and blend seamlessly into the next as if the whole album is telling the story of a great King’s warrior returning to his kingdom. Additionally, the production element is fantastic! Even the low end bass keyboard tones that are present in a few songs are heard equally in the mix. Just like traditional old-school black metal, I know production is not an element of success or even a focus of attention half the time. In some cases, Dungeon Synth is the same way and fortunately – for both genre’s – there is a time when great production does and doesn’t work. In this case, it’s a prominent feature of this album! Some stand out tracks include, “A Wretched Sleep In The Rain”, “Fear In The Horsman’s Eyes”, and “A Proper Burial For The Fallen”.

I really hope this is a first of many albums to come from Halberdier. This is an exceptional DS album without having over-the-top quirky elements and without also straying far from the path. These ten tracks are so absolute, that the album will be on repeat before you know it. Please support this amazing up and coming DS artist by clicking on the link below and downloading ‘To Return Victorious’.

Link:

https://halberdier.bandcamp.com/releases

Linnea Discovers The Perfect Balance Between Dark & Light On Latest Release

Linnea is an ambient artist that often rides the fine line of creativity. One would wonder if she is a light ambient artist that dabbles in dark ambient or vice versa. Whatever the case may be, there is such a soothing and harmonious effort to her songs that you’ll find yourself often stuck in the gray – trying to decide if you should reach for the dark or the light.

On her latest monumental recording, ‘Finding Light In The Dark’, we can safely come to the conclusion that Linnea is an all around gifted ambient artist that can pretty much take her craft wherever she wants. On the near twenty three minute long “Fierce Onset Of Wintry Malaise”, droning keyboards shift from the background to the forefront taking the dreary blackness with it. “Finding Light In The Dark” is a beautiful track filled with synthesized orchestral patterns that is the polar opposite of the previous track, showing just how versatile this album really is. “The Aloneness” is perfectly titled, as it matches the music and gives the listener a sense of confinement, abandonment & restraint on society. This track is very minimalistic compared to most of the other tracks on this album but is probably one of my favorites, as it also has a very similar post-dungeon synth vibe.

In closing, this six track (over sixty seven minutes) collection will take you on a back and fourth journey through the darkest and light, but as the title suggests, will end on a bright note. That is a good thing though, because Linnea has successfully provided us with the soundtrack to our conscious, struggles, desires & demons and in the end provides the coping mechanism for how we deal with them. A big thanks to Scott Lawlor for recommending that I listen to this as it has been a wonderful experience and I am now a fan. Please show your support for Linnea and check out this album at the link below!

Link:

https://linnea1.bandcamp.com/album/finding-light-in-the-dark

Inoriand Sends A Chilling Reminder Of How Bleak ‘Silence’ Is In This Post-Dungeon Synth Oeuvre!

When it comes to music, specifically extreme forms, the term “post” is sometimes misunderstood and in some cases, way over used. However, when we look at the basic definition of a music genre that has the term “post” attached to the front, it really means that the music it rooted in that genre, but then branches out to explore other realms that may be rooted in other genres, or not at all. So my first thought when I heard Inoriand’s latest outing simply titled, ‘Silence’, was that if there ever was a time to coin the sub-genre Post-Dungeon Synth, this is the album that would start the clock.

‘Silence’ is definitely rooted in dungeon synth as the standard sounding keyboards are ever present. However, they are used in a very bleak and non-conventional way that presents an icy cold presentation of dungeon synth in a twisted approach with an almost dark ambient feel to each song. The nine tracks are simply titled, “Silence I – IX” and are arranged in a way that they transition smoothly from track to track. Most of the songs are very minimalistic with minor arrangements that add to the overall obscure feeling to the album.

When it comes to esoteric dungeon synth, Eldest Gate Records has just the lineup of great artist to maintain that integrity. Inoriand has a handful of great albums but ‘Silence’ takes the cake as their shining moment. I hope they continue to leverage this momentum and produce more albums of this nature. Check this album out and support all of the bands on Eldest Gate Records, as you will not be disappointed!

Link:

https://eldestgaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/silence

ØjeRum Calls Into Existence A Calming Nightmare That Is, ‘Without Blood the Sun Darkens’

Have you ever had a dream where you’re suddenly wandering through an endless field of waist-high meadow grass, with the wind blowing slightly, just enough to cause the meadow to sway back in forth in unison. As the green meets the blue at the horizon, you spot an old house in the distance so you make you’re way there without hesitation. Slowly, you climb the broken wooden steps and transverse the splintered planks on the porch and realize the house is completely dissipated and the front door has been left slightly ajar. As you make your way into the house, your attention is drawn to the forsaken antique relics throughout. A feeling of sorry comes over you for no apparent reason, and you feel ashamed for the unknown legacy of the houses’ past. On the kitchen table is a photo album, covered in dust, with initials in the bottom right corner. Those initials are yours. The pictures inside are of you. You’re stuck in this dream forever….well, for the next hour at least because that the exact melancholic emotion one would feel upon listening to the latest ØjeRum opus called, ‘Without Blood The Sun Darkens’.

With just a single track, covering nearly an hour of time, ØjeRum provides a proper soundtrack to the inner darkness you never knew you had. One would think that deep drones and evil soundscapes would be the ultimate device for gripping the terror in you’re mind. However, that is not the case here. Trance-like organ patterns that repeat over and over again, are just as threatening to the psyche as anything else. The calmness of this track is so intense, it continues to draw you in and requires repeated listens just to understand how thought provoking it really is.

As with all of ØjeRum’s albums, he creates the magnificent collage artwork as well. It not only adds to the story, but it draws you in even before the first listen. ‘Without Blood The Sun Darkens’ is an astonishing piece of work and Cyclic Law have added another great artist to their lineup. Support this amazing label and artist by downloading this album!

Link:

https://cycliclaw.bandcamp.com/album/without-blood-the-sun-darkens

Ugorim – The New Breed Of Dungeon Synth Has Arrived!

Dungeon synth has been around for ages and the influential beginnings – to this day – are still debatable. However, as with any genre of music, over time there will be growth, the introduction of new elements, and overall changes that may not be accepted by some. Take Ugorim, for instance. In just two month, they’ve released two demo’s of some of the most amazing music that’s been release this year, and it doesn’t sound like your typical DS recording.

August 3, 2019 saw the release of the second demo, ‘Lost Scriptures Of The Twilight Coven’. Containing six tracks of medieval-style dungeon synth, there is so much more on here than on your common DS album. The addition of drums on the second track, “Where Arcane Deities Gather”, adds a welcomed element that thickens the sound quite a bit. “Forgotten Guardian Of The Twilight” has a very eerie, trance-like feel that sounds like it could fit right in with a Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross Soundtrack recording. “Crypt Beneath The Forest” has the most traditional old-school DS sound on the album but also contain the live drum element to give it a more powerful sound.

When it comes to modern Dungeon Synth, Ugorim is the band to watch out for. In just under two months, they’ve released two outstanding demo’s, ‘Catacombs Of The Shrouded Mage’ and ‘Lost Scriptures From The Twilight Coven’. Although these demos vary in song structure, they are similar in the fact that they offer so much variance to the DS community. Please click on the link believe and support this outstanding up and coming DS band.

Link:

https://ugorim.bandcamp.com/album/lost-scriptures-from-the-twilight-coven

Scott Lawlor & The Flesh, Full Of Black Sand Culminate Greatness on ‘Unseemly Sequenced Conscience’

Isn’t dark ambient a wonderful thing? Throughout the years – and with the help of expanding technology and more keen-eared artists – dark ambient has taken on a massive life form of its on, even producing multiple sub-genre’s to distinguish the many soundscapes that make up this wonderful culture. Of these sub-genre’s, space ambient seems to be taking off (no pun intended) into the outer limits of our hearing zone! Space ambient is usually known for its super long track lengths, droning tones that give you that feeling of claustrophobia, and ethereal soundscapes that provide a launchpad to endless reaches of the universes. If a dark ambient track can accomplish all of these, then in my opinion, it’s a successful space ambient recording.

‘Unseemly Sequenced Conscience’, the third collaboration effort by Scott Lawlor and The Flesh, Full Of Black Sand, accomplishes all of that and then some. In this single track, seventy six minute opus, they take us on a horrific journey through deep space as if we’ve been traveling for decades in the confined quarters of a spacecraft on a one-way mission to nowhere. I love the song intro, as it reminds me of the quirky sounds that are heard while walking through Disney’s Space Mountain attraction. I can imagine the imaginary protagonist that this journey portrays heard those exact same sounds as he left earth decades ago, knowing his fate of never returning. As the song slowly drones on, the sounds thicken, to represent the endless travels through the unknown regions of deep spaces. As claustrophobia starts to set in, the silence becomes deafening, and the layers of sound builds and climaxes several times.

The production on this recording is crystal clear and the mix is a bit louder than on the previous two collaborations by these two stellar artists. As the droning fades in and out, there isn’t any loss of clarity in the track, easily paving the way for additional elements to be introduced throughout. Although this single-track album is seventy six minutes long, there is so much going on that before you know it, the song is over with and you’ll be wanting more.

This is an excellent representation of dark ambient and the space ambient sub-genre and I’m definitely a fan! Scott Lawlor & The Flesh, Full Of Black Sand are on to something here and I hope to hear many more collaborations from these artists. Don’t pass this one by, head on over to the link below and support this awesome body of work!

Link:

https://scottlawlor.bandcamp.com/album/unseemly-sequenced-conscience

‘Ata Amutar’ Is A Compelling, Yet Icy Cold DS Treasure!

Since 2017, the Wayfarer has been quite the active artist. Not only does he provide the harsh tones in the dungeon-noise project Abyssu, but he is also the visionary behind his main namesake project, Wayfarer. In that short period of time, he’s released six albums on Hungary’s Eldest Gate Records.

The latest album, ‘Ata Amutar’ is five tracks of icy cold dungeon synth that has a very minimalist old-school vibe. Clocking in at around fifty minutes, these tracks are epic in length and provide the listener the type of medieval soundscape necessary to escape into an alternate reality full of fantasy and battle torn, wintery wastelands.

The album starts with “Black Become The Sun” and it takes us on a near ten minute journey filled with eerie and dreadful tones that sets a precedence for the rest of the album. Other standout tracks include “Landscape I” and “Landscape II”, adding touches of dark ambient and fantasy soundscapes to broaden the dynamics of the album.

Lately, the Eldest Gate Records Bandcamp page has become my go to site for the best in DS music and Wayfarer has become one of my favorite artist in the genre. Whether you’re new to the Dungeon Synth scene or are a fan from way back, Wayfarer has something to offer that is inviting for everyone and ‘Ata Amutar’ is a modern masterpiece!

Link:

https://eldestgaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/ata-amutar

In Quantum Brings Us The CyberPunk Reality Of The Apocalyptic Future!!

The Cryo Chamber Label has been on a roll lately, but then again, when haven’t they. In 2019 alone, they’ve consistently released some of the most genre-bending dark ambient releases in existence. Adding to that track list of greatness is label newcomer In Quantum, bringing fourth their debut of CyberPunk Ambient called, ‘Memory 417’.

Sounding more like a cinematic score, ‘Memory 417’ contains elements of soothing ambient drones, soundtrack-like soundscapes, the occasional vocal narration, and anything in between that enhances the element of this massive story.

As with most dark ambient albums, it’s hard to just pick a track and listen to it as albums like these (specifically on the Cryo Chamber & Cyclic Law labels) need to be listened to from start to finish. There is so much to take in, and so many elements to this story, you can’t just listen to one or two songs and be done. However, that being said though, there are several standout tracks such as, “Dream”, “Sarapis”, and “Odyssey”.

If you’re a fan of cinematic ambient and the Cryo Chamber Label, chances are you’ve already heard this masterpiece. However, if not, I recommend hitting the link below and and downloading this right away as it’s probably one of the best dark ambient releases of the year!

Link:

https://cryochamber.bandcamp.com/album/memory-417