Tarzownik - Castle

Chiptune should be no stranger when it comes to dungeon synth. For some of us, dungeon-themed computer-music was some of the first dungeon-synth´ish music that reached our young and innocent ears. We´re talking games on older consoles (Sega Mastersystem, Megadrive, NES etc) and on older home-computers (C64, PC, Spectrum, Amiga500). This project merges the elements from old-school primitive dungeon-synth with chiptune, the result sounds like vintage background music on classic point-and-click adventure games. We´re talking about those kinds of adventure games we had on the Amiga500 and PC. Secret On Monkey Island, Loom, Manic Mansion and then further onto such classic fantasy-themed RPGs like Bards Tale, Fairytale, Pools of Radiance and Eye of the Beholder. Nevertheless, 11 tracks packed into one album is about 30 minutes in total. The album (called Castle) is available via the band's official Bandcamp site, and it has also been released as a beautiful (kind-of) digipack via the Polish label Raven Fortress. The physical release (sadly) is sold-out via the artist's page, maybe one should try to send a message to the label via the official Raven Fortress facebook profile (see link below!).

The first track simply called Honour puts the mood right and tells (honestly) the listener what sort of dungeon synth we´re dealing with. 8-bit graphics showing a gloomy and grim castle surrounded by a mist, with valiant knights in shiny armour standing as guards at the castle-gate. Pretty cool, evocative and minimalistic fantasy-themed chip-tune dungeon-synth so far. Love the synthetic wood-´ish sounding xylophone here, really puts the listener into a nostalgic mood. The second track offers a more doom´ ish setting. It´s called Armies, and by the heavy and grim sound of it does resample march music for an orc army! Something heavy armoured and bend on death and destruction. Third track King sounds... as if the king sees that there is absolutely no way to escape this utter destruction, I am imagining a crazy king like Denethor II (Lord of the Rings). 

Fourth track Chapel follows the King theme further on into moody darkness. Fifth track Defensor, illustrates panic and stress among the protectors of the castle (I Think). Not a very comforting track, but a more angst-ridden and stressed out piece. Sixth offering named Castle (like the album title) brings a more protective and secure mood, obviously, nothing can break down the walls of this ancient castle. A very solid track! The Monks being the seventh track returns the album to its essence of gloom and despair, but the ending of this track reveals a tiny glimpse of hope. Angelic synth-choirs reveals a way-out... salvation before death perhaps? Next track which is a short one called Ranger, clearly describes someone being very stealthy and deadly... Bowman sniper-style, the kind which can see through the darkness. Swordmaster being my favourite track on the album, do give this track some extra ear attention! Second last track Torchlight, being the strongest track on the album. A very hectic escape down through a narrow and long staircase, with that flickering torchlight in your hand. The album ends with Shadows... shadows?. What shadows? The shadows that still lingers in the grim castle after the brutal massacre?. Who knows...

A very dark and serious computer-vintage chip-tune dungeon experience if you ask me. Perfect for playing AD&D Ravenloft to in the background, or a horror-themed Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying scenario (if you ask me). Might even call this castle-synth rather than dungeon synth, you´ll understand when you hear it! Would I recommend it?. Yes, to hardcore fans. For beginners, probably not. Not because it's bad or anything (I fxxxxxx love it!) but again, a very dark and heavy album for the chip-tuned dungeon-synth beginners. Everyone who would remember those old video/computer-games will love this, I am absolutely sure!.     

Bandcamp (band):

https://tarczownik.bandcamp.com/album/castle

Facebook (label):

https://www.facebook.com/Raven-Fortress-Polish-Stronghold-of-Dungeon-Synth-700582633656372/

   

Kontravoid - Too Deep

The second and latest album from Canadian but Berlin-based minimal-EBM-Industrial act Kontravoid. I remember that there was some hype around the debut, but I did not give it any attention (that was actually way back in 2012). Songs From Under the Floorboard posted the latest video from this album via Facebook, and I, of course, thought that I should check it out. I was actually kind of surprised, not only was it raw, cold and minimal (just the way I like it) but it was also HIGHLY epic and melodic without being too over-dramatic. So what happened next was that I saw the video like... 10 times I think, over and over again. Even played it at my work, someone actually went over and stopped the music! Autotuned rap-based spineless pseudo-pop music is the preferred music at my work! Anyways, my next step would to buy the album and review it. So here goes!.

The style of Kontravoid. Not really EBM, not really synth-pop. Heavy minimal-wave meets gothic-techno with minor industrial hints here and there. Think early industrial/EBM-gothic act Apoptygma Berzerk (Soli Deo Gloria) meets the catchy technoid electro-tunes of Solvent. A quite effective (and catchy) combination!

First track lets in an industrial-coldness not that far away from Dirk Ivens project Dive. Metallic looped distortions, atmospheric cold vocals, and calculated machine-drums (Snare-drum sounds like a lashing whip). The second track with its catchy new-beat mood and aggressive machine-gun bassline, lovely percussion-like rhythms here. The third track follows up on cold brutality and whiplash precision... sounds like it has been recorded in a HUGE hospital basement. Fourth track Too Deep was the track which I saw the music video for (Interesting and good video if you ask me), a HIGHLY contagious and rare piece of simple genius melodic electro epicness! We are still talking something very minimal, but with that epicness that wants to squeeze its way out. 

Fifth track Never Alone turns down the aggression and heads further down into lovely post-punk´ ish electro-pop. Fans of the early recordings by Vicent Clarke anyone?. Sixth track Cost of Life with its minor synth-wave soundtrack element and robotic coldness, beautiful how the melodic elements pump life into the coldness here. Next track Distress strangely reminds me of the Wolfgang Press in a more minimal version, the catchy drum patterns and the mood? The haunting piano keyboards are excellent good here, and the almost Peter Hook´ish bassline works like a charm. 10000 Voices being the last and shortest track on the album, retro-wave coolness gets mixed up with an 80´s crime-movie mood. It could have been used in modern Miami Mice.

And woawww! One catchy tune after the other! Yup, I would love 2 dance to each of these tracks without being embarrassed that I am over 40 years old. This is catchy as hell, the artist has a clear understanding of how to create a decent pop-tune but also to balance it with a raw mystical edginess. I can and I will HIGHLY recommend this release for any fans of old-school electro and groundbreaking retro/synth-wave. Sofar the release has come out on vinyl and CD (check links below!).   

Bandcamp:

https://kontravoid.bandcamp.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/kontravoid

Interview With Silent Cabin

A cold minimalist winter-themed dungeon-synth/ambient act which comes from the very land which brought us the mummy-trolls, yup Finland. No, not anything being heavy-metal here! The act has been active since 2016 and has released 7 albums so far. I stumbled upon the creative mind of this project on the social media, and thought to myself ´I´m really curious about this mysterious act, I wanna interview this guy!´. Why for whatever reason? Because I simply think that Silent Cabin (seems) like an isolated/outsider-project in the realm of dungeon-synth, a very unique act with its own sound and signature. Which again takes you back to the mummy trolls, can you compare them with anything else??... No, you can´t! Same thing with Silent Cabin, the reason to question the guy behind the project and find out what makes this act so special.

How and why was Silent Cabin created in the first place?

In the spring of 2016, I started delving into various smaller genres, most importantly dungeon synth.

Inspired by classic DS projects such as Depressive Silence and Forgotten Pathways (and an important album for me, “Dream Castle” by Tanning Salon), I decided to start a DS project of my own.

Simply the want to do some kind of music to escape from the reality was inspiring. My first few recordings were pretty much just experimenting and learning how to work a DAW…

How is the interest in dungeon synth in the land of Finland? 

A few years back there wasn’t (for my knowledge at least) not many Finnish DS projects out there. Of course, such projects as Lunar Womb and some tapes from the 90s were known. I haven’t seen DS recognized in bigger music mags etc. here though.

Where do you get your visual ideas/themes from? Books, movies?

My favorite painter, Hugo Simberg and his symbolic paintings depicting death have always resonated with me greatly. I like to use the paintings of Finnish and Nordic artists because I can easily relate to the subjects and ideas depicting Finnish landscapes for example.

Does the music of Silence Cabin represent the landscape of Finland?

As mentioned above, yes. Every year at yule time I go visit my relatives and both the drive there and the area they dwell has always been inspirational.

Do you prefer creating your own physical releases yourself than being on a label?

I love doing my own tape releases, the DIY aspect of creating a release from scratch and being rewarded is great.

Only this year, the single contact so far wanting to release my music on a label was from Britt, who runs the So-Called Hell label. I am eternally thankful to him for wanting to work with me.

You have another project called Ridge Dweller, can you tell me about that and how it differs from Silent Cabin.

Ridge Dweller focuses more on a natural sound; a real keyboard and guitar. I started it last year and quickly released three demos of lo-fi DS with guitar blended in. The first full length will be out really soon, and I think it moves a bit more away from the DS territory and is more of an Avant-folk/drone oriented.

So, the project is of course far more away from the minimal, wintery DS sound of Silent Cabin.

Future for Silent Cabin, future releases in the making?

I’ve been planning a re-release of “Lonely Mountains”, and I can say it will be out this coming winter.

Other than that, this summer I started a small label called Lahja; the focus originally was for gathering my new releases under the same roof but has expanded to include a few other projects, not by me.

Bandcamp: (band)

https://silentcabin.bandcamp.com/


Facebook : (band)

https://www.facebook.com/silentcabin

Sudaria - Live at the Temple of Flesh

This is the second time we are gonna review a release from Sudaria, one of the prime examples of modern esoteric ritual music. This one came out on cassette via Spanish Marbre, and this time we are gonna experience a live treat from this cult act! Only 2 tracks which in total is over 50 minutes, of pure ceremoniously live-action!. 

The very first track mixes pure tantric sexual-energies with mind-bending intoxication on top of it, the track is simply called Tantric Intoxication. Very intimate recording, you basically hear everything which is going on. The humming automatic hypnotizing machine-drones, ritualistic bells, buttons being pushed, strange clicks, tribalistic drummings, esoteric and mysterious chantings... Incredible sounds bloody incredible! Fans of Hybryds, Zoviet France, early C93 and MZ412... take notice! It´s pretty dark (almost satanic cult-like) material here, but the delight of laying your ears to this is worth your time! Absolutely nothing wrong when you have a very good track which is almost 30 minutes long! I am in no doubt that whoever is behind this mysterious project, takes this very seriously and has a clear idea of where to take it as well. Pure ritual cleansing in sound! Kind of like... A ritualistic version of early power-electronics at the end of the track, interesting!

Next track called Self-induced Transfiguration. After going through tantric sex and toxic, you might wanna... transfigure yourself. After going through the first track, you (just might) wanne do that! Kind of starts where the brutal intensity ended with the first track, definitely sounding more... intoxicated!. Screaming ambient-noise, flesh scraping distortions, the razor-sharp intensity binds you to continue the listening. More of an atmospheric harsh-noise treat, then the former esoteric-ambient one. Kind of like those bags with nuts, all sweet and salty ;) ... A cool track, again a cool recording with a decent intimacy attached to it. Would love 2 have experienced this concert!.

Go out and buy the bloody cassette, this baby is a pure masterpiece. Limited to only 25 copies from Spanish Marbre Negre, go get it now!. Worth in (almost) anyone´s obscure tape collection.

Bandcamp (label):

https://marbrenegre.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-temple-of-flesh

Bandcamp (band):

https://sudaria.bandcamp.com/ 

 

    

        

Tryumf - Hymns of Power

Something from last summer, and something which mixes together ideas from the old world with the new world (kind of). Dungeon synth via retro-wave and soundtracks to old-school CRPGs. If you take a look at the catchy cover with its highly seductive colors, you will in an instant be transported back to a time when games for your computer came in HUGE cardboard boxes with a thick manual inside! I can still remember that very dad when we bought our Commodore64, I was (as an 8-year old kid) checking up on the cover-artwork for a C64 fantasy adventure game called Zork. The cover-artwork was incredible, then you would turn the box over only to discover that it was "only" a so-called text-adventure. The cover artwork for this release has that sort of 1985´ish-design, but the music inside sounds like something later. Yup, we´re in the time of the dear Amiga500!  A 4 track mini-album, a potent shot-glass of retro fantasy music from your old computer/Amiga500. 

The first track Anima Christi starts the album in a moody, ritualistic way. Howling winds, tiny drops of rain, ghost´ ish moaning synths, ceremonial bells and then, later on, comes the lovely melancholic folksy retro-synth with corny (but cool!) computer-game drums. The title track reveals it to be a Catholic prayer to Jesus of medieval origin, a very spiritual track indeed!. Second track Mt 28, 19 is about something from the bible (read below):

 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

A very Christian based mini-album sofar. And how true that became, after the death of Jesus-christ his religion moved from cult-based thing to a worldwide belief-system. Even the Vikings from Scandinavia thought, hell... that guy is worth believing in (kind of!). Nevertheless, churches were built everywhere etc. Again, a very retro, ceremoniously and sacrilegious piece. For some reason, it reminds me of Clannad´s soundtrack they did for the British tv-series Robyn of Sherwood (Cult and worth seeing!). Sounds very cool, I love the melody and the mood very much! 

Third track De Profundis is about a letter which our dear Oscar Wilde wrote during his imprisonment, reason? He was gay and lived an extravagant lifestyle. The name for the letter (which was published off course) was taken from Psalm 130. And the very first verse in Psalm 130 sounds like this:

Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice.

Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.   

So the letter was a cry for mercy from one of our greatest writers. The track follows up on this, sounds like someone who has "accepted" their "sin" and sadly waited to be executed. Oscar Wilde wasn´t executed but received an injury during his imprisonment which then leads to his unfortunate death. A sad but beautiful track!.  

Last track Zeal´s Sacrifice. A chilling synth-wave ambient piece with a medieval church-like aesthetic. Cool way to end the album!

So there you go. Quite a unique thing having all of these retro old-school elements being mixed up into a completely new thing. Go and have a listen yourself, chill-out and get back in time.

Bandcamp (band):
https://tryumf.bandcamp.com/releases

    

Hasufel - Decrepit

While still being into the grasp of winter and post-Xmas moods, this one was released last February 2019. A project which has had (so far) several releases under its sleeve. Hailing from the city of angels, Los Angelas. Interesting project with an interesting old-school occult inspired industrial-ritual approach. Decrepit being one of the latest from this project, and there is still some few copies of the cassette let for sale as well (see Bandcamp link below!). 4 tracks, almost 20 minutes in total.

The first track (named after the title of the album) sets the occult meets the early industrial mood just right. We´re thinking about early recordings by John Zewizz´s side-projects (Cult of the Womb, Mahcanik, Hideous In Strength) and Current 93 in their early Aleister Crowley-inspired days. Menacing, cold and calculated industrial electronics and mesmerizing chantings... really nice!. Next track. Burn Away All Life continues with esoteric chantings and cold and primitive ambient electronics, with some cool sounding ritualistic drummings and timeless 80s horror movie-synth work. Very dark and "cold" but with a certain kind of .. warmth to it?. I like it because it sounds and feels very sincere and real!. 

Third track The Wretch In the Woods adds a fusion between Carpenter´ish retro-wave and industrial-ambiance (new genre here). It does have its resemblance to some of the atmospheric ritualistic pieces by the Klinik! Last track The Name of Blasphemy moves into Lovecraftian cosmic horror, something is showing its presence in the very air... it wants to get out and into our world for sure. Whatever you do, don´t do its bidding! Again with the industrial ritualistic settings with lovely retro-feeling synths on top. It´s actually very easy to get seduced by the sound of this project. 

You really have 2 be quick to get a physical copy of the cassette, because according to their Bandcamp-site they only have 2 left! Me? ... Well, I´m a fanboy now .. And I want 2 hear more, and so should you. Should appease any sick-boy who needs their occult-ritual fix once-in-a-while, this surely does it!

Bandcamp (band):

https://hasufel.bandcamp.com/

Varkâna - Ahrimanic Chambers

I have NEVER heard anything from Iran. Been listening to obscure music since... 1997 I think, but never anything from Iran. Incredible thing how a dungeon synth act would come from those parts, I don´t wanna point my finger at anyone BUT! I do think that (probably) there would be some people in Iran who would (maybe) be kind of upset with this kind of music? I don´t know, I have never been there. But then again, maybe Iran is not such a bad place after all. Nevertheless, the latest Varkâna actually prooves that point! 

The title for the album being Ahrimanic Chambers, so what does that mean?. What I can tell you is that it simply means evil mind, evil spirit and that the term hails from the ancient Iranian spiritual leader Zoroaster, who laid foundations of an esoteric religion known as Zoroastrianism. This mystical religion would influence anything from Islamism to esoteric thinkers like Rudolph Steiner and Alister Crowley´s Thelema. Ahrimanic Chambers simply means, being in the chamber of evil spirits... in other words, demons. Not very pleasant! The cover-artwork should clearly illustrate the unpleasantness in all its gloomy glory.

Varkâna makes dungeon synth with a folksy vibe, at times almost sounding like doomy instrumental-synth ambient with sad-core elements. It´s pretty good if you ask me! There are martial elements here as well which works up an apocalyptic mood. Esoteric neo-folk´ish mysticism shows itself through the albums ritualistic atmospheres. Most of it, it sounds like living in a society completely devout of human spirituality. Something has been lost and has been left (for forgotten) in that chamber of ahrimanic demons.

First track A Graveyard Under Snow sits the atmospheric mood right, and is a true evocative treat for any dungeon synth fan!. Ahrimanic Enlightenment, fucking good!. Love how the synth sounds like a heavy guitar string here, gives it a certain... John Carpenter horror vibe?.  The track Lugobrious Ruins is just heart-breaking!. The track simply called The Mist And Rapture sounds a-bit like Raison D´être in his great early days. Spirituality Deformed might just be the thing between ambient pop and dungeon synth, the first time I have heard this sort of fusion (and it is well made, believe me!). Night of the Hunter is just damn unique and good!.    

So yes! A great masterpiece from sand-filled Iran, sounding VERY esoteric in a European kind of way. Arabic influences would have been interesting... BUT... They/He have done a magnificent work 2 create an album, which u can enjoy from the very start and to the very end. I know that I have said it before, but this one requires a physical release damn you!.

Bandcamp (band):

https://varkana.bandcamp.com/album/ahrimanic-chambers

Facebook (band):

https://www.facebook.com/varkanadungeon/

 

Machina Coeli - Lure of the Forgotten Lake

The third release from an Italian dungeon-synth act (which started around 1997), and the first release from a new dungeon-synth label called Nigra Opera Productions (cassette being limited to 50 copies). This one was released on the 17th of June this year.

Machine Coeli means heaven machine, and heaven machine means...  I´m not sure. Something which makes the earth and the cosmos work? Maybe we are in some alchemist kind of lair, the experimental machine of an alchemist? Gnostic mystics was seeking esoteric secrets through science, in order to get closer to god. And the title for this cool release... Lure of the Forgotten Lake? Maybe we´re looking at water spirits, seducing good folk to their watery homes in order to drown them. According to the track titles, we are looking at a scenario in which (maybe) a water spirit has to be defeated in order to get gain access to the lost scrolls. The Bandcamp site holds more details about it, here it goes: 

"The howl was hooting, as the flowing river def the hunger of the forgotten lake. How could we lose the memory of the magical water mirror as we indulged ourselves in the senseless quest for pleasure and matter? It is now time to forge new shiny weapons and crush the devious reign of ignorance which bid the purest Knowledge with its malicious shadows. There's only one thing that can save us now: the ancient secret scrolls locked in the chest at the bottom of the lake..."

Kind of like Arthur searching for Excalibur sort of theme... But what about the music behind this story?!. Traditional high-quality dungeon-synth with a retro/vintage feel. Say early Mortiis, early Raison D´être, early Morthhond with a touch of Coil (or even Phallus Dei) at the end? I fxxxxx love it, the storytelling mood is there and the esoteric mysticism is just right. I also like this because it sounds... otherworldly?. But yes, it is a traditional dungeon synth release yes!... But! it goes just a little bit further than just being about the usual dungeons and dragons-theme. Although it is without lyrics, is still maintains that mystical esoteric feel which gives the release a personal and very unique touch. At around 05:30 (Lure of the Forgotten Lake) I was being rather amused, that the melody (and vibe) reminded me of New Order´s Blue Monday? I do not know if it was intentional, but if it is... Fucking awesome! Who can say no to Blue Monday as a dungeon synth piece?!. 

So my message would be to you all, go out and get it! You get your fix for something downbeat and traditional, and you get an interesting release with a unique occult/ritual mood attached to it. Do go around the Bandcamp-site and check up on the other two releases. Even Mortiis say thumps up to this!

Bandcamp (band):

https://machinacoeli.bandcamp.com/album/lure-of-the-forgotten-lake-2019

Bandcamp (label):

https://nigraopera.bandcamp.com/releases

Der Finger - Le Cinque Stagioni

Since 2012, Russian-bred Der Finger has been exploring the boundaries between avant-garde jazz and psychedelic improvisations. After their debut EP was released back in 2012, Le Cinque Stagioni is then their newestfull-length album (Released the 13th of January 2019 on Toten Schwan Records). Limited to 100 physical CD copies (Really cool digipack!) and being way over 70 minutes in total. Many more digital releases to be found on their Bandcamp site! 

I am not an expert in free jazz. I have tried several times to understand it's often challenging and expressive sound but as it is... I often end up wondering which ear I should use when hearing it, and I often sadly end up with no answer. It´s very expressive and abstract at the same time. It can be evocative exotic at times, and very hectic chaotic the next. Keeps me getting back to some of the nightmarish visions from Burrough´s ´Naked Lunch´, or even some of the paintings done by H.R Giger. Free jazz is not something u can hear every day, but something which u should try to put on with a free and open mind (And when you are in the mood for it). Der Finger merges ritualistic and evocative landscapes of sound with the nerve-breaking potions of free-jazz. 

A very urban-abstract and cosmic-horror experience, think John Coltrane reading Lovecraft while having Throbbing Gristle being in the background on some stereo! All of this has been squeezed onto this 5-track disc.

The quality of the recording is superb, not too polished and not too raw either... just a really perfect recording. Almost sounding like a really good live-recording (Excellent dynamics). We are talking about an album which can divide the sea! If you are not a fan of free-jazz, u might wanna give it a good listen before investing in it (Because of the saxophones being very upfront in the sound). Are in need of another manic fix of free-jazz (Like Painkiller/John Zorn) then u have to check this out! 

Bandcamp (label):

https://totenschwan.bandcamp.com/album/tsr-106-le-cinque-stagioni?fbclid=IwAR1hVnD7vr3xEkx7Eeh0fRR3kixNN82KVY9pG0mn4cvFRUF8Ld9sfPPVPEw

Facebook (band):

https://www.facebook.com/derfinger

       

Talog - Objave Sablasne Tiranije

The title means Revelation of Spooky Tyranny (according to Google Translate). A spooky tyranny?. Talog hails from Croatia, I wonder if he refers to a specific tyrant from the days of old. Could it be Milosevic? He waged war and was into ethnic cleansing in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The titles of the three tracks on this mini-albums go from Death Is Not In the Tomb to The Gates of Hell. Talog mostly works within themes of a vampiric origin, so who knows. Have he made a fusion/mix-idea between Slavic vampire myths and the brutality of Milosevic?. Stoker did the very same thing, Vlad Tepes meets the vampire myth = Dracula. Nonetheless, Mr. Talog have released this digital+ltd.physical-cassette/tape-release and as far as I am concerned... Stuff from Croatian-based Talog is always worth the attention!

Not a big one though, 3 tracks being only 15 minutes in total. With one of the most beautiful cassette releases, I have seen in a long time! (see pictures below)

First track Smrt Nije U Grobnici puts the listener inside a cold coffin which has been placed inside an ancient masonry-build tomb, while it´s raining in the living world outside. A simple, mysterious but effective intro to this evil-sounding release (and ear opener if you please). Next track you are walking through an evocative and mist-filled graveyard (after you have gotten out of that maggot-ridden tomb of course!). Sounding sinister and rather... early death-industrial/ambient (Brighter Death Now, Tombstone) meets vampiric dungeon synth. Very creepy, horrific and simple primitive synth-ambient. Fans of classic Hammer-horror and horror comics like Eerie and Creepy... take notice! 

Last piece Vrata Pakla moves into more ritualistic and ceremonial grounds. Could it be that you have awoken from the dead by magic means, walked through the mist-filled graveyard and ended at last in some summoning ritual? The last touch of the last track confirms that whoever has summoned you from the dead, is more than willing to do your bidding. And that bidding? Tyranny over the lesser mortals perhaps? I don´t think it would be Milosevic returning from the dead as a bloody vampire!

And that is that!. Not much to it, a quick and simple mood setter before playing a horror-based roleplaying game (or watching classic vampire flicks!). The only downside to this release is that it is too short!. I would like to have more of this!. BUT, it works fine in its lesser-is-more approach. It´s grim, primitive and minimal. Go get while it´s cold and rotten!

Bandcamp (band):

https://talog.bandcamp.com/album/objava-sablasne-tiranije

Facebook (band):

https://www.facebook.com/Talog-353449861484137/

Faery Ring – The Urchin Prince 

This summer (11th of June) Danish dungeon-synth label released their first release with this one-man act from England. This release The Urchin Prince is the 4th album from Faery Ring, which came out first on Faery Ring´s own Bandcamp site back in 2018, and now Gondolin Records has released this as a limited cassette release (limited to 150 copies). The cassette even comes with a lovely pro-printed booklet containing a short story which you can read while listening. We are dealing with a 9 track album, about 25 minutes in total.

The Urchin Prince by Faery Ring starts off with the first track called Saltmouth. Neo-classic ambient tunes with a certain sense of dread and doom creep slowly in and set the mood. Epic, dreamish and apocalyptic pianos and violin strings work its way on the second track Grim Enceinte, The Old Gaoler. Almost kind of martial-industrial/wave meets gothic neo-classic here. Third track Dust, The Urchin Prince takes it further with the gothic sounding strings and martial drummings, fand of Swedish Puissance takes notice here. Fourth offering The Uncherished Parlours slows it down to more traditional dungeon-synth, with a catchy and deep melancholic mood attached to it. Fifth track Bellwether, Herald of the Long Slumber does indeed sound like a slumber. The kind of epic slumber one might succumb to when u have been king for far too long! A sense of malice and sadness for certain.¨

Sixth track The Starless Garden sounds like a sad and doom-forsaken garden. Not the kind of place where one might enjoy their tea and biscuits! Seventh track Mauveine, Daughter of the Comfortless King adds a soft melodic and romantic touch to all the dread and doom (that means less martial apocalyptic moods!). Eight track Prolix II, the Comfortless King, proves that… he doesn't really care for the company of his daughter. Might as well drink his sorrows away? Still having that that gothic sounding neo-classic sound. Ninth and last track Lemures (Shades or spirits of the restless and malignant dead in Roman mythology… NOT abs!). Wraps it all up in utter funeral blackness, might just be the heaviest piece of dread on the album!

And that is that! A very atypical kind of dungeon synth release which sounds… like a neo-classic orientated release from the 90s? It has that sound. A synth-minimal version of CMI´s Swedish act Arcana or a dungeon synth orientated Puissance. I guess you can call it… neo-classic martial-ambient for dungeon synth fans. Well made with lots of good intentions and ideas. There is all but one thing that bothers me. Listening to this album from the start and to the end gives you an idea that the story behind the music doesn’t live up to the epic feel that the album promises. The album could use some sounds/samples, or something else (experimental elements maybe?) to give it an otherworldly feel. The entire albums follow that neo-classic gothic violin sound (so you might as well get used to it). BUT!. If you do dig that sound (like maybe Arcana and Puissance) then this album IS something for you. All Faery Ring´s album is available on the official Bandcamp site, the tape is already sold out on Gondolin Records (go hunting!).

Bandcamp (band):

https://faeryring.bandcamp.com/

Bandcamp (label):

https://gondolinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-urchin-prince-a-century-of-dust-vol-i