2020

Octobeast – Voyage of Doom [Sweden, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 5-19-20

This is wonderful and something that comes as a surprise. Octobeast has already released a fairly well received record in April and now returns with another record of epic sea faring synth. There has been a small wave of creature based synth or should I say dinosaur themed synth that I thought this was going to be more of the same. While we could probably lump sea monsters and dinosaurs in relatively the same universe, Octobeast presents a record of mid-fi synth that outside of its visual elements, possess all of the qualities of magical ambient that it as agnostic in theme as anything. Ill take any sort of music that is high of quality and they can throw any sort of monster them on top and we can all be happy.

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Anatomia / Pazuzu – Indwelling Morbidity [Japan / Costa Rica, Death / Doom] (2020)

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Jubokko Productions | 3-13-20

So I am going with the current Bandcamp on this release and who is supporting it. Anatomia is fairly well known with a 2017 full length from Nuclear War Now but Pazuzu is a bit more obscure. This split was self released but then is also tagged as coming out from Cain Records and now Jubokko Productions. Let us just assume that there are around 100 tapes floating in the ether with some nasty riff filled death /doom. I do not think I could come up with a more perfect pair as the fatalism from Anatomia combined with the sledgehammer kick of Pazuzu makes for a split that is both intriguing as injury inducing.

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bomBARDed – OST V [US, Soundtrack / Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 5-19-20

There really inst a good genre for this since this is not truly dungeon synth. If I would throw out a few genres I would have to put them with caveats. This is Video Game Music but its not from a video game. This is a soundtrack but it is not from a movie. This is dungeon synth only in spirit. This is music from a podcast that is about D&D adventures and it is absolutely wonderful. bomBARDed is a D&D podcast whose background music is composed by a Texas band called Lindby. I am not sure if the members are playing the game but the podcast is what you can expect from a D&D podcast. The music in the podcasts is situated in the background and would not be so remarkable if it were not showcased on this record. OST V is ostensibly the 5th release from this series and for all intents and purposes and for all of its caveats brings a sense of escapist wonder with tidbits of magic and wonder.

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Dkharmakhaoz – Proclamation ov the Black Suns [Belarus, Black] (2020)

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Iron Bonehead | 7-21-20

At this moment of writing, Dkharmakhaoz does not have a Metal Archives page and there is only one track available for streaming. The full album is not suppose to release for another few months and already I can feel the wave of hype building. This certainly comes with the support of Iron Bonehead as the label as well as the mastering by V. Kusabs who has lent his talent to numerous bands of high caliber both as a front man and as technical support. I can also foresee a time when I will have to copy and post this band name since I will 100% never be able to remember it. Add to that some cryptically dark album art and a more out of the way country like Belarus and you have a recipe for a wave of excitement.

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Nifheldhur – Of Wolf and Battle [Italy, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 5-15-20

“Nifheldhur is a project born back in 1996 and dispersed over time. 24 years later, it comes back to life, to pay homage to shields and swords, in a concept of 4 acts, divided into the melodies of a single track ……”

I enjoy the flavor of this release. It also helps when the music is in step with the concept. Nifheldhur, for all intents and purposes, is a new band as I could not track down any of the 90’s material but we will assume it existed in some fashion before the wave of the internet. Of Wolf and Battle is the first release in this sword and shield production and is a panaorama of emotion and melodies. The grandeur of the music is restrained by the production though its lo-fi quality makes for interesting dichotomy as it is a wall sized oil painting on paper hung by tacks. Any indication that this is a criticism should be discarded as Nifheldhur achieves the vast escapism in battle scenes made in basements.

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LVA – ΑΣ ΑΡΧΙΣΕΙ Η ΤΕΛΕΤΗ [Italy, Black] (2020)

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Ascension Records | 6-5-20

This release comes to us from Ascension Records which is based in Mexico with an Italian black metal act who seems to have figured out their visual identity. The cover for ΑΣ ΑΡΧΙΣΕΙ Η ΤΕΛΕΤΗ is a grand departure from the bands 2017 debut. Instead of a large white logo, the cover for ΑΣ ΑΡΧΙΣΕΙ Η ΤΕΛΕΤΗ is adorned with subtle black and red occultic imagery. This coincides with the black/red album cover trend which quite frankly works to give the music an ominous quality. While we are not given the full release quite yet, the sheer ferocity of the preview track is enough to make me wait for a few weeks until I can hear the rest of it.

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Elador – The Last Journey [Russia, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 5-14-20

It is sort of charming the new Elador comes with the frank apology of being inactive due to school and service in the Army. I always like it when dungeon synth drops its veil of secrecy and reveals very real people with real lives playing apart in this elaborate escapism. Back in 2015, Elador released a split with Medhelan called ​A Crown of Ice and Stone. That was my first dungeon synth tape purchase which led me into a frantic collector phase which I still have today. Elador’s last proper release was 2017 and like some other artists, are slowly getting back into the scene with fantastic records. Elador for anyone new is an orchestral styled artist who takes large cues from the soundtracks of Skyrim. In fact, I think there was an EP dedicated to the world of Skyrim. The Last Journey is the return of Elador but unlike the last few records, this one has pronounced sound effects and wandering melodies which is a bit jarring at times but seems to be working towards something greater. I always enjoy listening to Elador and nit just because of my history but rather this is n artist who is honest and genuine and is just a real person making fantasy ambient.

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Drycholaeth – Bestial Psychosis [US, Black / Death] (2020)

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Self Released | 12-5-19

LEt us all go through this together. If you release a demo late into the year and/or it was so limited that it never made a mark on the internet, then you get to release it again and I get to include it in the current year for end of the year lists. Now that we have that out of the way, welcome ruin and rot. Much like what the Bandcamp page said, this demo is for fans of Grave and Morbid Angel but I am going to go a step further and say it is for fans of Grave and Morbid Angel and haunted unfinished basements. Drycholaeth (Old Welsh? for Spectral?) is a imposing presence which emanates weirdness and ferocity at a lo fi length. I am glad I didn’t catch this late last year since I would be frantically calling everyone I knew.

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Snowspire – A Spire Enshrouded [US, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 5-13-20

When the term winter synth first started to be used, I thought it was a needless exercise in dividing up an already niche genre. This coincided with the term forest synth or forest ambient. While I think the division of sound in a small genre is sort of micromanaging a sound, devoting oneself to the chilling sounds of winter is sort of fun. A Spire Enshrouded is a soft and delightful album that steps away from the cold and informal aesthetics of other winter synth. Here beyond the crisp night are glowing lights coming from small homes which are domed with fresh snow. This is a cozy record that is full of love and warmth and is something that I would like to live in forever.

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Foul Light – Blood Of Venomous Curses [Slovakia, Raw Black] (2020)

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Self Released | 5-13-20

I feel moments like these are reasons why I search for Bandcamp releases everyday as I feel I am starting to develop an attraction to certain aesthetics. Blood of Venomous Curses has an aesthetic that is not rooted in gore, evil, or anything immediate rather ancient misanthropy. With nothing to precede this release, Foul Light comes out of darkness with the force of a rain that feels like needles against skin. The shock of Foul Light, coning out of nowhere and with the aesthetics desired by a niche of fans, is something that is jarring and wonderful all at once. If you are only going to listen to one raw black demo this Spring to grate against your existence, make it this one.

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