I feel this might not be dungeon synth but rather a floating moon caught in the orbit of the sound. Cerulean Tomb shares many aspects of dungeon synth in terms of production, fantastic storytelling, and the aesthetic approach but that is where the similarities end. Influenced by space travel and the spirits of Komische musik, Delmak-O creates science fiction landscapes that are illuminated by distant stars and the alien worlds of desolation and beauty. Cerulean Tomb is a wild and unrelenting escape into a solitary vessel which is fit for one and has an almost limitless capacity for imagination.

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I passed over this release two or three times since I did not initially pick up on its entire vibe. From what I saw, I thought Bespin Moons was a synthwave record wrongly tagged as dungeon synth. To my surprise not only was it dungeon synth, and fantastic dungeon synth at that, but this was also dedicated to the Star Wars universe. Suddenly everything made sense including the cover which looks like the Kenner action figure from the late 70’s. I feel a little silly missing this as finally listening to A Binding Force has propelled this record from cast away to one of the best releases in recent memory for its effortless worship of a speculative universe that eschews traditional high fantasy. Everything works, from the soundclips to the song titles to the traditional dungeon synth that is now on far planets in a galaxy far far away.

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Yes. Yes to everything about this. While I do not think Temple of the Fractured Light is entirely there, this artist is on the correct existential road to something super fucking weird and amazing. I noticed Temple of the Fractured Light before with its garish and occult psychedelic influenced covers. Rainbow Rituals of the Spiritual Sojourner tags itself as progressive dungeon synth which is a current trend in its combination of 70’s progressive aesthetic and dungeon synth. Temple of the Fractured Light, in my opinion, is more traditional dungeon synth just aimed at a weird cult aesthetic that mixes drug visuals with the somber motifs of death cults. The track titles and soundclips point to groups like Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate. This is certainly progressive, in concept, away from the tradition of fantasy escapism. The whole affair combined with a bedroom production gives Temple of the Fractured Light an alluring and sinister vibe and something that, like most cults, is ominous and inviting.

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“Drangleic is the kingdom where the events of Dark Souls II take place. The protagonist will have to venture into this treacherous land in order to find a cure for their curse. Like Boletaria in Demon’s Souls and Lordran in Dark Souls, Drangleic was once a powerful and prosperous land which fell into decadence and damnation after a series of unfortunate events.”

The Dark Souls universe and series of video games is not far from the realm of fantasy and thus inspiration for dungeon synth. While the Dark Souls universe is not as popular for inspiration as compared to Tolkien or pulp writers like Robert E Howard and Michael Moorcock, it is not absurd to have a dungeon synth record based on the events and lore of Dark Souls. In fact, it is quite fitting and surprising when it is not as bleak as one would imagine. the Nameless King is not new and in fact Downfall of Drangleic is the artists 4th proper release. These releases are also outside of the other outfit the creator helms which is the well regarded Halberdier project. Much like Halberdier, The Namless King is marked with lush instrumentation and a deep sense of calm which lays over a bleak landscape.

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