Italy

Kjedsomhet – Reh. MMXXII – Horrors Of The Dungeon [Italy, Raw Black] (2022)

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Self Released | 1-4-22

We are going to start the year off right with some exercise, better eating, and horrid sounds from the dungeon. Kjedsomhet is an Italian black metal project that might be one person or a group of musicians working at a very quick pace. Since November 2021, this project has released four full lengths, two EPs, and one Rehearsal/Demo we are reviewing here. The way Kjedsomhet uses releases is reactionary as the tracks tend to be quite lengthy resulting in a lot of material that might not even be distinguishable from each other. The world of Kjedsomhet is bleak and tracks like the 20 minute opener “Fangehullets Redsler” (Danish for Horrors Of The Dungeon) feel like magical invocations to some horrid creature from the void. It is noisy, repetitive, and ultimately devoid of compassion. Horrors of the Dungeon poses lots of questions with not all of them being answered. Perhaps 2022 will bring closure to these inquires but for now we have a very gross declaration of putridity.

Thecodontion / Vessel of Iniquity – The Permian-Triassic Extinction Event [Italy / UK, Death / Black / Noise] (2021)

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I, Voidhanger | 9-3-21

The Permian-Triassic boundary is a great mystery of geological science: an event in which over 83 percent of all genera died. This period separates the Paleozoic Era from the Mesozoic Era – two of the great eras in our planet’s history. If you were a 6-year-old obsessed with dinosaurs like I was (or a 29-year-old like me now for whom that obsession still lives!), you might recall that the Mesozoic Era was when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. So what better two bands to explore this event than Thecodontion and Vessel of Iniquity? Thecodontion brings two black-and-death metal tracks from the Supercontinent recording sessions, which was my #4 album of 2020. These explore two taxa that emerged after the extinction, heralding the start of the Age of Reptiles, using dead-serious and extraordinarily researched history of both species’ classification schemes. Both tracks feature the band’s characteristic drum-and-bass approach to death metal with octave pedals to produce a unique, clean “lead guitar” tone. They’re riffy, clean, and filled with evocative solos that will click for fans of last year’s LP. And yet for this life to have flourished, death first occurred – that’s where Vessel of Iniquity comes in. “The Great Dying” is another name for the extinction event, and Vessel of Iniquity’s mixture of black metal and noise is perfectly suited for the harrowing, slow death brought to tens of millions of species. The track’s eleven minutes begin with a roaring wall-of-noise that gradually settles into a slow dread, later culminating in SP White’s layered shrieks and mournful guitar strums. Two stories of the same history – one of life, one of death – and an excellent split for all fans of extreme metal.

Old Wizard – Old Wizard [Italy, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 11-25-20

At this moment, I am just going to assume that fantastic dungeon synth is going to be released throughout the year and there will be no stopping point between the end of the year and the beginning of the next. It is okay, this just means that no matter where you are in the year, you can be sure there are great releases just around the corner. Old Wizard is a new name with only one full release in addition to a single. Even with the a small beginning, the visual aesthetic for the album covers promises that future releases will be congruous with the previous installments, This uniform nature to the music is pleasing not only for the eyes but also the mind as one starts to experience the self title debut as the first chapter in a possible book by the artist and each track being a continual journey. old Wizard is dedicated to escapisms with the melodies and music a vehicle for all dreamers alike. If one is interested in this sound an would enjoy something even more medieval, the composer is also the head of Reifenstein whose release Mittelalterliche Hofmusik is just as magical as Old Wizard.

The Sorcerer – Memories of the Old Academy [Italy, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Self Released | 7-7-20

The Sorcerer is a project which continues to remind me why I enjoy this genre. Memories of the Old Academy is the fourth release in 2020 dedicated to the general magic and lore of fantasy. Adorned with artwork from 90’s CCG and festooned with rich escapist tropes, The Sorcerer is a wild embrace of the genre that doesn’t merely intend to imitate rather express oneself in the realms of the magical. I say this while accepting the bedroom qualities of the music as I feel the tone and composition of these tracks are part and parcel to a solo composer making music for dreams.

Sea Of Voices & Shy Guy 64 – REDREAM ESILICON METAGRAPHICS [ザタイピング ! オブザデッド] [

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Self Released | 6-24-20

“Projecting a psychedelic medieval dungeon exploration in music: monsters, beasts and foes are around the corner. Powerful and mysterious forces decide the fate of Gaia and the world. Time is convoluted.”

If the title did not tip you off, this is going to be non traditional dungeon synth. I will give everyone a chance to clear out if they came for proper and serious sounding dungeon synth. With that out of the way, what an absolute dream this release is and with a sound I never thought I would be into until hearing it for the first time here. DungeonWave or VaporDungeon is the creation of two artists with the goal of making music that fuses the fantasy of dungeon synth with the hypnogogic irony of vaporwave. The result is something that is insatiably tied to the aesthetics of vaporwave with its title conventions but is, at its spirit bound to the the realm of escapism.

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Medhelan – Nocturnal Wanderings [Italy, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Lighten Up Sounds | 7-11-20

Medhelan was one of my first DS cassettes and Lighten /up Sounds was one of my first tape labels that I began acquiring dungeon synth material. the release and promotion for Nocturnal Wanderings, the first proper release since 2016, marked a special occasion for me to reminisce about a time when I first heard the magical musings of dungeon synth. While there is only one long preview track available, the scope of nature ambient and melodic dungeon synth stretches like a wooded canopy across a glowing night sky. This is dungeon synth from an old wizard who has once again dedicated to open their spellbook for us.

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Nuovaerav – Arcadia [Italy, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Faberglade Records | 6-21-20

Imagine my complete anguish when I learned that the Faberglade Summer Tape Batch was sold out in a day. This is okay since more people seem to be clued into this mystical series of releases from a very wonderful label. Additionally, the Summer batch came with Fogweaver’s Spellwind which is a fantastic release. Nuovaerav is a new artist for me but just from the few opening tracks, it already fits within the comforting world of Faberglade and while missing this series purchase by a day, I shall try again for the fall.

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Ancient Sword – Ars Antiqua [Italy, Dungeon Synth] (2020)

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Dark Age Productions | 6-10-20

“Ancient Sword is the solo project from Dysangelium of black/death metal band Necromorbid and it rises from the antique land of Tuscany… where the gloomy atmospheres of dark ambient and dungeon synth music are melded in a classical and dramatic manner to achieve and recall the glorious splendor of the medieval and Renaissance art.”

I enjoy the presentation of this record even if it looks like traditional dungeon synth when in fact it is more experimental than most. Ancient Sword does not play by the rules and Ars Antiqua, while still devoted to tradition, fills its world with dark ambient, oppressive synth lines, and a feeling of unease when one was expecting soft melodious synth. This is less regal court music and more Tangerine Dream / Neptune Towers worship and it is great.

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Winterblood – Luftschloss [Italy, Dungeon Synth / Drone] (2020)

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Self Released | 2-28-20

This is not the most recent Winterblood release and not even the first one I have reviewed. I wish I could begin this review by starting at the beginning but it seems like there is much to digest. Winterblood is a “polar ambient” outfit that crafted glacially slow landscapes that are intriguing and immersive. Luftschloss (Castle in the air / pipe dream (?) ) is the third release this year and presents two 40 minute (!) tracks of hypnotic magic that robs the listener of any warmth they once possessed. Winterblood may not be the style for everyone but anyone that is looking for a lengthy experience or atmospheric music for a cold winter’s night, I might have the perfect suggestion for you.

Profane Oath – Unholy Hymns [Italy, Black / Thrash] (2020)

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Ancient Entity Records | 7-5-20

The more I spend time with this record, the more I love it. Profane Oath follows a very familar template when it comes to their approach to heavy metal. Surrendering to the style of black / thrash, Profane Oath has bought into the sounds, image, and general lifestyle of black/thrash with an EP that could make its idols blush with its dedication. This becomes apparent when looking at the cover with a guitar pretruding fromt he mouth of Christ and songs like “Possessed By Quorthon.” Unholy Hymns is not going to break any genre barriers anytime soon but for now it is a six pack and a party of a time and everyone should love being here.

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