From out of the pestilent dark esoteric shadows comes an ominous new recording from Old Tower titled, “Draconic Synthesis.” On this new release the one-man dungeon synth artist known as, The Specter, continues to establish Old Tower as one of the most profound dungeon synth and ambient acts around by creating terrifyingly gloomy atmospheres where all light is devoured by a supreme dark presence.
“Draconic Synthesis,” is slightly similar to previous Old Tower releases in which The Specter composes these vividly haunting landscapes that convey a very cinematic like feel. Old Tower’s previous full-length album, “The Old King of Witches,” was a sinisterly mesmerizing tale that took listeners into an almost otherworldly dark sounding realm featuring some unbelievably bone chilling sounds and spectral synth arrangements. The early Old Tower releases definitely focus on a more old school dungeon synth approach, which I would say pays homage to acts like Mortiis and Secret Stairways. However, with each new album I cannot but stress how The Specter’s malevolent vision has started to venture into an even more nightmarish direction, thus making the new recordings profoundly haunting at times.
On this new album, The Specter dives deep into the shadowy soundscapes that can be heard on past recordings, but this world seems to be even more mysterious and even more diabolic as you listen to each song. The album’s opening track,“Draconic Arcanum,” slowly begins with these hauntingly uncomfortable noises, as if you are slowly entering a bleak underground world hidden from the rest of normal society. As the ritualistic sounds begin to take form you sense a monstrous force rising from the depths waiting to lead you further into the ancient inhuman landscape beyond. There was something about this opening song which eventually put my mind at ease towards the end of it, yet also had me highly anticipating what frightful sounds would be conjured up following this beginning track.
The second song, “Spirit Vessel,” definitely takes on a more old school dungeon style by emphasizing these blaring medieval noises to create a triumphantly evil composition. For the third track,“Gateway to the Serpent’s Dimension,” I felt as though the music took on a more ethereal sound, especially when pertaining to the very captivating synth arrangement which made me feel like I was floating through a celestial void and into an unspeakable dominion where some greater force slumbers in the shadows. A lot of the arrangements on this album really do an impressive job heighten the album’s striking cinematic sound with the most profound example being the Gregorian like chanting during the song, “Sacred Carvings.” That song sent chills down my spine and instantly grips you with its surrealistic musical elements.
Another song that also really caught my attention was, “Draugr Armada.” This track was one of the most realistic pieces of music on the entire release by utilizing sound effects to compliment the song's theme. As the eerie atmosphere completely surrounds you like a sinister fog, you can also hear the sounds of water splashing behind the other layers of sound. I could imagine a fleet of grotesque phantasmal ships moving across a blackened sea as I listened to the track. After listening to this song, I thought it could have very well been the album's finale, however, the actual last track on the album, "Crafting the Symmetry of Aeons," was yet another really extraordinary piece of music. I would describe, "Crafting the Symmetry of Aeons," as a more dynamic ambient experiment that still compliments the previous tracks, but goes beyond the boundaries of dungeon synth. At first you are left wondering where the music is headed and then all of a sudden from the gloomy trenches you step into this horrifying mind bending synth wave like section which reminded me of something you might hear in a John Carpenter film.
As some who has followed Old Tower for a while now, I thought, "Draconic Synthesis," was a very creative and unique musical offering. Honestly, The Specter's ability to tell these haunting surrealistic stories is getting better and better with each new release. I personally was a huge fan of, "The Old King of Witches," so I was pleased to hear that same approach and willingness to experiment on this new album along with some old school dungeon synth touches thrown in at times. No matter what seems to be happening in the world of music, Old Tower continues to be that dark resilient force standing against all adversity and thriving in the ruins of solitude crafting these extraordinarily vivid ambient tales to let our imaginations wonder amongst the ghoulish archaic depths of untrodden realms.
Check out the song "Draugr Armada" below :
Old Tower Bandcamp:
https://oldtower.bandcamp.com/album/draconic-synthesis
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