Örnatorpet - “Fordomdags”

    For those who are in search of a mesmerizing dungeon synth album to playing during these cold winter months, I would strongly recommend checking out Örnatorpet's latest full-length release, “Fordomdags.” Örnatorpet is a one-man dungeon synth project based out of Borås, Sweden that draws inspiration from Scandinavian folklore and nature to create these majestic sounding compositions. The enchanting synth arrangements along with the haunting melodies replace words with captivating sounds to paint serene fantasy themed landscapes. 

    Örnatorpet has been putting out a lot of solid material over the years and for this new album the one-man act is once again working with Nordvis to release the new album on CD and vinyl. I think what stood out the most about the album when I started listening to the first track was the ethereal synth tones that also captured this spectral feel as if the music was emanating from some ancient Scandinavian forest. Örnatorpet's sound and style is very similar to that of artists like Lustre, Secret Stairways and Jim Kirkwood, especially when pertaining to the way that the synths are utilized to create strong breath taking atmospheres. On this new album compared to some previous Örnatorpet releases, I feel the music really encapsulates the breath taking natural world in which the artist draws inspiration from to create these magnificent ambient tales, and sounds less like a fantasy themed video game soundtrack which has been done rather often in the world of dungeon synth. 

    The opening song serves as the beginning of this musical exploration, “Fordom i Sagor om Trolldomskult,” and the music casts a spell over you as the synth chords blare out of the speakers. I would say that the second track, “Över Ensamma Leden,” takes on a more solemn sounding approach with slower melodies ringing out to lull you into a drowsy state of mind. Throughout the album the diverse synth textures are very noticeable, which is why the music never loses its vividly compelling nature. For example, “Bland Stigar Fördolda,” really caught my attention when I first heard the song, because the music featured such brilliant Scandinavian folk-like elements. The last song on the album, “Den Bleka Dager Faller,” is another very well constructed fantasy themed epic tale with more triumphant synth arrangements. I felt as though I was walking through the halls of an ancient kingdom lost in time as the melodies lit forth a pathway of which I continued to followed until the music slowly faded away at the end of the song. 

    Overall, I would say that, “Fordomdags,” is definitely an album worth checking out if you are fan of dungeon synth music that draws inspiration from fantasy, nature and Scandinavian folklore. In this modern age where the natural world is becoming lost due to over development and the insane pace of modern life, I find that this music allows us to escape to a phenomenal sounding world as if we are stepping through some mystical gateway into a realm where we can let go our daily fears and stresses. Örnatorpet continues to be a powerful musical force in the dungeon synth and ambient music world, so I highly anticipate more music to come from this extremely talented artist. 

Check out the entire album below:

Nordvis Website:

https://www.nordvis.com/

 Örnatorpet Bandcamp: 

https://ornatorpet.bandcamp.com/

Old Tower “Draconic Synthesis”

    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

Vanishing Amulet "Nocturnal Heritage"

    In the absence of lyrics an artist must creatively compose captivating arrangements in order to construct a vividly fascinating musical world. Dungeon synth is a style of music which I have always found to tell such amazing stories without using lyrics, especially when pertaining to how the artists are able to hook listeners with the utilization of profound sounding synth arrangements. 

    Vanishing Amulet is an upcoming dungeon synth act that I fortunately stumbled upon while checking out a channel on YouTube called, "The Dungeon Synth Archives." This one-man dungeon synth act offers up a vivid and spellbinding debut album with the release of, “Nocturnal Heritage.” The album definitely pays homage to classic dungeon synth releases from artists like Mortiis, Old Tower and Secret Stairways. However, the album also has a very unique sound that blends together a variety of different influences, thus creating a dreamy spectral ambiance. Vanishing Amulet really dives deep into the medieval and fantasy inspired sounding landscapes that take on this very cinematic like quality. Also, there is a very raw and muffled sound that gives off a very haunting, yet melancholic vibe as the album progresses. 

    Each track comes across as part of a chapter in an epic tale and the albums flows with an enchanting synergy. The opening song, “Gothic Aristocracy,” greets you with a bombastic burst of mesmerizing notes that create a very triumphant sounding piece of music. The melodies and the brilliant layering of the keyboards reminded me of material you might hear from the band Summoning. On the second track, “Lament for a Princess,” you feel as though you are drifting into a tranquil trance like state of mind and the music is extremely soothing. 

    I believe that this album can appeal to a wide range of music fans, because the attention to detail and the breath taking atmospheric elements are unbelievably remarkable. Tracks like, “Light Bleeds Through the Old Lace Curtains” and “Secrets of Her Descent,” happen to be perfect examples of how a dungeon artist can go about constructing these landscapes which sort of lull you into a calming realm of endless tranquility. Sometimes dungeon synth artists need to be careful, or else they might end up gettin stuck in a very generic sounding repetitious arrangement which can lead to people losing interest. However, listening to this entire release I can honestly say that there are no moments where you become disenchanted with the direction of the music. Until the very end, you will find yourself possessed by the ghostly synth arrangements that guide you along this pathway shrouded in mist and mystery. 

    As I said before, Dungeon synth is a style of music that requires little words and is primarily fueled by breath taking atmospheres to pull you away from the shackles of everyday life and into a realm of majestic splendor. Vanishing Amulet is an artist that definitely knows how to draw influence from past dungeon synth artists, while still creating a very refreshing musical offering that does not sound lackluster in the least bit. I highly recommend this album for anyone who is looking for a release that conveys powerful raw sounding emotion with an almost cinematic like quality. Vanishing Amulet’s music might not get used in some braindead TikTok video, however, this type of music does not seek to follow mindless trends, and instead focuses on forging compositions in an attempt to inspire the listener's imagination.  

Check out the entire album below via the Dungeon Synth Archives :

Vanishing Amulet Bandcamp:

https://vanishingamulet.bandcamp.com/releases

The Dungeon Synth Archives:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDungeonSynthArchives

Old Tower "The Old King of Witches"

    Once again Old Tower conjures forth an album that leads listeners into a shadowy realm of haunting tranquility. “The Old King of Witches,” is more than just another dungeon synth album, but a journey across a mysterious archaic landscape where darkness reigns and one might begin to question all they once knew to be possible. 

    The Specter, the creative genius behind Old Tower, has proven to be an extremely brilliant composer within the world of dungeon synth and ambient music. In the absence of lyrics, one must be able to hook listeners with profound ambience, while also seamlessly guiding listeners through mesmerizing pieces of music that creates a cinematic sounding world. Old Tower’s last full-length release, “The Last Eidolon,” was an extremely impressive release, and an album that I considered to be one of the best albums to come in 2020. Compared to, “The Last Eidolon,” I find this new release to be even more darker and dives into this eye opening horror themed world in which there is an evil force lurking amongst this forbidden domain. 

    Each track serves as a small yet powerful piece in relation to the overall frightening story as you progress throughout the album. The Specter makes sure to add enough detail into eacb track order to really establish a vivid sounding environment. Right away you hear a bit of a departure from the traditional old school dungeon synth sound, and instead you can hear a more ambient style that feels like something that could be used as a film score. “Wych Totem,” is the album’s opening track and builds up suspense with eerie noises which throws you straight into the heart of this forbidden musical realm. At the end of the song a sharp ear piercing sound breaks the calm silence, as if you have reached the boundary line into an evil dominion. 

    During the song the, “The Dwelling,” I could imagine myself entering a decrepit old den where a cauldron is bubbling and candles surround a book used to summon malevolent forces. I really must applaud The Specter for arranging such compelling and realistic sounds, because once you start listening to a track you become completely possessed by every little noise that comes out of the speaker. On most dungeon synth albums you hear a triumphant yet melancholy sound driving the music forwarded, but on this release the gloomy and ghastly compositions lead you through a more mysteriously sinister atmospheric cloud of sound. 

    Other tracks on the album like, “Red Dragon Bones” and “Winter Embers,” continues to incorporate a plethora of sounds in order to provide more fascinating detail to an already monumental musical tale. The sounds of a crackling fire during, “Winter Embers,” that break through the glossy synth arrangement, leaves you feeling like you are standing all alone in a forest nestled away under a sea of dead mangled trees. A track for me that really stood out was, “The Drifter of Duskmire,” because the layering of different sounds during the song really hooked me from the beginning until the end. The synth arrangements are extremely well recorded and the other noises compliment the music’s insidious tone. 

     I would describe, "The Old King of Witches,” as a great example of how The Specter has a plethora of creative depth that is still being shown on each new release. This album is one of the most well produced releases to come out this year, and the fact that this album does not need words to create such strong mental images only reaffirms my respect for this artist. In my opinion, Old Tower is the king of dungeon synth/ambient acts right now and the kingdom established by The Specter is one that I hope continues to flourish in the dark confines wherever this artist dwells for many years. 

Link to the teaser video for the album: 

Old Tower Bandcamp:

https://oldtower.bandcamp.com/album/the-old-king-of-witches

Wallachian Cobwebs "Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased"

   Once again we are gifted with a ghastly sounding dungeon synth release that slowly rises out of the Carpathian catacombs and spreads across the land striking fear in the hearts and minds of listeners. This sophomore release from Wallachian Cobwebs titled, "Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased," is full of ghoulish sounding arrangements and the musician behind this one-man project, Count Räumula, is like a dungeon synth mad scientist when it comes to composing. 

   “Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased,” definitely continues from where the debut album, “Hearken to the Moon Whisper,” left off in terms of establishing a profound and unique dungeon synth sound. However, I would argue that this new release comes across as even more grandiose when pertaining to the album's production, and the album feels extremely cinematic at times. One thing though that can be said about both releases is that the recording quality and overall atmospheres are unbelievably brilliant sounding. 

   Another interesting difference between the two albums is that this one departs from the vampiric lore of the debut release to explore a tale influenced by the story of Frankenstein. On the new album there is still a strong emphasis placed on creating haunting synth melodies to lull you into a vivid atmospheric dominion. The album’s opening track, “The Electrical Secrets of Heaven,” is the starting point for which this tale of utter madness is to begin and the sound effects that accompany the synth arrangements do a tremendous job setting up the album's horrific conceptual themes. Again, this album really feels cinematic and you can envision all that you hear, which in a way is borderline frightening come to think of it!

   The music flawless flows throughout the entire release and always keeps you engaged as the synth arrangements evolve to compliment the current mood of the story. On track number three, “A Lonely Walk,” there are some vocals provided by The Specter who is the mysterious and extremely creative driving force behind the phenomenal dungeon synth act, Old Tower. I really liked the vocals parts provided during the song, which I thought added another element of horrifying suspense to the music’s already bone chilling sounding theme. Although I would say that the album’s title track is where the music really reaches this climatic and heart pounding part of the story. During the track you can feel the rush of heightened emotion from the climate of chaos going on as the noise builds and builds. 

   Towards the end the album, the music begins to return to a state of calm and comforting darkness as the tale of this human creation brought back from the dead comes to a tragic end. The synth parts of this release always seem to find a way to evolve and transition when needed, making this a very dynamic sounding ambient release, which is extremely impressive when you look at the album as a whole. 

   “Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased,” is arguably one of the most well composed and recorded albums I have heard so far this year, especially when I think of an album leaving an impact after I've listened to it. Count Räumula is truly becoming a force within the dungeon synth community and Wallachian Cobwebs is an act I highly recommend checking out. In my opinion, this type of work ethic and dedication to craft such profound music definitely deserves high praise. I most certainly look forward to what shall come next from this musician who dwells in the shadows of forbidden Wallachian crypts. Seriously, where else can someone record such nightmare inducing music?! Sure as hell was not recorded in one of those shit holes in LA where they serve wheatgrass smoothies! 

Wallachian Cobwebs bandcamp:

https://wallachiancobwebs.bandcamp.com/album/night-sobbed-a-potion-diseased-2

Old Tower "The Last Eidolon"

      Over the last few years Old Tower has taken listeners on a spectral journey into a dark dominion of dungeon synth music and the most recent album, "The Last Eidolon," is yet another example of this artist's ever growing phantasmal vision. The artist behind Old Tower known only as, The Specter, is quite possibly one of the most creative minds in the genre as of late, and one who works under a mysterious shadow of secrecy.

    Working with Profound Lore Records, Old Tower is once again allowed to conjure up a monumental release full of ambient and atmospheric grandeur. The Specter truly makes you feel as though you are wandering through a forgotten kingdom where unfathomable mysteries are lurking around every corner. I cannot think of many artists currently who have this ability to write such profound compositions that do not need lyrics to narrate, but instead lets the album’s ambience guide you throughout this haunting musical landscape.

    The album’s first track, “Loremaster,” introduces us to the isolated kingdom by slowly lulling listeners into a trance like state with a calming melody. Eventually, the gates open and you travel through these halls of blaring synthesizers, becoming lost in a medieval maze of cursed ruins. The second song, “Shadow Over Thy Kingdom,” is another long haunting atmospheric experience that I find to be extremely compelling in its overall presentation. As the music evolves you become immersed in this ghastly sounding world driven by sinister synth arrangements. I think the Specter’s talents really took me by surprise on, “Shadow Over Thy Kingdom,” and I find the recording to be one of Old Tower’s most exceptional tracks to date.

    The final song on the album, “The Fallen One,” concludes the long and eerie sounding journey by leading listener’s through more dynamic ambient pathways. In the distance the pounding of drums can be heard over the whirling synths that blanket the landscape and through the darkness you feel as though you are gazing atop a tower over the kingdom’s grim remnants. I liked how the composition flowed and towards the end of the piece the synths built up this epic climax that eventually concluded with a mighty bombastic crash like the ending to an epic odyssey.

    Old Tower’s, “The Last Eidolon,” proves to be another exceptional offering from the Specter, thus adding to an already strong discography. I find there is little to complain about after listening to this album, attributing the Specter’s enigmatic and sharp musical mind to why this album is such an impressive accomplishment. Highly recommended for fans of ambient music and dungeon synth, especially considering the need for an escape with everything going on in the world.



Stream the entire album below:

Link to where you can buy/order the album:

https://oldtower.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-eidolon

Wallachian Cobwebs "Hearken to the Moon Whisper"

    Imagine walking into a crypt and seeing a coffin slowly opening with mist swirling around the lid as you begin to become hysterical from fright. If there was a soundtrack for that experience, Wallachian Cobwebs would be the perfect artist to compose some terrifying music.

    The artist’s debut release, “Hearken to the Moon Whisper,” is a dungeon synth release which explores the vampiric themes known to spawn nightmares and inspire frightening legends. Dungeon synth is all about establishing strong ambience and also requires the ability to create a world driven by sound instead of lyrics. This artist I find offers a unique approach by creating a truly malevolent cinematic sounding environment. The overall mood is extremely ominous with sounds of wolves howling in the background and of coffins creaking as if the undead are slowly coming out of the shadows.

    Similar to a horror film, the album flows seamlessly through different pieces to create a sinister tale. The opening audio clip begins the journey into a dark misty world of frightening howls accompanied by grim sounding synth arrangements. When listening to the album one will take notice right away to how the synth is the main driving force leading the listener deeper into the catacombs of despair. The song, “An Abandoned Room Full of Dust,” really captured my attention with a solemn melody that eventually evolves into a fascinating cinematic like composition.

    One of my favorite songs off the album, “Uprising of the Green Skeletons,” features more malignant sounding elements, yet the haunting atmosphere is extremely welcoming. You become lost in the musical world of eerie sounding horror and can see yourself walking in a trance like state through a Transylvanian graveyard under a full moon. Also, the song does a great job leading into the final track, “The Stars Touched Midnight,” which is a captivating arrangement where the synth conjures up some vivid sounding notes until the music disappears into the windy and cold Wallachian night.

    Wallachian Cobwebs did a brilliant job with this release, especially in terms of how the album was composed and recorded. It is unique dungeon synth album that breaks away from the pack by exploring and experimenting with a creative concept that I found to be very interesting and engaging. Dungeon synth fans should really check this release out, along with anyone who is a fan of cinematic sounding horror music. Similar to a black and white horror film, the music pulls you out of reality and into a realm of sheer fright to become engrossed in a forbidden tale of terror. 



Check out the entire album below:

Wallachian Cobwebs Bandcamp:

https://wallachiancobwebs.bandcamp.com/releases

Malfet : The Way to Avalon

    Inspired by Arthurian legend, the music composed by Malfet takes listeners on a journey through vibrant sounding musical landscapes of epic splendor. “The Way to Avalon,” is not your typical dungeon synth album and features some creative synth work that leads you into a world of endless sounding wonder.

    When listening to this album I was impressed by the medieval sounding themes and incorporation of sounds from nature. You feel as though you are stepping through a gateway into another realm. What I believe grabbed my attention right away was the album's overall atmosphere and how compelling the music sounded. Anyone can attempt to create a dungeon synth album, however, you must have purpose and an ability to convey a captivating world of pure instrumental fantasy. Malfet is able to accomplish that on this album by building their own distinct identity, while also writing a strong album from start to finish.

    The first track, “The Way to Avalon,” sets forth a path into the artist’s vision of what it would be like as you make your way to the legendary island of Avalon. As the background synth lays down a solid foundation, the main melody leads you through a peaceful sounding forest filled with calming sounds. The following tracks, “Within Llyn Ogwen” and “Farewell to Gaste Forest,” slightly change direction as the music takes on a more sombre feel, but eventually it returns to that triumphant sounding confidence you heard on the first song.

    The middle of the album continues to feature dynamic sounding arrangements of fantasy themed sounds that are recorded in such a precise manner. I feel as though the music is never overwhelming and the production is very crisp and clean sounding. Instead of overloading the landscape with too many layers, there seems to be an emphasis placed on certain melodies which are very soothing and maintain your focus. The song, “Joyeuse Garde Idyll,” is a great example of a well written piece of music that is presented in a simple manner, yet conjures a very powerful emotional sounding tone.

    Once the album ends, you find yourself returning from that magnificent world of Arthurian greatness back to the cruel reality where people like Taylor Swift are rich and famous for releasing garbage. I think Malfet’s vision was executed extremely well and the album is one of the strongest sounding instrumental releases to come out this year. This type of talent can definitely be used to score a film, especially one surrounding the topics explored on this album. I look forward to more pleasant sounding musical journeys from Malfet in the future and highly recommend this release for fans of epic sounding dungeon synth music.





Check out "Malfet - Briosque Juvenis" below:

Old Tower "Stellary Wisdom"

   Conjured in some remote location by a musician shrouded in mystery, Old Tower's, “Stellary Wisdom,” is a soundtrack into a shadowy realm where ancient castle ruins stand tall amongst hidden landscapes lost in time and space.

    The mastermind behind Old Tower known as, “The Specter,” is an artist who has become well regarded in the old-school dungeon synth community. I still remember when I first heard Old Tower’s, “Ruination, the New Dawn Cometh.” The track was an emotional sounding odyssey of captivating dungeon synth with a magnificent overall atmosphere.

    “Stellary Wisdom,” once again demonstrates Old Tower’s distinct and mysterious dungeon synth talents. I feel like what the iconic dungeon synth artist Mortiis established with the landmark album, “Født Till a Herske,” Old Tower continues by crafting even more mesmerizing sounding compositions. Also, the music on, “Stellary Wisdom,” is extremely well recorded and the album’s overall production is flawless in my opinion.

    The album features two brilliant compositions that both happen to last around fifteen minutes. “Deep Within My Somber Castle Halls,” is the album’s opening track which begins with a powerful presence of synth and establishes a very melancholy atmosphere. You feel as though you are traveling through an isolated mountain fortress far away from the modern world. I find the music to be very therapeutic and helps clear my mind. If you enjoy classic dungeon synth music with a strong ambience you will truly enjoy this track.

    The second track which is the title track off the album, slowly builds up with a more ambient celestial sounding style. For me the recording conjured up mental pictures of an endless black sky leading toward an abyss beyond Earth and into another dimension. The Specter seems to be a master of recording and his ability to convey such vivid emotional sounds throughout the composition is rather impressive. I also liked the dynamics of this piece and felt like there were some moments of unpredictability that kept me paying full attention to every sound coming through my speakers.

    I believe, “Stellary Wisdom, “ is not just the strongest dungeon synth album to come out in the past few years, but the album is also one of the strongest and most well produced albums to come out this year so far. For fans of early Mortiis and dark ambient dungeon synth, I think Old Tower is a power rising from the darkness that you need to check out. I highly recommend going back and checking out the band’s previous releases as well as this new one. Sometimes when you need a break from the chaotic modern world, the sounds of dungeon synth can be a great escape and Old Tower provides a great sanctuary for those looking to escape.


Preview the entire album below. Also subscribe to The Dungeon Synth Archives on Youtube. The person who runs that channel has some great bands to check out:

Link to Old Tower's bandcamp. Physical copies of the album are available. (Already have mine!) :

https://oldtower.bandcamp.com/album/stellary-wisdom

Minas Anor "Helm’s Deep"

    The writings of J. R. R. Tolkien have been used as the inspiration for numerous recordings. Black metal bands and dungeon synth bands have literally taken the stories of Middle-Earth and created some epic albums. Minas Anor is a dungeon synth act from Ukraine that may not use words to narrate the world of Tolkien, but instead allows listeners to create their own mental imagery based off of the sounds from the band’s 2010 release, “Helm’s Deep.” 

    I have a very selective ear for dungeon synth music. There are bands who I think provide listeners with dynamic and fascinating landscapes of atmospheric brilliance. However, there are some dungeon synth bands that don’t put that much thought into their recordings and the music sounds like cheap video game music that offers no strong emotional appeal. So, where does Minas Anor’s, “Helms Deep,” fall in the world of dungeon synth? 

    Honestly, I am going say right away that this could be my favorite dungeon synth recording of all time. The compositions are cinematic and the music tells a compelling story without words. I find myself closing my eyes and following along to the sounds from the synths and the pounding of the drums. There are moments where you could imagine yourself standing upon the walls of Helm’s Deep as the rain begins to fall and the Uruk-hai army is approaching. 

    The opening piece, “Approaching,” perfectly sets up the album with a synth arrangement and the pounding of epic sounding war like drums. Compared to other dungeon synth projects I have heard, the recording of the instruments does not sound to cheaply done. Following the first piece is, “Storm,” where the sounds of rain create a soothing effect. Midway through the album, “Sunrise,” changes the music’s emotional tone for a short period of time until it reaches the last part, “Departure.” Throughout the entire release you find yourself locked-in as the synth dictates the direction of the album's overall sound. As I said before Minas Anor isn’t just another stereotypical dungeon synth ambient band, because there is just such attention to detail with each sound and how the music progresses until the final note fades away. 

    Minas Anor released, “Helm’s Deep,” in 2010 and I have not heard much about the band since its release. I really hope that this album is not the only recording we get from Minas Anor, but if it is I think the release definitely stands out within the world of dungeon synth and ambient music. For people who enjoy this type of music, I think you will be instantly hooked by Minas Anor’s music.



Listen to the full album below and if you can find a copy... buy it and support the artist!