Dungeon synth: den stora rekommendationstråden

Det här är inte Dungeon Synth på något sätt, men det är något med dessa två första låtarna på 'aguas da amazonia' av Philip Glass och Uakti. Det finns en mystik i det..., och det i en Sydamerikansk anda istället för en forn-nordisk eller forn-europeisk, och eftersom det ovanpå det rör sig om endast ett par låtar så tycker jag att det är ett inte allt för olämpligt undantag...

https://youtu.be/GBlm_LkRmdU

https://youtu.be/N0b5-D2YliQ

Det tåls väl lite att jämföras med musiken i kapitel III från Diablo II.

Vinterriket - Gjennom tåkete skogen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XseH-ElP-kI

Titlarna på musiken är på norska men han som skapat musiken är tysk. Han har gjort en hel del under namnet Vinterriket, men det här är definitivt det bästa. Och det är en demo !

Kassetten hade omslaget med målningen Soria Moria av Theodor Kittelsen, i svartvitt. Originalmålningen är i färg men många kassetter hade/har ju svartvita omslag.

Sällan har jag hört något som fångar en nordisk stämning så bra som detta. Själv beskriver han sin musik så här :

"Vinterriket is only influenced by the dark side of nature, nothing else. Sure, you get influenced by many things around you if you want or not, you can even say by ALL things around you: Friends, books, films, landscapes, pictures, etc.

But my main source of inspiration is the “night-side” of nature. Nature is all and everything to me. I am a “nature-child” so to speak and I have a very close relationship to nature. All Vinterriket tracks so far have been odes to the dark side of Mother Nature.

Of course I prefer dark, melancholic and moody places and landscapes. I really like to walk around alone in autumn and winter through stormy, snowy, misty and cold woods… We have a lot of great dark and powerful places here in our area where you can really feel the energy and might of nature. Well, maybe there are some people out there saying that I’m repeating myself (with regards to releases) but I do not think so.

Different music styles also reflect different tributes to the dark side of nature. Vinterriket’s music expresses a lot of feelings and atmospheres, just like nature itself. At one point the music turns more warm, romantic and “sunny” at the other point more dark, cruel or frightening.

But the dark aspect is very dominant, I think. I am of the opinion that Vinterriket is very connected to the north because of the nature- aspect. Ice, coldness, loneliness, dark winter nights, northern lights, endless & vast landscapes, mysterious forests,… The list is long."

Skönt, blev sugen på att spela igenom det första Witcher-spelet igen an någon anledning.

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Ja jävlar vad bra musik det finns där ute, gillade 'Kälte, Schnee und Eis - Rekapitulation der Winterszeit' som fan, enligt spotify så var detta ett album men såg sedan på metallum att det var en compilation - äckligt bra, viskandet i låtarna är ett rent genidrag som tar musiken till en helt ny nivå... Läckert.

Köpte nyligen ett album (Dragon Citadel Elegies) direkt från finska Old Sorcery, 20€ med frakt. Ett fantastiskt album att slappna av eller läsa till. En del låtar med något högre tempo men med sköna slingor. Old Sorcery gör även en del brädspelsmusik för den som gillar sånt.

En annan favorit som jag också mejlade var Örnatorpet. Köpte en handfull signerade album för en spottstyver och har lyssnat på dem mycket nu under senhösten/vintern. Melodiskt, lugnt och mäktigt. Det är musik som går rätt in i, och fångar, den nordiska själen.

Kan inte nog rekommendera att köpa direkt från artister när ni har möjlighet. Oavsett genre. De flesta är mer än beredvilliga och då vet man att ingen annan roffar åt sig från intäkterna.

Har nyligen halkat in lite på denna genren & här är mina guldkorn so far:

Lord Lovidicus - Book Of Lore: vol II

Fief - V

Diplodocus - Slow & Heavy (A+B)

Överlag kan man lugnt säga att genren är full av dåligt skit som knappt går att lyssna på, men skulle gärna hitta mer i stil & nivå som Lord Lovidicus.

Gvasdnahr - Týr

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N6zSM-ZDv4

"Dungeon Synth project from Finland by Tiwaz (Tom Sundvik)."

Från intervju med Tiwaz, mannen bakom projektet :

"Andrew: What is the inspiration for the concepts of the songs you make?

Tiwaz: Different things. On the first album, a few songs were inspired by Norse mythology, which can be seen on some of the song titles. Some songs were inspired by nature and the cosmos"

"Tiwaz: I play Dungeons & Dragons with some friends a couple of times a month, and I've been pretty hooked to The Elder Scrolls V lately. I used to play Warcraft III a lot in the past as well, but I never got into that whole MMORPG thing.
I used to read a lot of H.P. Lovecraft stories online a few years ago, and I still have a pretty deep interest in his Mythos although I currently don't read anything."

"Tiwaz: I'm not religious, and I'm certainly not very spiritual either. But I'm very interested in Asatru and other pagan religions, and I have great respect for it. However, my interest in paganism is not limited to just European paganism. I have great respect for Native American traditions as well for example, and the Ancient Egyptian religion is fascinating. I enjoy Native American traditional music a lot, and I can even enjoy some traditional oriental music as well from time to time. I have a little bit of interest in pretty much all ancient religions and civilizations that predates christianity."

https://dungeonsynth.blogspot.com/2012/02/interview-with-tiwaz-of-gvasdnahr.html

Ager Sonus - Bonfire Stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v15ZLnVl4Uk

Från en recension :

"One thing that sets Ager Sonus apart is the inclusion of ancient mythological themes for each album and contrasting musical sounds that present a deep dive into the theme at hand. On latest album, ‘Niflheim’, Ager Sonus incorporates hoary deities and recollections similar to that of Norse mythology and civilizations. This alone creates a dynamic atmosphere that is supremely backed up theatrical ambient pieces, telling an age-old tale through superior musical expression."

"“Bonfire Stories” takes us back to ancient times of Viking warriors and the fight for land and heritage. This song creates such a magnificent image of natural landscapes and dark times of an age-old civilization with its pulsating beat and emotionally charged instrumentation."

https://thedungeonindeepspace.com/2022/06/23/ager-sonus-takes-us-on-a-journey-through-ancient-civilizations-on-niflheim/

"800 AD, an era of conquest, conflict and war. Another trip into the unknown, another seemingly endless day, another battlefield. The feeling of cold rain on your skin, the smell of rotten wood, mud, burning huts and blood fill up your nostrils. Numbed by the endless fighting, the sounds of battle feel muffled, your vision blurred, a thick layer of mist building around you, almost as if the Gods as well had enough and are reaching out to grab you and take you away... "

Akerius - Shadows Of Mordor (from S.P.T.M.E album)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X56XrI8qMmc

Från olika intervjuer :

"E&D: On the other hand, you’ve now used Middle Earth. What are particular aspects that make Tolkien so inspiring for you? What are your favourite tales from his work and are there other fantasy writers you enjoy and would pay tribute to (I’m personally still hoping to find some Gemmell-inspired dungeon synth)?

Aker: Yes, Shadowed Paths Through Middle-Earth is a ‘special’ one in my discography as it’s the only album dealing with the Tolkien’s universe. Music was written during a period I was reading some tales about Middle-Earth, the last one I read (once again) was The Children of Húrin, which I did not like a lot on first reading.

Tolkien’s work deals with many themes and the world he has created is also made of drawings, songs and of course tales, all of this is incredibly rich and inspiring! Of course, there is also this atmosphere of melancholy and the struggle between good and evil that feeds many of his stories: definitively inspiring for writing music!

I do not have favourite tales, but let’s say I usually come back to Bilbo The Hobbit and of course The Lord of the Rings, which is a much more complex and dark work. Because of its darkness, it is more appealing to me… I don’t plan to pay tribute to other fantasy writers for the moment but as you suggested I should start reading LEGEND from David Gemmell, some friends always encouraged me reading it because the fantasy universe he has created is different and original."

"E&D: I understand you’re not native to the island, can you share a bit about how you ended up there?

Aker: Yes, I was born in Occitania, a place fantastic region full of history (medieval castles, legends, secret places…). I’ve grown with all this ‘background’ and my mother used to tell me stories about those places, especially Carcassonne and the legendary Cathar country. Of course, I feel very nostalgic about this period and this is one of the reasons I started my project ‘Akerius’.

I decided to move to Réunion island for professional and personal reasons. I studied sciences for years (Biology & Geology) and Réunion is a very attractive place when you are fond of science and biodiversity, but the one more reason why I moved is love…"

https://echoesanddust.com/2020/12/akerius-occitanian-dungeon-synth-from-the-indian-ocean/

"The dungeon synth tape community is very supportive, why is cassette such an important platform to the genre?

Yes, the supportive aspect in this community is very important. There are a lot of cool people sharing interesting information about the genre and also the music they are writing, and this results in a very rewarding process.

To me, the cassette is ancient and makes us ride on a wave of nostalgia, like a reminder of the past. The analogic sound of the tape creates a special atmosphere, and all those aspects fit well to the genre. It’s got that ‘old and precious’ something you cannot feel from the digital format."

"The thing that got me into DS was the covers. Many use a lot of architecture and isolated landscapes; the castle ones are my personal favourite. What is it about the synth sound that inspires this kind of medieval theme and art? They seem like two contrasting ideas separate but work so well together.

Yes, covers are a very important aspect of DS! The medieval aspect of the covers (old paintings or drawings from artists of the past) are very attractive, but you can also find some ‘modern’ original illustrations that are mind blowing!

The sounds that are used for the genre can also come from antique synthesizers (some artists are using old keyboard sounds that are more oriented to the ‘old school dungeon synth’ style) or from more modern recording equipment with better quality sounds, leading to a better quality for mastering.

Personally, I think I’m between the old and the modern approach of this genre of music. That’s what helped shaped my style with some guitar parts (acoustic and sometimes electric) to my compositions."

https://noobheavy.com/interview-akerius-dungeon-synth/

Hole Dweller - With Dreams of Adventure, I Smoke From My Longpipe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVCNs6InZk

"This is the story of a humble hobbit who against the unease of venturing too far from his home in Frogmorton, decides to embark upon an epic journey of his own making. Armed with only a longpipe and walking stick, will his thirst for adventure be strong enough to swallow his fear of the unknown? With an unbreakable spirit, the hobbit flies the coop."

Från intervju :

" What type of non-musical influences went into each project? Travel? Literature?

For Bellkeeper probably just playing a lot of Dark Souls and seeking the hidden lore found within the world. There’s so much content and rich history for those patient enough to dig for it that’s inspiring.

Hole Dweller is a lot of playing as a hobbit minstrel in Lord of the Rings Online and exploring a digital Middle-Earth. I literally went to locations in the Shire and sat there while writing some Hole Dweller tunes. I wanted to be immersed in the best way I could figure. Also, just reading Tolkien’s works is a big source of influence, though that goes without saying."

"Growing up and being really into video game music is probably where most of the deeply ingrained interest stems from."

"I gravitated more toward the nostalgic and old sound. So in my head, the two worlds came together to inspire interest. Discovering dungeon synth brought back the memories of all the games I played growing up and how I would sometimes just stop in-game and listen to the music. Simple and humble memories"

https://thesundaydungeon.wordpress.com/2019/11/24/interview-with-tim-rowland-of-bellkeeper-hole-dweller/

Vaelastrasz - Amongst the Death Moon, I Wither (Single)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IielU1Tg2M

Från en intervju :

"Your project is named for the dragon Vaelastrasz the Corrupt from the World of Warcraft universe, who made a powerful appearance (among many other fantasy and adventure game locales) in your visually creative live set. How much has the World of Warcraft universe (and other fantasy realms) influenced your art?

Oddly enough I’m not that influenced by video games that much in my art, as ironic as it is to have a project named after a video game NPC. Of course I take influence from Warcraft when telling the narratives of some of my albums, but I’m not trying to replicate the soundtrack or any video game soundtrack with my music.

Warcraft’s lore and story, especially the stories that came from Warcraft 3 really resonated with me. Considering the lack of Warcraft-inspired Dungeon Synth projects there were at the time I started as Vaelastrasz, I wanted to really find a way to combine my love for Dark Ambient music while also telling people how much I enjoyed the story of Warcraft. So I guess the best way to describe it is that video games and fantasy worlds have inspired me whether loosely as compared to my inspirations coming from music. I’m more of a music nerd than a fantasy nerd."

"In crafting this meditative music, do you find yourself lost in it or transported elsewhere, as well?

Oh yeah. There’s definitely a feeling of ease, and a hell of a lot of serotonin, anytime I can listen back onto something I crafted with this intent. Hitting the right notes, getting specific instrument patches to come in during this specific time, and then listening to it all with fresh ears. It brings me peace, it helps me escape."

"How do you find yourself associating visual art with Vaelastrasz? That is to say, what thoughts go into visually representing the project?

I try to focus on the musical aspect more so than the visual aspects. Of course, the album cover is important when creating the album, but that’s really it in terms of how much I’ll put in. The reason why is that I believe setting up a specific visual accompaniment will make a listener focus too much on that specific environment and world, instead, I want the listener to listen to the music and create their own adventure through my music. Even though some of my albums are based on specific things based on Warcraft that doesn’t mean a listener should transport themselves to that specific zone."

https://thecallofthenight.com/vaelastrasz.html