Megafauna Interview

 

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the solo project?

Sure, MEGAFAUNA is an ambient/experimental/electronic project that I started very casually in 2023, and that I've really been immersed in this year. I've found it to be immensely cathartic for dealing with/coping with my own struggles with mental illness and but also as a way to express the things that bring me joy. It's not something that I ever thought I'd find myself doing, so the fact that the response has been relatively positive also continues to surprise me.

2.So far this year you have put out 5 releases, musically how do they all differ from each other?

Kind of hard to believe honestly. I'll go through them all chronologically but I think they do feel like cohesive pieces of a larger project. I also think they represent me having been able to practice and get better at the production.

Before. is a collection of things that I had made before I really know what MEGAFAUNA was or before it was even a thing. A lot of it was made on Garage Band or just playing around with loops and samples. I guess it serves as a mixtape?

The Sea Meets the Sky EP is the first actual cohesive project from MEGAFAUNA. My first attempt at trying to structure something and be deliberate in my songwriting

Venator takes that further, being a full length. And is a bit more explicit in the parts of myself that I was trying to work through.

Smiling Through a Crimson Mask is a single from my upcoming record Worm Burden - coming out in 2025.

In Training. is a live album, recorded at my first show ever in Smithers BC. All of the songs are unique to that performance and that album.

3.What are some of the themes and images you bring out on your recordings?

A lot of what I make is me coping with how I'm feeling in the moment. The angst, the existential dread, the depression, sure, but also the mania and the joy and the love that I feel. I try to use MEGAFAUNA as a means of coping and processing so I like to think that's what comes across.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Megafauna'?

Truly I think its just one of those words that when I heard it, it stuck in the back of my brain and when it was finally time to give this project a name, that was the one. I'm not sure there is a grand meaning or story, but maybe that's something that will become apparent as I continue.

5.On the recordings you mostly work by yourself, are you open to working with a full band or do you prefer to work solo?

I would love to work with anyone, honestly. The solo thing came as a result of my geographic location, but also because of the deeply personal nature of everything that I'm doing. I've been lucky enough to have some collaborations with folks, and I would absolutely work with others if they felt like it would make sense.

6.In 2024 you have put out 5 releases so far, do you spend a great amount of time writing and creating music?

Not as much as I'd like, honestly.

7.What are some of the best shows that you have played with this project so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?

As I write this, I've performed exactly 2 shows as MEGAFAUNA. One was great, and went more or less how I hoped it would, and the other almost had me convinced I needed to walk away haha. So the first one was absolutely the best. The show is intended to almost have a ritualistic nature to it - I perform sitting on the floor in the middle of a circle of antlers and everything is mostly improvised.

8.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

I do! I have a show coming up in Port Alberni on August 15th - and then in October I'll be embarking on my first ever micro-tour, called the Nosfera-tour, where I'll be providing a live score to the 1922 silent film, Nosferatu. That one has shows in Smithers, Prince George, and Hazelton, BC.

9.You also run the label 'Syrup Moose Records', can you tell us a little bit more about the releases and genres you have worked with on this label?

Yeah, Syrup Moose started back in 2022 and since then I've been able to work with folks across genres and the planet. This year we've been able to work with folks like Underneath, 18 Slashes, Ashenheart, Ivory Primarch, and lots of others - it's been a real treat.

10.The physical copies also come with a Tarot card, can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in Tarot decks?

The tarot card thing was an idea from the early days of Syrup Moose Records. I wanted to have a unique item to accompany each release and tarot cards were the idea that won out. So each release has an assigned card with the hope of having an entire deck created in the end.

11.On a worldwide level  how has the reaction been to your music by fans of ambient and experimental?

The reaction has been really positive if not perhaps a bit small. I'm still learning how to promote my own music and be ok taking it seriously, but there have been some really kind words written about MEGAFAUNA.

12.Where do you see yourself heading into musically during the future?

I really don't know honestly. I try not to pin myself down by genre and just go with what works in the moment so there's really no telling what's next for me.

13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Influence-wise I'd say I am absolutely influenced and inspired by folks like The Knife/Fever Ray, Ween, 18 Slashes/Your Ancestors Knew Death/Henges, Aphex Twin, the enumerable projects of Garry Brents... I don't really know - I pull from the dark parts of my brain and I those are folks who have kind of shown me what's possible.

And as for what I'm listening to these days, I've really enjoyed the latest from SPEED, Black Pantera, Jisei, Sissyxo, Mothman and the Thunderbirds, Violent Magic Orchestra... honestly I could go on and on.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Check out the stuff MEGAFAUNA has released over at themegafauna.bandcamp.com and support Syrup Moose Records if you can - syrupmooserecords.bandcamp.com.

Take care of yourselves. Take your meds.

Megafauna/The Sea Meets The Sky/Syrup Moose Records/2024 EP Review

 

  Megafauna  are  a  solo  project  from  British  Columbian,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2024  ep  "The  Sea  Meets  The  Sky"  which  was  released  by  Syrup  moose  Records.

  Harsh  noises  and  power  electronics  start  off  the  ep  while  militant  beats  are  also  utilized  at  times.  Guitar  sounds  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  most  of  the  music  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  as  well  as  the  recording  also  going  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  at  times.

  A  lot  of  the  music  also  sounds  improvised  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  Drones  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  the  synths  also  adding  in  touches  of  dungeon  synth  when  they  are  utilized,  depressive  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.  

  Megafauna  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Megafauna  is  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Ethical  Consumption"  and  "My  Hands  Hurt  From  All  The  Wringing".  8  out  of  10.

  https://themegafauna.bandcamp.com/album/the-sea-meets-the-sky-ep      

Den Sorte Dod/Underganden/Cyclic law/2022 Album Re-Issue Review

 

  Den  Sorte  Dod  are  a  duo  from  Sweden  that  plays  a  mixture  of  ritual,  black  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2019  album  "Underganden"  which  was  re-issued  in  2022  by  Cyclic  Law.

  Ambient  style  keyboards  which  also  adds  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  elements  of  dungeon  synth  onto  the  recording.  A  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along with  some  programmed  beats  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  album.  

  All  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  the  music  also  has  its  ritualistic  moments.  At  times  the  recording  also  captures  the  dark  atmosphere  of  black  metal  along  with  the  whole  album  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  along  with  some  songs  also  showing  an  influence  of  krautrock. 

  Den  Sorte  Dod  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  black  ambient,  dungeon  synth,  ritual  and  krautrock  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while t he  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Den  Sorte  Dod  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black  ambient,  dungeon  synth,  ritual  and  krautrock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Underganden"  "Dyster  Kold  Morker"  and  "Dodsans  I  Skogsbrand".  8  out  of  10.

  VIEW ON BANDCAMP   

Sataray/Blood Trine Moon/Scry Recordings/2022 EP Review

 

  Olympia,  Washington's  Sataray  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  ritualistic  form  of  dark  ambient  with  elements  of  harsh  industrial  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  her  2022  ep  "Blood  Trine  Moon"  which  was  released  by  Scry  Recordings.

  Ritualistic  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  while  the  synths  also  bring  in  elements  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  as  well  as  using  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  along  with  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  whispered  vocals can  also b e  heard  on  a  couple  of  tracks. 

  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  one  song  also  introduces  melodic  vocals  onto  the  recording.  Touches  of  industrial  can  also  be  heard  at  times  and  all  of  the  music  sticks  to  a  very  slow  yet  ritualistic  direction.

  On  this  recording  Sataray  takes  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth,  industrial  and  ritual  to  create  something  very  different  from  her  previous  releases.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  occult  explorations  of  the  natural  world.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Sataray  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth,  harsh  industrial  and  ritual,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Astara"  and  "Hexennacht".  8  out  of  10.

http://www.facebook.com/sataray7

http://www.soundcloud.com/sataray     

1695 Interview

 

1. For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit more about the solo project?

1695 is a manifestation of imaginations and thoughts gone havoc and as a result creating weird sound patterns - sometimes soothing, other times disturbing. 

The music of the album was born in the lockdown spring of 2020. During the long hours at home I listened to quite a lot of dark ambient. Since the work with my regular metal and folk bands had also slowed down I decided to use the time for some individual exercises in creativity. So once a week I went to the rehearsal room/studio without special preparations to force my creation – with the help of the various instruments lying around – to come up with all kinds of soundscapes and other absurdities. The sessions gave birth to the album “Lennud loojangusse / Flights to Dusk” which is my first and so far the only official release as a solo artist.

 

2. You released an album a few months ago, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

I had thought about launching a ritualistic ambient project for a long time, so now the stars were finally right for this endeavor. But to gather all the songs under the banner of a single genre name is a tricky task. The music itself meanders from a pretty much classical dungeon synth to the metallic dark folk with brief deviations to the world of hectic noise or - on the contrary - strictly organised choir harmonies. The common themes would be a slow flow, liminal journeys over landscapes (both physical and spiritual) and melancholic darkness.

 

3. You also have experience playing in metal bands, how would you compare your solo stuff to the material you have released with your metal bands?

Most of my work with the metal bands like Langenu, Ulguränd and Swarn is predominantly much faster compared to my solo stuff. Doing different things from time to time helps to keep the spring of creativity fresh and flowing. 

I must admit, I probably have more bands than I can handle but they are all quite different from each other. Langenu falls into the pit of experimental and avant garde’ish black metal, Ulguränd has vowed loyalty to a blackened heavy metal and the songs about distant history, while Swarn is a rather straightforward occult death metal. 

Besides them I also play in a number of acoustic folk bands, so I cannot really complain about the lack of musical variety in my modest life.

 

4. A lot of your song themes focus on 'Gregorian Traditions', can you tell us a little bit more about your interest in this topic?

Only one song, “Põhjakaar / The North Arc” is directly referring to the traditions of the Gregorian chant. It’s one of the two songs in a capella arrangement and the lyrics of it, although containing just two words, are in Latin. I am not quite a choir singer material myself - maybe because of the deep rooted individualism - but it was interesting to put different layers of harmony together and see how it sounds. The outcome was pretty satisfying and gives an idea what a choir of a dozen clones of me could sound like if there was one. 

 

5. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name '1695'?

I came up with my artist name ’1695’ about 15 years ago or so when I began to play in a black metal Langenu. I got seduced by the name of the Norwegian band 1349. Just to think of it – an artist name which is simply a sequence of numbers! 1349 happened to be the year of the outburst of Black Death in Norway, so I began looking for a similarly drastic event in the history of Estonia. 1695 was the first of the three infamous years of crop failure that culminated with a great famine. Ca 20% of the Estonian population died – altogether about 70 000–75 000 people, especially the old and weak.

Modern metal music in general seems to be pretty obsessed with the heroic side of history. Fighting in battles, crushing one’s enemies, hearing the lamentation of their women… You get the point. Natural disasters like plagues, famines, droughts etc on the other hand may easily nullify all the human goals and therefore have great power over our vanity. ’1695’ stands as a grim reminder of this.

 

6. Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?

The songs were all born in the time of twilight – hence the album name „Flights to Dusk“. Every time I went to record another piece I rode across the river Emajõgi that flows through my hometown of Tartu, Estonia. The dusk colours of the sky and their reflection on the water surface of the river inspired the overall feeling of the music to a large extent. When having to decide how to visualize the essence of the music on the album artwork the evening colours of the river were the number one choice. The walks to the river offered wonderful spectacles of the twilight; I am glad that I managed to capture some of these valuable moments in the photos. 

7. With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience with full line up's, which one do you prefer?

Every combination has its pros and cons. The full line ups help to create music as a group and every member can have an input to the whole. An artist who creates everything alone doesn’t have to (and cannot) rely much on anyone else. My solo works are therefore deliberately mostly much more minimalist than the songs of the actual bands. In a way things got done much faster than with a full line up band which needs a period of rehearsing and discussing things through. But on the other hand, doing things alone may sometimes give one-sided results which may lack a certain depth.

Anyway, imperfection is something that 1695 as an idea strongly stands for.

 

8. The album was released on 'Warhorn Records'. how did you get in contact with this label?

Kruxator, the brains and the musculature behind Warhorn Records is a good friend of mine and a real powerhouse of the whole Tartu metal scene. He happened to hear the songs at my place and immediately found this suitable for being released via the label. The rest of the process was fairly easy – we prepared the songs and the artwork and the rest is history.

 

9. On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of experimental, ambient and metal?

The album has not reached any top list and I would have been very surprised if it had. It was intended to belong to the shrouded underground spheres with very little availability and it has faithfully remained there. So I haven’t gotten a huge wave of reaction from the wide world. However, the people who have listened to the music in a bit deeper manner have said some positive words and this is enough to keep me motivated. 

There have even been some (not really serious) suggestions to go live with the material but I don’t believe this will be done in this aeon.

10. Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

In the near future I hope to focus more on the possibilities of the classical guitar. Maybe the next album under the name of 1695 will also be much more acoustic and lyric. Still, the dark beauty is what I see as the most important in my works, despite the concrete ways to express it. And I will definitely continue with my passion for metal as well. 

11. What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

The album “Lennud loojangusse / Flights to Dusk” itself got its first actual impulse when I was listening to a Mortiis album “Født til å Herske” (1994). From that came the longest song of my album “Värvi loojang oma hingeverega / Paint The Dusk With The Blood Of Your Soul” which is the most dungeon synth-ish thing I’ve ever done. Much of the rest of the material owes to the dark neofolk - acts like Seventh Harmonic, Tervahäät, Sol Invictus, Current 93 etc. There used to be an annual festival called Darkland Fire here in Estonia that introduced these kinds of artists to the local audience - that’s where I got acquainted with this mystical genre. Since my profession and lifestyle involve a lot of writing (mostly history and music related texts), calm ambient-like music helps a lot in keeping my thoughts focused.

Besides all of this, I am a keen admirer of the black metal bands, especially like Emperor, Dødheimsgard, Drottnar and so on. Their ambitious compositions which blend harmony and dissonance have shaped me as a creator a lot. Also, the innovation of the early hard rock / heavy metal pioneers like Deep Purple or Black Sabbath should never be forgotten. Their legacy is simply immeasurable.

12. Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Never get tired of searching for new things in the world, whether it is music or knowledge about something or whatever! The best and most valuable things are usually hidden under the crust of shiny nonsense. Take a deeper look and drown yourself into it - it’s all worth it! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2x_yKC2ub4

FrazyL/Mon Odyssee/Epictronic/2022 Full Length Review

 

  FrazyL  are  a  solo  project  from  Quebec,  Canada  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo-classical  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2022  album  "Mon  ODyssee"  which  will  be  released  on  January  21st  by  Epictronic.

  Ocean  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  dungeon  synth  style  keyboards  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  add  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  also  programmed  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  ambient  and  neo-classical  elements.

  All  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  while  all  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  On  some  tracks  while  the  keyboards  also  bring  in  a  more  tragic  style  at  times  along  with  the  music  also  capturing  the  atmosphere  of  a  movie  soundtrack  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  few  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  electric  guitars  can  also  be  heard  and  towards  the  end  a  small  amount  of  spoken  word  parts  are  also  utilized.

  FrazyL  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo-classical  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  Homer's  "The  Odyssey",  Greek,  Celtic  and  Norse  Mythology.  

  In  my  opinion  FrazyL  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo-classical  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "L’Initiation  Mystique  d’Odin"  "Prière  en Nouvelle-France"  and  "Orphée,  Eurydice  &  les  Lamelles  d’Or".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/Frazyl/      

1695/Lennud loojangusse/Flights To Dusk/Warhorn/2021 Full Length Review

 

  1695  are  a  solo  project  from  Estonia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  experimental,  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  dark  folk  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Lennud  loojangusse/Flights  To  Dusk"  which  was  released  by  Warhorn.

  Ambient  style  synths  which  also  add  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  start  off  the  album  while  also  mixing  in  the  darker  side  of  dungeon  synth,  Acoustic  guitars  can  also  be  heard  in  some  parts  of  the  recording  and  also  bring  in  elements  of  folk  music  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals.

  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  melancholic  sounding  while  the  music  also  goes  into  more  of  an  experimental  direction  as  the  recording  progresses.  All  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  some  tracks  also  adding  in  drum  beats  as  well  as  some  melodic  electric  guitars  leads  and  heavy  riffs  also  being  utilized  briefly  which  also  shows  some  influences  of  metal,  one  track  also  introduces  Gregorian  chants  and  folk  instruments  onto  the  recording  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  1695  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  experimental,  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  dark  folk  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  very  diverse  sounding  recording  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.  

  In  my  opinion  1695  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  experimental,  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  dark  folk  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Päevaveeru  Kroon /  Crown  Of  The  Day's Edge"  "Värvi  Loojang  Oma  Hingeverega  /  Paint  The  Dusk  With  The  Blood  Of  Your  Soul"  and  "Öötõus  /  Nightrise".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2x_yKC2ub4  

  

Vornoff/Retrospekt/Floodgate Moods Productions/2021 EP Review

 

  Denmark's  solo  project  Vornoff  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  ep  "Retrospekt"  which  was  released  by  Floodgate  Moods  Productions.

  Dark  ambient  style  synths  which  also  add  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  start  off  the  ep  while  also  bringing  in  a  very  atmospheric  sound.  Elements  of  dungeon  synth  can  also be   heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  some  drum  beats  also  being  utilized  at  times  and  all  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other.

  On  this  recording  Vornoff  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  that  he  had  established  on  previous  releases  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Vornoff  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Taagens  Klokkeklang".  8  out  of  10.

Retrospekt | VORNOFF | Floodgate Moods Productions (bandcamp.com)      

    

Death Verified/In Praise Of Shadows/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Death  Verified  are  a  musical  project  from  Poland  that  plays  a  mixture  of  drone,  ritual,  industrial,  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2021  album  "In  Praise  Of  Shadows".

  Industrial  style  beats  start  off  the  album  while  melodic  chants  can  also  be  heard  briefly  along  with  all  of  the  beats  also  being  programmed.  Synths  are  also  added  in  some  part  of  the  recording  and  also  mix  in  some  influences  of  dungeon  synth  and  dark  ambient  as  well  as  the  vocals  also  being  done  in  a  very  aggressive  style  and  female  vocals  are  also  utilized  at times.

  When  distorted  sounds  and  electric  guitars  are  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  a  heavier  direction.  At  times  the  album  also  gets  very  ritualistic  sounding  along  with  some  of  the  more  aggressive  vocals  also  adding  in  touches  of  black  metal  as  well  as  some  tracks  also  adding  in  some  drones,  clear  vocals  can  also  be  heard  as  the  album  progresses  and  one  of  the  later  songs  is  also  an  instrumental  and  each  track  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.

  Death  Verified  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  drone,  ritual,  industrial,  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  occultism,  darkness,  death  and  the  poetry  of  Charles  Baudelaire.

  In  my  opinion  Death  Verified  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  drone,  ritual,  industrial,  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  musical  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Hydrocarbon  Corpse  Juice"  "The  Undivine  Comedy"  "Werewolves"  and  "Spleen".  8  out  of  10.

https://deathverified.bandcamp.com/   

  

Tir/Persepolis/Brilliant Emperor Records/2021 CD Review

 

  Tir  are  a  solo  project  originally  from  Turkey  but  now  resides  in  Australia  and  has  bene  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  dungeon  synth  and  dark  folk  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2021  album  "Persepolis"  which  was  release d in  2021  by  Brilliant  Emperor  Records  and  is  a  re-mixed  expanded  and  re-imaged  version of  his  2019  release.

  Dungeon  synth  style  synths  start  off  the  album  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  When  drum  beats  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  militant  and  epic  atmosphere  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  dimension  similar  to  what  can  be  heard  on  fantasy  movie  soundtracks.

  All  of  the  tracks  sound  very  different  from  each  other  while  some  tracks  also  add  in  a  small  amount  of  dark  nature  sounds.  Elements  of  folk  and  neo-classical  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  a  couple  of  the  tracks  also  being  very  long  and  epic  in  length  as  well  as  one  track  also  adding  in  a  brief  use  of  acoustic  guitars,  touches  of  ambient  can  also  be  heard  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  an  instrumental  direction.

 On  this  recording  Tir  takes  his  previous  songs  and  adds  in  new  touches  to  expand  on  his  mixture  of  dungeon  synth  and  dark  folk  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  focus  on  ancestors  from the  ancient  past.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  form  Tir  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dungeon  synth  and  dark  folk,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Daemon  Of  Desert  (Azi)"  "The  Dragon  King  Raised  An  Army"  "Blood  Red  Desert"  and  "Forgotten  Prophecy".  8  out  of  10.

https://tirofficial.bandcamp.com/album/persepolis

tirofficial.bandcamp.com

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twitter.com/tirofficialband

facebook.com/tirofficialpage          

Picture Ann/A Crude Meditation On No One X Nothing/Floodgate Moods Productions/2021 Single Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  a  track  from  Norway's  solo  project  Picture  Ann  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  mixture  of  experimental, doom  metal  and  lo-fi  ambient  and  the  single  was  released  in  2021  by  Floodgate  Moods  Productions  and  called  "A  Crude  Meditation  On  No  One  X  Nothing".

  Ambient  style  keyboards  start  off  the  song  while  also  adding  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  and  touches  of  dungeon  synth  At  times  the  music  also  gets  very  experimental  sounding  along  with  the  track  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction  and  the slow  guitar  riffs  also  add  in  elements  of  doom  metal  and  the  solos  and  leads  are  also  done  in  a  very  melodic  style.

  On  this  track  Picture  Ann  takes  ambient,  experimental  and  dungeon  synth  and  also  mixes  it  with  the  heaviness  of  doom  metal  to  create  a  very  slow  and  atmospheric  track  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  track  from  Picture  Ann and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  experimental, d ark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  doom  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  single.  8  out  of  10.

A Crude Meditation on No One X Nothing | PICTURE ANN | Floodgate Moods Productions (bandcamp.com)

Nigh Infernal/Eternal Hours/Pacific Threnodies/2021 Full Length Review

 

  Nigh  Infernal  are  a  duo  from  New  Jersey  that  plays  a  mixture  of  ritual,  dark  ambient,  horror  electronics  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  album  "Eternal  Hours"  which  was  released  by  Pacific  Threnodies.

  Horror  movie  orientated  electronics  and  dark  ambient  style  synths  which  also  use  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  start  off  the  album.  Elements  of  dungeon  synth  are  also  utilized  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  along  with  all  of  the  tracks  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other.

  All  of  the  drum  beats  are  programmed  while  each  song  also  sounds  very  different  from  each  other.  Some  songs  also  add  in  some  grim  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  ritualistic  and  psychedelic  moments  as  well  as  a  later  song  also  introducing  electric  bass  guitars  into  the  music,  some  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  brief  use  of  evil  sounding  spoken  word  parts  and  whispers  can  also  be  heard  and  guitar  leads  are  also  utilized  briefly.

  Nigh  Infernal  plays  a  musical  style  that t akes  ritual,  horror  electronics,  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  black  metal   and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  lyrics  cover  horror  and  death  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Nigh  Infernal  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ritual,  dark  ambient,  horror  electronics,  dungeon  synth  and  black  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Vigil  I"  "Her  LAst  Breath  II"  and  "Smoke  On  the  Grave".  8  out  of  10.

    

  

Hasufel/Exaltation/Pacific Threnodies/2021 EP Review

 

  Hasufel  are  a  duo  form  Southern  California  that  plays  a  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  industrial,  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2021  ep  "Exaltation"  which  was  released  by  Pacific  Threnodies.

  Dark  ambient  soundscapes  start  off  the  ep  while  also  mixing  in  some  atmospheric  sounding  drones  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.  When  synths  are  utilized  they  also  bring  in  elements  of  dungeon  synth  along  with  the  music  also  having  its  ritualistic  moments  and  spoken  word  parts  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  songs.

  The  synths  also  add  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  while  the  programmed  beats  also  add  in  touches  of  industrial,  Noises  and  field  recordings  and  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  each  song  also  sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  the  bells  also  enhancing  the  ritualistic  side  of  the  music  and  church  choirs  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track.

  Hasufel  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  noise,  drone,  field  recordings,  industrial,  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes.  cover  the  hypocrisy  of  religion,  loss  and  tragedy.

  In  my  opinion  Hasufel  is  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  noise,  drone,  field  recordings,  industrial,  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth   and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  duo.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "School  Orf  The  Prophets"  and  "Exaltation".  8  out  of  10.

https://pacificthrenodies.bandcamp.com/album/exaltation      

  

  

Elven Sorrow Interview

 

 

1.For those that never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

Elven Sorrow is a Dark Ambient project that sometimes tends towards Dungeon Synth too. Its objective is to reach an artistic fulfilment with a minimalistic yet somewhat complex approach. Elven Sorrow is not only about the music, but also the hidden message it can transmit beneath its multiple layers of obscurity. To serve better the purpose of sending a message, the album has a conceptual narration with the desired hidden information. This project also serves as an escape from this down-to-earth reality into the surreal and abstract.

 

2.Recently you have released an album, can you tell us a little bit more about the musical style that you went for on the recording?

On this first album, I have tended mostly towards the darker side of ambience, even though for the sake of creating a diverse soundscape I’ve also added other emotions, even positive ones (mostly on the more Dungeon Synth parts). Overall, the music follows the feeling transmitted in every part of the narration.

3.You also have a concept with this album, can you tell us a little bit more about it?

The concept of this albums flows with the music, and to achieve a better narration the album (which could be considered as a single song) is divided into 10 chapters, each following the same tale. The narration talks about a nameless warrior and his deeds and misfortunes throughout a life carved into the shape of a myth. Although I have personally written this myth, it’s intended to simulate the Greek mythology with the purpose of a reflection on the countless stories told throughout the centuries that have not reached us. Therefore, the concept of this album is our ignorance of so many tales from the past, some of them perhaps similar to the one told in this full-length. The name of the album is the most direct way to address to these lost myths, for they all are a rise and fall to be forgotten. 

4.You also have a background in black metal, how would you compare dungeon synth and dark ambient to black metal?

Dungeon Synth and Dark Ambient are two musical styles that are in my opinion very closely related to Black Metal. Perhaps not for the instruments used, but more for the darkness and mysticism that are intended to be transmitted. On one side Black Metal usually transmits these aforementioned concepts in a more violent and direct way and on the other side Dark Ambient and Dungeon Synth transmit them more peacefully, although the atmosphere does not commonly differ too greatly. Dark Ambient tends more than Dungeon Synth towards darkness, but Dungeon Synth is closer to Black Metal historically and can even be heard on numerous intros, outros or interludes of classic Black Metal albums. Therefore, from the view of someone who enjoys Black Metal, I think a mix of Dark Ambient and Dungeon Synth is the best way to transmit my music with the sole use of a keyboard.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Elven Sorrow?

The idea behind this name is the identification I would do of the feeling that higher beings, a clear example of this type of being would be an elf, may have if they gaze upon mankind. The music I compose and the messages I want to transmit are but a justification of their sorrow. As humanity decays quicker and quicker and gets every time more and more astray from nature and what lies beyond their understanding, Elven Sorrow will unfortunately grow.

6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the album cover?

The artwork of this album depicts an ancient and abandoned castle (specifically the castle of Montsoriu), and it is portrayed in the form of pointillism to accentuate even more its fading (or in general the one of all the past) from the minds of men. I chose the cover to be a castle because it is an ideal portrait of the past, and it may be one of the most common pictures imagined when thinking of yesteryears. The album cover has been hand-drawn by Hekate Chthonia.

7.Originally you are from the United Kingdom but now reside in Spain, can you tell us a little bit more about the move?

I have family in England and Catalonia, but the one with which I reside lives here. Nonetheless, perhaps in some years I may return to the United Kingdom.

8.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

I am currently searching for a label, but with the current situation they are all saturated and can’t really sign a brand new project. Despite that, I have received some interest from some label, but until autumn 2021 no one seems to be capacitated for any negotiation. If any label reading this is interested, I’m open to talk about any possible release.

9.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of dungeon synth and dark ambient?

As I have released the album digitally and on my own, so promotion has been an issue and at the moment my music has reached few people, although it has currently reached people from Italy, Germany, UK and other places. I hope to reach more people when I release my next album or find a good label though.

10.What is going on with your black metal project these days?

I currently have enough material to make my debut album with my Black Metal project Gorguina, and at the moment I am recording the songs with the help of Akerbeltz Mercyless. In this band I compose as a duo with Hekate Chthonia. It is currently pretty advanced, so expect more news about it soon.

11.Where do you see yourself heading into as a musician during the future?

I have various musical projects in which I compose, although Elven Sorrow is currently the only one which has had an official release yet (together with my occasional guest guitar solos in Akerbeltz and Körgull The Exterminator). I am very interested in exploring numerous different musical styles instead of just sticking with one, but I do not wish to corrupt the sound of Elven Sorrow, so that’s why I prefer to divide my work into different projects. 

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I appreciate dozens of different musical styles, and almost all of them or based in Rock and Metal music. I have many different influences, and every day I try and grow more my music tastes, I actually listen to dozens of new bands a week since I collaborate with Bathoryzine. For Elven Sorrow though, I would say my main influences are Burzum, Mortiis (and all of his side projects), Wongraven, Svantevith and soundtrack composers like John Carpenter or John Williams to a lesser extent. In reality I don’t listen to many Dungeon Synth and Dark Ambient musicians, so that kind of helps me create my particular style with little outer influence.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for this interview and good luck in your future affairs.

https://elvensorrow.bandcamp.com/album/a-rise-and-fall-to-be-forgotten

Elven Sorrow/A Rise And Fall To Be Forgotten/2020 Full Length Review

 

  Elven  Sorrow  are  a  solo  project  from Spain   that   plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon   synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  self  released   2020  album  ''A  Rise  And  Fall  To   Be Forgotten".

  Nature   orientated   soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  dungeon  style  synths  that  also  use  a  variety   of  many   different   sounding   keys.  The  track  is  also  over  40  minutes  in  length  while  also  adding  in  elements  of  dark  ambient   and  all  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  and  the  music   also  captures   the  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy   soundtrack .

  At  times  the  music  also   gets  very  tragic  sounding  while  also  capturing   the  atmosphere  of  black  metal  at  times.  Some  of  the  music  also  adds   touch  of  neo  classical  and  synths  are  the  only  instruments  present  on  this  recording.

     Elven  Sorrow  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  dark  ambient  and  dungeon   synth  and  mixes   them  together   to  create   a  sound  of  his   own  while   keeping   everything   instrumental  along  with  the  song  themes  narrating  the  life  of  a  nameless  warrior  in  the  style  of  a  myth  to  force reflection  upon  all  the  legends  and  deeds  lost  in  time  and  the  production   sounds  dark.

  In  my  opinion  Elven  Sorrow  are  a  very  great   sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon   synth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical   genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project. 8  out  of  10.

  https://elvensorrow.bandcamp.com/album/a-rise-and-fall-to-be-forgotten

Sombre Arcane/Arcane/Mvndane/2020 Full Length Review

 

  Sombre  Arcane  are  a  duo  from  Worcester,  Massachusetts  that  plays  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2020  album  "Arcane/Mvndale".

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  synths  a  few  seconds  later  which  also  adds  in  a  variety  of many  different  sounding  key  and  takes  the  music  into a  dungeon  synth  direction.  Drum  beats  are  also  added  into  certain  sections  of  the  songs  and  a  couple  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  A  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  also  instrumentals  while  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  classic  fantasy  movie  soundtrack  along  with  some  guitar  sounds  also  being  added  into  the  background  briefly as  well  as  some  elements  of  ambient  also  being  utilized  at  times.  a  couple  of  the  songs  also  adds  in  spoken  word  parts,  female  and  male  vocals  and  as  the  album  progresses  acoustic  guitars  and  folk  instruments  can  also  be  heard.

  Sombre  Arcane  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  dungeon  synth  as  well  as  adding  in  touches  of  ambient  and  neo  folk  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  some  of  the  lyrics  show  some  inspiration's  from  Ed  Greenwood's  "Spellfire".

  In  my  opinion  Sombre  Arcane  are  a  very  great  sounding  dungeon  synth  duo  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album. RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "A  Day's  March  Through  Ancient  Elven  Wood"  "Moon  Sphere  Of  the  Dancing  Court"  and  "Lan sharra's  Leavetaking".  8  out  of 10.

https://sombrearcane.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sombrearcane

https://www.instagram.com/sombre_arcane/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrrQxo5jsCMFXaJ4Xott5WA    

Vaelastrasz/Sunstrider/Pacific Threnodies/2020 Full Length Review

 

  Vaelastrasz  are  a  solo  project  from  Virginia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "Sunstrider"  which  was  released  by  Pacific  Threnodies.

  Dungeon  synth  style  synths  start  off  the  album while  also  utilizing  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  Most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  along  with  the  music  also  bringing  in  a  great  amount  of  dark  ambient  elements  and  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  darker  fantast  movie  soundtrack.

  All  of  the  music  is  instrumental  while  programmed  beats  are  also  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.  All  of  the  tracks  also  sound  very  different  from  each  other  along  with  the  music  also evoking  a  very  medieval  orientated  atmosphere  at  times  as  well  as  the  synths  also  adding  in  some  epic  sounding  melodies  and  the  music  also  has  its  melancholic  moments.

  Vaelastrasz  plays  a  musical  style that  takes  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  mixes  them  together  to  create  a  sound  of  his  own  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  revolve  around  the  lore  of  mighty  Azeroth  and  Medieval  Magick.

  In  my  opinion  Vaelastrasz  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  dark  ambient  and  dungeon  synth  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.    RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Sun  King  Rises"  and  "A  Traitor  In  The  Twisting  Nether".  8  out  of  10.

vaelastrasz.bandcamp.com  

Malfet/The Glimmering/Pacific Threnodies/2020 EP Review

 

  This  is  a  review  of  another  recording  from  California's  Malfet  which  shows  the  music  going  for  more  of  a  pastoral  style  of  dungeon  synth  and  the  ep  was  released  in  2020  by  Pacific  Threnodies  and  called  "The  Glimmering".

  Nature  sounds  start  off  the  ep  along  with  some  dungeon  synth  style  songs  which  also  use  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  At  times  the  music  also  ads  in  some  medieval  touches  while  also  capturing  the  atmosphere  of  a  fantasy  movie  soundtrack  along  with  percussion's  also  being  added  into  some  parts  of  the  recording.

  All  of  the  music  also  sticks  to an  instrumental  direction  while  the  second  track  also  sounds  very  different  from  the  first  song  which  also  gives  the  music  more  diversity  along  with  the  music  also  adding  in  a  touch  of  new  age  at  times.

  Malfet  creates  2  very  melodic  and  diverse  sounding  dungeon  synth  tracks  with  this  ep  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Malfet  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dungeon  synth,  you  should  check  out  this  ep.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Dim  Arbours".  8  out of  10.

https://pacificthrenodies.bandcamp.com/album/the-glimmering  

   

Francis Roberts/The Friends You Met Along The Way/Pacific Threnodies/2020 Cassette Album Review

 

  San  Diego's  solo  project  Francis  Roberts  has  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  continues  his  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo  classical  from  his  previous  releases  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2020  album  "The  Friends  You  Met  Along  The  Way"  which  was  released  on  cassette  by  Pacific  Threnodies.

  Dark  soundscapes  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  percussions  in  the  background  which  also  gives  the  music  more  of  a  tribal  feeling  while  the  synths  bring  in  elements  of  space  and  dark  ambient.  At  times  the  recording  can  also  get  very  cinematic  sounding  as  well  as  adding  in  some  psychedelic  touches.

  After  awhile  the  music  also  starts  mixing  in  more  of  a  dungeon  synth  style  while  most  of  the  music  also sounds  very  improvised.  The  synths  also  add  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  along  with  the  recording  also  showing  an  influence  of  neo  classical,  all  of  the  music  is  also  instrumental  as  well  as  the  only  track  that  is  presented  on  the  album  being  over  30  minutes  in  length,  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  also  gets  more  diverse  sounding.

  On  this  recording  Francis  Roberts  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo  classical  that  he  had  established  on  previous  releases  as  well  as  keeping  everything  instrumental  while  the  production  sounds  very  dark.  

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Francis  Roberts  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  dark  ambient,  dungeon  synth  and  neo  classical,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  8  out  of  10.

https://pacificthrenodies.bandcamp.com/album/the-friends-you-met-along-the-way 

Sattyg/Legends Part 1/War Productions/2020 CD Re-Issue Review

 

  Sattyg  are  a  solo  project  from  Sweden  that  plays  dungeon  synth  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2029  album  "Legends  Part  1"  which  was  re-issued  in  2020  by  War  Productions.

  Dungeon  synth  style  keyboards  start  off  the  album  while  also  bringing  in  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys.  At  times  the  music  also  captures  the  atmosphere  of  a  classic  fantasy  movie  soundtrack  along  with  all  of  the  songs  also sounding  very  different  from  each  other  as  well  as  all  of  the  music  also  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction.

  The  keyboards  also  add  in  a  decent  amount  of  melodies  while  the  music  also  has  its  atmospheric  moments.  Programmed  beats  can  also  be  heard  on  some  of  the  tracks  along  with  the  keyboards  also  adding  in  a  small  amount  of    dark  soundscapes  at  times  as  well  as  the  music  also  having  its  medieval  moments.

  Sattyg  plays  a  style  of  dungeon  synth  that  is  very  dark  and  atmospheric  sounding  as  well  as  always  sticking  to  an  instrumental  direction.  The  production  sounds  very  dark  while  the  song  themes  are  based  upon  'The Fellowship  Of  The  Ring'  by  J.R.R  Tolkien.

  In  my  opinion  Sattyg  are  a  very  great  sounding  dungeon  synth  solo  project  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  re-issue.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Dance  Of  The  Elves"  "Across  The  Mountain"  and  "The  Escape".  8  out  of  10.

 https://warproductions.bandcamp.com/album/wpcd036