#cavedwellermusic

An In-depth Talk With A Dungeon Synth Master

We are extremely pleased to announce a new republication partnership with Leigh Wright of Wyrd Daze, who will help us shine a light on even more of the amazing dungeon synth out there that we simply didn't have time to cover.

For our first repub, Leigh talks in depth with Wayfarer of dungeon synth project Fen Walker (also behind Frost Clad, Spectral Manse and Curse Breaker). They discuss Wayfarer's love of fantasy, their extensive world building efforts, the Dungeon synth community, Brendan Elliott Art's stunning art accompaniments and much more.

Old school Traditional Doom and Heavy Metal from California

The Oath is an ode to timeless classics, and it’s all tied together thematically and lyrically for a cohesive, explosive experience. With its powerful Metal riffs, Doom undertones, and strong vocals. The Oath is your soundtrack for slaying dragons or simply fighting traffic on the morning commute. Because The Oath so closely imitates so many great bands from the ‘70s and ‘80s, there’s not a ton of innovation here but that quality ultimately works in the album’s favor. The Oath is simultaneously new but familiar, and that will help people latch onto its sound for the entire ride. Originally written for Monster Riff: https://monsterriff.com/2023/01/13/lord-mountain-the-oath-album-review/

It was more focused on dungeon synth music, but it was fun to answer the questions.

Traditional Swedish Black Metal From An Unstoppable Supergroup

The four-piece present us with a classic style of Swedish black metal, taking a different approach on this album and stripping back a number of elements that were prominent on their previous release. The focus on songwriting and musicianship rather than textures and layers gives the release a more traditional and minimalistic approach and allows the vocals to really shine in the mix Lycaon is a solid offering that will fit perfectly into the collection of anyone that enjoys melodic black metal.

The new album feels as if the band shifted from a Slasher flick to one of spiritual/supernatural terror. Grandiloquent, lofty, dreamlike and transcendental atmospheres are played with an ethereal and psychedelic charge that give new air to the band and stand as a refreshing sonic wave. We find a balance between the evanescent and the crushing weight of doom, as if pulled in by a black hole, and in the absence of an opportunity to flee, we let ourselves be carried away by its gravitational flow.

Fvnerals is a two-piece project created by Vocalist/Bassist Tiffany Ström and Guitarist Sid Scarlet. The duo’s unique blend of Dark Doom, Ambient, Drone, Shoegaze and Post-Rock results in a deep and brutal wall of sound, shrouded in a haunted and depressive ambience that actually transduces depression, isolation, and despair into an audible medium. Let the Earth Be Silent is described as a dismal reflection of “the silence of extinction that humankind brings to all life on Earth and itself.”

Gadigal-based band Potential has released this album Normal that captures an incredibly fluid and exploratory feeling of reflection within me. The beauty of this album is often its fluidity of instrumentation and voice. I really enjoy the natural/synthesised elements that fuse hard electronic/noise elements, the voices calling out from some distant metal space and the organic woodwinds, almost that of a dungeon synth sound in the mix above the keyboard’s distortion.

Minneapolis five piece Nothingness play what would be best described as dissonant death metal but with elements of death grind and a focus on cavernous atmosphere. While the music is fast paced, furious and pummeling there is a lot of energy devoted to creating a suffocating, enveloping quality that permeates every element of the release. Just be prepared for the abuse that you will face when listening to this album in full and make sure you have the endurance to withstand it.