Included here are four reviews previously only included in The Reliquary Notes Issue #1, published in December 2023. Most of the contents of issues of the zine will only be in printed form. However, I aim to begin surfacing some of the written reviews from those tomes. In the hope that dear readers across the web space may find new discoveries of past years. I enjoyed dusting off these words and revisiting these melodies, and I hope you will enjoy them now anew.
Flickers From the Fen, “Stoned in Geilinor” (March, 2023)
From the very beginning, a magical scene is set. Tranquil keys and strings float through warm melodies and build bright, green backdrops. There is a deep sense if nostalgia invoked in tracks like “Heart of the Wood”. The layers build a sort of joyous sense of adventure. All is turned upside down by the “Sky Burial” which brings a much darker and ominous tone. Part 2 is a mind bending ride through dark tunnels underground, seeking the surface and the sky once again. One of the best things about this album is the wide array of different soundscapes created, all centered on a medieval theme. There’s a little bit for everyone here. The tracks may be on the shorter side, but because of that nothing feels overdone. There is even a harrowing chase scene created in “Goblins? Run!” Followed directly by the plodding, heavy riffs of “A Lumbering Beast”. In fact, this riff-heavy track is definitely one of my favorites from the album. This is an outstanding debut from this project. Kick back, turn on your favorite childhood rpg, grab a slice of pizza, and enjoy.
Listen to “Stoned in Geilinor”
PIYAKDU, “The Embodied & Unembodied Self” (April, 2023)
This piece takes time and space, and fills both. Layers build and ambience grows to envelop the listener, drifting them through consciousness. Meandering synth tones pull along like a slow current. “The Negation of Experience” is a beautiful musical conversation that forms thick auras of sound, every once in a while peeling back to reveal a melodic counterpoint. Split in half, the second half of this EP, “The Experience of Negation” pulls the listener in another direction. More thick ambience laid on, but something more lilting and, at times, dissonant. An ethereal mood builds and draws the listener back into nothingness. The last quarter of the EP is a wonderful reemergence from that inner place, with a bright yet nostalgic melody. As a whole, “The Embodied & Unembodied Self” is a meditative piece, and deeply contemplative.
Listen to “The Embodied & Unembodied Self”
Aura Merlin, “Illuminations” (March, 2023)
This is a magical album of ethereal, atmospheric, and adventurous fantasy dungeon synth. The melodies begin to mold from the start of each track, and bring the listener along on their path of discovery. The artist shows immense ability to build layers, bringing more intensities forward at the right moment. The tones give off an atmosphere that could be found both at the castle court, or the lonely tavern in the countryside. “The Enigmatic Gael” is an example of a track that seamlessly blends dark droning ambient tones with a medieval instrumentation. Rhythms are laid throughout the album and fit themselves perfectly with simplistic drumming and percussion. Immediately following is “The Doctrine of Signatures” showcasing a driving synth effect that almost draws from synthwave, but is grounded in the cold dark stone. A signature is like a binding promise, and this track, only halfway through the album, is a promise of more of what’s to come. The album is full of surprises, and blends influences from throughout the genre effortlessly, it should easily be one of the top dungeon synth albums of the year.
Listen to “Illuminations”
Heaven, “Proxima” (June, 2023)
This dungeon synth album is unlike anything I’ve heard recently, and will surprise the listener in unique ways. The percussion is one of the shining aspects of “Proxima” and plays a lead role throughout the experience. All while dark melodies dance as if entranced. The tracks are packed with hidden riffs that intertwine, build, and grow with subtlety. Drenched in a sense of time immaterial, the album begs the listener to step through the portal and walk the dark and mysterious streets of some ancient civilization. Subtle melodies are woven together, but at a slightly increased tempo than the traditional sound. A very satisfying synth tone is prevalent, and is used to lure the listener down this dark pathway. “I Am The Gods” is the second track on the album, and solidified this as a must listen on my list. An atmospheric riff is brought in and immediately followed by an epic run right into a plodding percussion that brings power forth behind it. There is no shortage of twists and turns on this album, and the artist has created a highly satisfying experience all the way through. A favorite off the album is “Icarus”, a mischievous track, much like its namesake. It builds an outstanding crescendo, filled with daring and dread, and a well-placed voice sample is a welcome addition to the audio tapestry. This is not your typical dungeon synth listen, but one that pushes the boundaries of the genre and one that is well worth the time.
Listen to “Proxima”
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