I spent a great deal of 2023 falling deeper and deeper into distros, fledgling projects and delightfully reacquainting myself with the dizzying world that is dungeon synth. As EPs and demos are excluded from Ave Noctum’s end of year albums and we get very little dungeon synth to review, I offered to do a personal snapshot of my year.
The best way in to this is via distros and podcasts and splits. I must however give special mention to Dale Of Shadows (black metal and dungeon synth label distro and staunchly no Nazis), Forbidden Keep Records, Weregnome Records, Canti Eretici and Transmissions From The Dark. Where a physical release I obtained is available I note the label)
So here’s five of each to be getting on with, all perfect for sliding down this rabbit hole too.

Ep’s/Splits

Just a personal handful of shorter splits or self-described EPs that caught my attention. This is heavy on the black metal but two non-bm in particular stood out and deserve mention.

Solfyr – Draumr (Self-Released).
I did review this on release, but if you missed it his is spiritual, gentle vocal music with a voice that allows the inspiration she gathers to flow from her by offering themselves openly, and perhaps with honest vulnerability, to the spirit. Ethereal, passionate and deeply touching this is a beautiful and skilful maturing for Solfyr. Let the invocation move you and draw you in. You will be safe in its embrace, I promise.
https://solfyr.bandcamp.com/album/draumr-ep

Mood Hoover – Alone And Forgotten (Self-Released)
New project from the hugely talented Nre of And Now The Owls Are Smiling. This is doom taken to funereal pace, cloaked in a dense, affecting atmosphere as you would hope from Nre. At almost 30 minutes long this gives you a great taste of what is hopefully to come. Frankly superb. https://moodhooverdoom.bandcamp.com/album/alone-and-forgotten

Erzahle – The Celestial Embers Of A Dead Star (Canti Eretici)
Project by the entity Void, this is a stunning and beautiful blend of ambient, atmospheric and raw black metal. Any of their Eps in 2023 are worth it but this is the one which introduced me to them. https://eerzahle.bandcamp.com

Sanguine Wounds/Devouring Famine – The Seal Of Vampyric Tyranny (Canti Eretici)
A distinct split between these bands with Sanguine Wounds more lo-fi raw and Devouring Famine a little more polished but a fine split indeed regardless. https://cantiereticiproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-seal-of-vampyric-tiranny

Witches Forest – Illiniwek Black Metal (Abyssal Productions)
Moving from Skyrim and pseudo medieval black metal, Witches Forest turned in this excellent EP of Native American black metal. Rich in feeling and traditional melodies this is definitely the path they need to be on.
https://abyssalproductions361.bandcamp.com/album/illiniwek-black-metal

Demos 

These days it is sometimes hard to know when a demo is an album and vice versa. But these were all described as demos so there we go.

Swordsman – Dream Demo Of Unnown Kadeth (Dale Of Shadows)
A new project from the Moravia-Silesian figure behind Mace Head. Lo-fi but oozing menace through a combination of black metal, doom riddled punk and a sprinkle of dungeon synth. Definitely my demo of the year.
https://swordsman1.bandcamp.com/album/the-dream-demo-of-unknown-kadath-demo-2023

Exja – Neverending Triumphant Gloom (Dale Of Shadows)
Raw and atmospheric, probably appealing to fans of Black Cilice and similar. They did release an album in 2023 Empyrian Drain but it still hasn’t settled with me. This though is magic. https://churchofejxa.bandcamp.com/album/neverending-triumphant-gloom-demo-ii-2

Spectral Torture – Demo 1 (Self-Released)
Raw fucking black metal of animalistic and determined nature. They manage to put real atmosphere into this and are not afraid of dungeon synth intros. But it’s where they turn feral that this overwhelms me.
https://spectraltorture.bandcamp.com/album/demo-i

Ghul – Fuin Eriol Na-Ghul (Self-Released)
A band who appeared and rapidly progressed in 2023 from demo to live band and a full album (Land Of Shadow, much more polished but dripping in gloom and atmosphere). This is a raw recording but the ambition and talent on display is superb and the tracks all excellent. https://ghuluk.bandcamp.com/album/fuin-eriol-na-g-l-demos-2023

Wraithlord – The Ballad Of Joel Glanton (Self-Released)
Curious US band Wraithlord who I genuinely don’t know how to categorise. Black metal, post black metal, and here a Western flavoured EP of black metal and acoustic that is inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s brutal Western tale Blood Meridian. Strange, and beautifully crafter. Also check out the debut EP of their side project Wolves Of Desor for an almost bestial black metal attack.
https://wraithlord.bandcamp.com/album/the-ballad-of-john-joel-glanton

Dungeon Synth

The oft mocked, always neglected cousin of black metal, the scene is regardless in rude health. By the nature of some of it, releases can descend on you like the weather in the UK; sudden, constant and skipping from one thing to the next with startling speed. But there is so much beautiful music out there for fans so this is a small selection of my favourite 2023 releases. And as I made up this article I can cheat.

Guild Or Lore – Return To Winterstead (Self-Released)
I doubt you will find a more adept and sophisticated take on dungeon synth outside of Druadan Forest than Guild Of Lore and this is one of their best. Rich and marinated in all essential ingredients of atmosphere & storytelling that dungeon synth needs, this is just beautiful.
https://guildoflore.bandcamp.com/album/return-to-winterstead

Lone Sentinel – The Eye Of The Witch Sees All (Dale Of Shadows)
One for purists I guess. This is traditional but no less wonderful for that. Deceptively simple in structure, that live in the studio sound that Mortiis crafted all those decades ago, Lone Sentinel have a fine catalogue but this and Adventure Calls Thy Name exemplify their dedicated and transportative approach.https://daleofshadows.bandcamp.com/album/lrdxn60-lone-sentinel-the-eye-of-the-witch-sees-all

Siriondil – Tales Of Ardian Lore Vol 1-3 (Dale Of Shadows)
A project with a Tolkien obsession and a sumptuous approach, not afraid of vocals and multi-layered keyboards the three albums released in 2023 are all just immersive and atmospheric.
https://siriondil.bandcamp.com/album/tales-of-ardian-lore-part-ii-2

Fernmage/Hermit Knight – Remembrance (Self-Released)
A gentle meeting between two fine projects, this reeks of old friends settling down in the warmest quiet corner of a wayside tavern, sharing a tankard and a pipe and reminiscing about golden days and marvellous travels. The kind of wistful music that makes me smile and nod sagely.
https://hermitknight.bandcamp.com/album/remembrance

Purgatruum – Tales Of The Lost Decrepit Forest (Dale Of Shadows).
A compilation of two 2022 releases finally given a physical release in 2023 so in my world it counts as this is how they should be heard; together. If the previous album in this list was warm and full of rosy memories, this is desolation, cold loneliness and eerie tangled forest journey. Full of magic and awe, and of fear and apprehension this is a fabulous release with touches of Endvra in its boundaries
https://purgatruum.bandcamp.com

Gizmo

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