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Posted: |
Mar 26, 2022 - 8:50 PM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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New Druadan Forest album "Portals" available at Hells Headbangers. More space ambient than DS, though. A bit too meditative for my taste, but that dark blue disc looks really cool.
https://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/item.asp?PID=99539
Had that on order since my 2/16 post.  It is indeed space ambient, decidedly not DS, but since I happen to love space ambient, it’s right up my alley! And the disc and case are indeed beautiful. The CD case is a jewel one, but has something I’ve never seen before: a painted/printed white design drawing emblazoned on the front of the case cover itself - NOT on the liner notes. Very incredibly cool! And I’ve listened to it a couple times, definitely meditative, but oh so good!
Let me know what you think of Forgotten Pathways, I’m passing on that one for now. A little too on the chaotic and noisy side for me initially, but I do love that old school sound on the tracks.
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Posted: |
Apr 3, 2022 - 9:21 AM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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ETERNAL FEAR - Ancient Woods / Pagan Souls of Ryczyn…Zvantevith
Now we’re talking. A collection of the artist’s two (and only) demos from 1995, remastered and on CD for seemingly the first time! These came out the same year as Wongraven’s “Fjelltronen,” and though not as well known, have a very similar atavistic and primordial dungeon synth sound. (Josh, take note!)
https://youtu.be/7moXQLTcfvE
https://youtu.be/vy9b8rZC8M4
https://wolfspell.pl/en_US/p/ETERNAL-FEAR-Ancient-Woods-Pagan-Souls...-DigiCD/5728
Thanks for the heads up! It appears that site doesn't take Paypal, unfortunately, and I'm not too hip on the idea of providing my credit card information via their site. If you come across this CD for sale on another site that does take pp, please let me know.
Same. If it helps, I have purchased items from their site several times now. Even better, one of the payment methods they have listed, DotPay, allows Apple Pay, so that’s what I did.
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Posted: |
Apr 10, 2022 - 5:25 AM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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Yessss. I received those last week but so far have only listened to Northern Spirits... Wonderful stuff.
And speaking of wonderful, right now I'm spinning disc 2 from this gorgeous set, which I managed to snag recently for a very decent price:
https://www.discogs.com/release/20218774-Secret-Stairways-The-RiverRing-And-The-Astral-Winds
Mine is #95/100, so it didn't come with the patch, but everything else is there. That candle looks so fragile, I'm afraid to even look at it.
Ah, Secret Stairways!! One of my absolute favorite DS artists!! So happy for you that you were able to grab that White Wolf box set - I did the same right when it was announced and have it sitting on my desk as a treasured item. I think it cost me like $80 at the time I purchased, so hope you got a good deal my friend.
Literally days after I’d ordered that box set, Cold Dungeon Offerings announced a pending release of the Secret Stairways discography on CD in a few different lavish digipaks, and a few are still available! Check https://colddungeonofferings.bandcamp.com/. I ordered a cloth copy from them also, mainly because I didn’t want to further damage the CDs in the White Wolf box. The second disc in that box was scuffed to hell when I received it, but luckily still worked; I blame transit damage.
Enjoy my friend! Great to hear from ya!!
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Posted: |
Apr 13, 2022 - 12:45 PM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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CD News!
Release 03/31/22 (Today), 3PM CST:
UTRED - Citadel / Forest / Sovereign - 2xCD (Out of Season)
A compilation of three albums of pure medieval synth; includes Citadel, a collection of four demo releases from 2012-2015, and two subsequent albums, Forest (2016) and Sovereign (2017). Here's a Bandcamp link to the songs, but the release will be on Out of Season's Bandcamp page.
https://gondolinrecords.bandcamp.com/album/citadel-forest-sovereign
I'm on the fence about this one. Sounds like it might be a bit too upbeat and jaunty for me, like a medieval minstrel show. Is there any dark, downbeat and murky material to balance it out, or is it a full-on jesterfest?
Hahaha, well said! I'll be honest, some of Utred's material really isn't my bag for the same reason. I don't want to feel like I'm attending a joust or a king's court. Tracks like "Chivalry" and "Vigor" are good examples of that type of sound. And then there are ones that veer just a little away from that and into territory that reminds me of more recent Final Fantasy or other older arcade video games like Gauntlet, for example "Buhurt," "Forest," "Steed," or "Siege." So those I enjoy if for only being different from most of the other DS I listen to. The highlights on this set, for me, come more and more often the closer to end it gets, which coincide with material from the "Forest" and "Sovereign" EPs, tracks like "Arrow," "Oak," "Sovereign," "Feast," and especially the final one, "Privilege," which is my favorite on both discs. Recommend you check out a couple from those latter examples, see if those strike your fancy. Bottom line, yeah, I've always hesitated on pulling the trigger on Utred's ultra-limited CD albums before (his most recent releases) because of that upbeat, triumphant sound - not my thing. But I find this to be a competent and varied collection when put up against my normal shtuff - I like it for that reason if nothing else. Unfortunately, there's very little on here that's in the ethereal, depressive, or oppressive veins though. Hope this helps! If you pick it up I'd be curious on your thoughts.
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Posted: |
Apr 14, 2022 - 7:58 AM
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By: |
Josh
(Member)
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I don't want to feel like I'm attending a joust or a king's court.
LOL, exactly, although if I'm completely honest, it's fun once in a great while, when the mood strikes. There's a bit too much of it across that 2-CD set, though, but you're right, it does get "better" as it goes along.
Which brings me to Forgotten Pathways ~ Shrouded in Mystery. Many of the earlier tracks on the album are besieged by clumsy rhythms and sloppy percussion; it's obvious that these beats weren't programmed but tapped out manually by hand, and as a drummer myself, are pretty painful to listen to. Like Utred, it gets much better as it goes along, though, and pretty much redeems itself by album's end. Still a worthwhile purchase, in my opinion, thanks to some catchy melodies and interesting chord progressions, but caveat emptor, especially if you're sensitive to "drunken drumming."
I've been sampling the latter 1/3 of the Utred set while typing this, and I think I'll pull the bowstring after all and give it a shot, puns intended.
Thanks, as always, for your insightful input!
P.S. I ended up ordering Eternal Fear from Wolfspell after all. Turns out I'd purchased an Old Sorcery album from them last year, and that transaction went smoothly, so I figured what the hey. I also added this atmospheric black album to the order: https://hermodr.bandcamp.com/album/tidens-tand-album?msclkid=f4d965e6bc0111ec9eb9093d59028a26
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Posted: |
Apr 14, 2022 - 9:35 AM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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I don't want to feel like I'm attending a joust or a king's court.
LOL, exactly, although if I'm completely honest, it's fun once in a great while, when the mood strikes. There's a bit too much of it across that 2-CD set, though, but you're right, it does get "better" as it goes along.
Which brings me to Forgotten Pathways ~ Shrouded in Mystery. Many of the earlier tracks on the album are besieged by clumsy rhythms and sloppy percussion; it's obvious that these beats weren't programmed but tapped out manually by hand, and as a drummer myself, are pretty painful to listen to. Like Utred, it gets much better as it goes along, though, and pretty much redeems itself by album's end. Still a worthwhile purchase, in my opinion, thanks to some catchy melodies and interesting chord progressions, but caveat emptor, especially if you're sensitive to "drunken drumming."
I've been sampling the latter 1/3 of the Utred set while typing this, and I think I'll pull the bowstring after all and give it a shot, puns intended.
Thanks, as always, for your insightful input!
P.S. I ended up ordering Eternal Fear from Wolfspell after all. Turns out I'd purchased an Old Sorcery album from them last year, and that transaction went smoothly, so I figured what the hey. I also added this atmospheric black album to the order: https://hermodr.bandcamp.com/album/tidens-tand-album?msclkid=f4d965e6bc0111ec9eb9093d59028a26
Let me know what you think of Utred (if you plan to absorb it further) and Eternal Fear! I'll do the same on the latter...hopefully receive my copy soon.
And hot damn...how did I miss Hermodr before? Loving the samples for Tidens Tand, and am seeing he has a pretty vast discography; thanks much!! Looking into this and will probably order Tidens Tand myself next go-around with Wolfspell - can't find it anywhere else. And as part of my investigation into Hermodr, I found out that the same person is behind the DS artistry of Fridfull, another (eponymous) album of which was released through Wolfspell that I obtained many months ago. Check that out too, not sure if it's in your wheelhouse. Very minimalistic synth/organ-based DS melodies, but kinda hypnotic in its simplicity. I enjoy it!
And always my pleasure, friend! Happy to have these convos back and forth!
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Posted: |
Apr 14, 2022 - 4:25 PM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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Likewise!
I'll definitely be picking up that Fridfull album the next time I place an order with Wolfspell, so thanks for sharing that revelation. When I added it to my cart, a suggestion for Melkor's Spell popped up. Are you familiar with that project? I checked out some samples on bandcamp, and of the two full-length albums available to date, I found Under the Sign of Darkness especially appealing, so I'll be adding that to my order as well.
https://melkorsspell.bandcamp.com/
Oh yeah, I’m a Melkor’s Spell fan, have been since the release of their debut “Songs from Ancient Forgotten Times.” I think I went to Wolfspell (a black metal label) for their imprint Garavluth (the DS side) release of Waeltaja’s “Frozen Kingdom,” after hearing just the words “winter synth” describing that record. That’s usually enough, haha. But grabbed Melkor’s Spell’s debut at the same time. Like it and its successor quite a bit. I’d also recommend Nan Morlith’s album on Garavluth, as well as any of the Old Sorcery albums you don’t already have. OS’s stuff is some of the best out in recent years IMO.
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Posted: |
Apr 18, 2022 - 12:20 PM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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NORTFALKE - Moonjeie
Last year's "Seefonktjuenderee" toyed with Berlin school melodies only just enough to marry those mystical sounds with a dungeon synth backdrop, thus the result was a dreamy, melancholic tapestry that reminded of other ethereal DS artists like Secret Stairways, perhaps Fogweaver, and at times Arthuros and Oublieth. Nortfalke's newest album "Moonjeie" goes all-out Berlin school, at times flirting with Vangelis, to the point where this one, at best, only contains elements of dungeon synth rather than being a DS album with other influences. But that is by no means a detratction when it comes to the album's quality, because it is magnificent, leaps and bounds ahead of "Seefonktjuenderee" in my opinion! It's just that I'd liken it more to a space ambient album with atavistic emotional traits of some DS like loneliness, mystery, and wondrous awe. But played next to other dungeon synth, it doesn't feel out of place, just in a class by itself, perhaps also because of how enthralling and heartfelt it is.
The Heidens Hart CD edition has three bonus tracks, a trilogy entitled "Sniejeie," totalling about 30 minutes long. These tracks harken to "Seefonktjuenderee" a little more, shedding a little of the space ambient skin to yield more desolate, wintry motes that end the entire album on a more centered DS sound.
Don't hesitate to snatch this one up; fantastic!!
https://heidenshart.bandcamp.com/album/moonjeie
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Posted: |
Apr 18, 2022 - 12:45 PM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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Here's something a little different. I recently stumbled across the music of Maine (USA) artist Will Ott's pseudonym, Hagathorn. While I await a CD and haven't given the album a full listen, I was immediately drawn to the music like a moth to a flame. Descriptions like neofolk, cinematic ambient, and field recording entered my mind, whereas the Hagathorn Bandcamp page lists others like "Nordic folk" and "ambient." My allure was how the soothing melodies were reminiscent of Morrowind and Skyrim, Trevor Morris's scores to the Vikings TV series, and Cryo Chamber's releases for the criminally underrated Northumbria group.
I lumped it in with the dungeon synth I've been listening to of late. But...this isn't keyboard-based or synth. Will Ott apparently plays all the instruments (including guitar, cello, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, etc.) himself. And also...this isn't dungeon-y. None of the melodies, at first listen, appear to reflect the minimalistic, primitive, lo-fi aesthetic common with dungeon synth, however...the nature of the medieval is definitely present, as is the Middle Age folklore and stark melodicism and rhythm.
So perhaps not dungeon synth...but wonderful music all the same that might appeal to DS listeners...what do you think?
https://hagathorn.bandcamp.com/album/hartwold
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Posted: |
Apr 19, 2022 - 11:06 AM
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By: |
losher22
(Member)
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The Hagathorn album sounds very nice. Hypnotic, melancholic, beautiful. Listening to the samples inspired me to put on this CD, which I'd purchased last year (also neofolk, but completely different vibe and instrumentation): https://thurnin.bandcamp.com/album/menhir
Here's some neofolky dungeon synth you might enjoy. I stumbled across this one a while back and was immediately taken in by its simplicity and charm, and some of the material dates back to the late '80s! https://dewfallproductions.bandcamp.com/album/awaken
Oh, and Nortfalke: ORDERED!
Firstly, yowza! My jaw dropped at the first track of Thurnin and I couldn't order a copy of that one soon enough!! Thank you so much! Then I checked out Daniel Harris...never heard of him or Dewfall before. That was great too! Didn't order that one though...yet, haha! Such an interesting and varied collection of tunes, and old-school to boot, nice! And I'll be damned if I don't weirdly hear the Terminator theme in that leadoff intro track.
Can't thank you enough, Josh, for broadening my horizons. I'm happy I decided to start this thread, and even happier you're sharing your thoughts and recommendations too!
Feel like I'm now gonna have to delve into neofolk, see what else might be out there. Up until Hagathorn and Thurnin, the most music tagged as "neofolk" that I'd listened to before are the primordial and mid-day Ulver, metal-free Agalloch EPs (formerly one of my favorite bands...Ashes Against the Grain is one of my FAVORITE albums of all time), and some Tenhi now and then. I get the overwhelming sense there's grand treasures out there I can't even fathom...
Oh, don't know if I mentioned it yet, but check this one out too. Acoustic "neofolk," I suppose, haha. Picked it up recently from Naturmacht with a Trova de Lid DS CD.
https://vintergrav.bandcamp.com/album/elderwoods-ep
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