Dungeon synth is celebrating 15 years as a codified and defined genre of music this year, although it remains relatively obscure. Most major and indie music blogs and websites seem to avoid it, yet there is a dedicated YouTube channel with over 188,000 subscribers, which is 100,000 more than it had only 4 years ago. Following the dungeon synth tag on Bandcamp will lead you to probably thousands of albums and tracks to explore, and new artists and albums seem to pop up daily. Bandcamp is one of the greatest champions of the niche genre, featuring several dungeon synth albums under their ‘album of the day’ and ‘notable releases’ sections. So, if you are unfamiliar with the growing world of dungeon synth or are simply interested in why I love it and want to see some recommendations, I will attempt to elucidate a brief history and an ode to the unique world of dungeon synth, or DS for short.,
In brief, dungeon synth is becoming an umbrella term for a wide variety of synthesizer-based music that heavily embraces escapism, nostalgia, and fantasy themes. It is often made by anonymous solo composers, and borrows heavily from black metal culture, from self-produced cassettes, to lo-fi recordings, to the artwork. However, it rarely contains many of the other elements of black metal. There are few, if any guitars, drums, or vocals. The current argument is that the genre began to form in the 1990s via the dark ambient synth work from the second wave of black metal. Artists like Mortiis (formerly of Emperor) as well as some of the works of The Biggest Putz In Metal, laid the groundwork for what would become dungeon synth, though deeper inspirations can be found from Berlin school and Kosmische music, new age, the early-synth works of Mort Garson, and ambient electronic music. These early influences began to circle the internet in the mid-to late 2000s until blogger Andrew Werdna launched Dungeon Synth Blog in 2011, simultaneously seeking more of this music while also providing a definition of it. Here’s a sample:
Since then, the genre has been growing steadily in both fans and participants. It has a low entry bar for aspiring musicians; no band, no major instrument investments, a computer is all you really need to get started, though many DS artists will incorporate hardware synths and other instruments into their work. Aesthetically, the music is supposed to be unrefined; tape hiss and gritty recordings are hallmarks of the genre, so the quality of recording equipment is non-essential. The result of the ease of access and growing popularity is an endless amount of subdivisions into infinitesimally smaller and smaller nano-genres. There is comfy synth, prehistoric synth, frog synth, food synth, and cave and snail and orc and video game and so on and so on. If it brings you escape and is reminiscent of something, it could become a project. Some DS artists have multiple projects under different themes, each with a unique sound and name, allowing for endless inspiration.
I first got into dungeon synth when some local friends threw a dungeon crawl a few years ago, an all DS showcase. There were like 7 or 8 acts, half of the audience were dressed like ren faire actors, some dudes in robes were playing synthesizers in robes by candlelight in the most brazen act of authentic verisimilitude I’ve ever witnessed, and I was enthralled. Firstly, I am a lifelong fan of fantasy. Tolkien, Pullman, Herbert, Le Guin, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic The Gathering, dozens of video games, and so much more of that world have consumed a major percentage of my life. Secondly, I have loved black metal for at least half of my life. Lastly, through all of the escapism and theatrics, there was a community of very earnest people transfixed by both the pageantry and the incredible ambient sounds that ranged from morose and depressing to triumphant and whimsical. I bought a CD at the show and later browsed around Bandcamp for similar music, found a few artists, and eventually lost interest for a couple of years.
Then, last year, a few of my fellow writers began sharing dungeon synth in our group chat. I started checking it out, again, while sharing my past finds. For a couple of weeks the few of us into it shared new finds frequently. I dove in harder, learning about the history, watching YouTube compilations of like 150 kinds of dungeon synth, and familiarizing myself with some DS labels and more prominent artists, and deciding that I wanted to write this feature. Then, I got to interview one of my favorite DS artists, Hole Dweller. I followed the artists and labels I liked, poked around at various suggestions on Bandcamp, and after a few months have found that DS maintains a regular spot in my music rotations. It is excellent background music, suited to soundtrack everything from work to chores to reading. If you want any of those tasks to sound like a montage of preparing an army to defend the homeland from invading hordes of goblins, you’ve found the right genre. It is ideal for RPG game nights, providing soundtracks to any environment, from bog to tavern to mountain to cave.
The variety of it all can be daunting, but the discovery can yield seemingly endless treasures. It can take some legwork to find the albums that really click with you, but in an effort to de-mystify the seemingly boundless world of DS, I will highlight some of my personal favorites. These are not exhaustive of the breadth of the genre, and though I am an enthusiast, there are greater experts than me. The first track above is by French artist, Erang, one of the earliest artists to embrace the dungeon-synth label. He is well-known, melodic, musically adventurous, and has created an entire mythos and fantasy world of his own as inspiration for his music. Just two days before this writing, Converge/Umbra Vitae frontman, Jacob Bannon gave Erang a shout-out on a Bandcamp Daily interview, concluding his blurb saying:
‘There’s something just really human about dungeon synth. I like the idea of somebody having such powerful visuals that are quite literally in juxtaposition with the sounds you’re hearing. It creates a whole new world. And I have to say, there are 6,000 dungeon synth artists out there, and they’re all great. People can dig anywhere into that genre and find something interesting.‘
Fief, also linked above, is another popular DS artist, known for more melodic, bouncy, and bright fantasy synth. Also, check out the Hole Dweller WFA for another one of my favorites. Below are some more suggestions, to give you a sense of the variety available as well as to highlight some rad music.
First, I have to give a shout out to Redhorn Gate. They are dwarven synth, the echoes of caverns and mines, drums from the deep, the search for earthly riches, as well as dwarven pride and hardiness come through their music. They also were the most memorable act at the first Davenport Dungeon Crawl, adorned in full dwarf outfits and having the most epic sounds of the night. Elyvilon are in the same ore vein, mining absolute treasures of this sound.
There are some classics of the genre, for as much as albums this young can be classics. Digging around Rate Your Music‘s list of the best dungeon synth albums of all time is a great starting point. Secret Stairways‘s album Enchantment Of The Ring is outstanding, and Taur-nu-Fuin by Thandgorodrim is not only a perfect encapsulation of traditional dungeon synth, it is easily GOATed, featuring long compositions that breathe as deep as a cave troll fat on mutton, rising and decaying, shifting slowly to avoid the sunlight.
Obviously, DS takes a lot of cues from Tolkien, and there is no shortage of artists and albums paying homage to our beloved fantasy grandfather (Ithildin is great). Other sci-fi and fantasy works lend inspiration, as well. Fogweaver has a more ambient and magical style that pays homage to Ursala K. Le Guin‘s Earthsea series. Meanwhile, L A N D S R A A T build epic cosmic adventures inspired by Frank Herbert‘s Dune. I’ve become a total sucker for these two projects, though they sound very different, with the latter almost approaching synthwave territory.
The more gentle, ambient side of dungeon synth is embraced by many artists. The Woman In White by Ethereal Journeys is haunted dream music, comforting and contemplative with lo-fi ambient rain sounds and slow, sleepy progressions, but there is something otherworldly, a faint apparition lurking in the shadows, gazing into the corner of your weary eyes. As much as I love that album, the peak example of ambient dungeon synth is Aindulmetir, whose music is as serene as a clear night in a snow-covered forest. The album, Star Lore, is a masterful dark ambient album.
Dungeon synth is just beginning to unleash all of its creative potential. While there may be purists, especially given that it derived from black metal, I think the growing popularity and experimentation within the genre are just the beginning. Comfy synth, for example, uses major chords meant to invoke cute, wholesome, and cozy moments, seems to be gaining accolades through artists like Grandma’s Cottage and Mushroom Grandpa. Acts like Cries Of Agony and DJ Count Olkath have experimented with the dance possibilities of fantasy, horror, and dungeon synth sounds while maintaining the black metal and lo-fi aesthetics. Labels like Dungeons Deep, Out Of Season, and Sokol Keep, among others, are deeply dedicated to the genre. Simultaneously, caveman synth, dino synth, food synth, and dozens of other ideas are emerging, limited only by human creativity.
As enthusiasm grows and greater talents emerge, like for instance the excellent BAARD, it is going to be harder for dungeon synth to stay as underground as it is, and I fully support greater variety, experimentation, and exposure, at least to a point. There is something still precious and charming about this community, and while I don’t think it will reach anything close to mainstream recognition, it has a momentum right now that deserves more coverage and recognition beyond what it has gotten so far. As more and more artists begin to play live and start to sell merch and become personalities in the scene, it seems inevitable that there will be growth. After all, paying attention to the world right now is like watching the scariest parts of fantasy and sci-fi stories come true.
I have deep concerns about AI, and while it could be easy for a shill to muck up some dungeon synth slop, the community is very DIY in its mentality. I don’t think anyone would fall for an AI grift. My concerns are with its surveillance capabilities in the hands of billionaires and governments who don’t view us working class folks as anything more than money generators. Those same supervillains and dragons in human form maintain endless wars and the destruction of our planet and base our economy on those deadly profits. It’s exhausting out here. So, for us weary travelers, dungeon synth is here to help us rest, ease our minds with myriad sounds and fantasies that, if even for a brief moment, provide much needed respite amongst the evils of our times. I’ve barely touched on the outstanding artists and styles that you can explore, but if you are a fan of fantasy worlds, then you know the joy is in the journey. Seek your own grails and paths. Imagine yourself as one of the brave heroes who helped overcome evil. Dive deep into the dungeon, for many hidden gems await!
