Dungeon synth

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Dungeon synth is a genre of electronic music that merges elements of black metal and dark ambient. The style emerged in the early 1990s, predominantly among members of the early Norwegian black metal scene.

Contents

Characteristics

The genre employs aesthetics and themes typically associated with black metal [4] juxtaposed to the typical heavy tremolo-picking, blast-beats, and harsh, shrieked vocals of black metal by way of compositions of instrumental or ambient music commonly used as introductions, interludes, or "outros" in black metal, [5] death metal, and heavy metal [6] albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Though often paired with medieval and fantasy motifs throughout the 1990s onward, some prominent contemporaries of dungeon synth reject the excessive prevalence of high-fantasy themes. [7] Dungeon synth is contentiously likened to video game music, due to fantasy influences, the usage and layering of synths, and a focus on ambience, [12] however this has been rejected by acts including Mortiis have rejected the influence of video game soundtracks on dungeon synth. [13] [14] [15]

History

Precursors

Dungeon synth is derived from black metal [19] and dark ambient. [20] [21] Prior to the pioneering of dungeon synth, the influence of instrumental, electronic music had made its way into the early Norwegian black metal scene, with Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze influencing Mayhem, Emperor and Enslaved. [22] [23] Mayhem's debut EP Deathcrush (1987) even opening with the Conrad Schnitzler composition "Silvester Anfang". [24]

Origins

The progenitors of dungeon synth are Mortiis and Burzum, who both originated from the early Norwegian black metal scene: Mortiis being formed by Håvard Ellefsen, the bassist of Emperor; and Burzum originating as a black metal solo by Varg Vikernes of Old Funeral and Mayhem. [34] Under starting Mortiis, Ellefsen embraced the influence of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, [35] Skinny Puppy and Enigma. [36] Mortiis' first demo, clocking in at just under an hour in length, marked the first time a musician made use of black metal aesthetics on a release that contained entirely instrumental and non-traditional black metal instrumentation. [37] The second iteration of this demo tape would be the first time Ellefsen would use the phrase "dark dungeon music" to refer to its style. [38] Mortiis went on to be a major performer of this genre and the style is heavily prevalent in early releases such as Født til å Herske [39] and later releases from the return to the "Era I" sound, chiefly Spirit of Rebellion . [40] Other prominent contemporaries of the genre include Old Tower, Sombre Arcane, Thangorodrim, and Depressive Silence. [41] [42]

Vikernes cited Das Ich, Dead Can Dance and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky among influences on Burzum's ambient aspect. [47] While, Finnish dungeon synth musician Tuomas M. Mäkelä of Jääportit [48] has cited Dead Can Dance and Arcana among their influences. Robert Nusslein (founding member of Ritual) of Casket of Dreams has listed Tangerine Dream, Velvet Acid Christ, Dead Can Dance, and Death in June among his influences. [49]

In 1993, Danish project Dark Funeral released their demo, which is occasionally invoked alongside Mortiis' earliest works as another example of nascent dungeon synth but the project quickly ended after releasing two demos. [50] [51] [52] That same year, Jim Kirkwood published two works which would retroactively be touted as influencing early dungeon synth music: Through A Dark Glass [53] [54] and Tower of Darkness. [55] [56] 1994 saw the publication Pazuzu's ...And All Was Silent, which is now a part of dungeon synth canon. [60]

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<i>Burzum</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Burzum

Burzum is the debut studio album by the Norwegian black metal solo project Burzum. It was released in March 1992, through Euronymous's label Deathlike Silence Productions. Six of the songs were later re-recorded in 2010 and released on the album From the Depths of Darkness, as Varg Vikernes was dissatisfied with some of the original vocals and production.

<i>Hvis lyset tar oss</i> 1994 studio album by Burzum

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<i>Det som engang var</i> 1993 studio album by Burzum

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Filosofem is the fourth studio album by Norwegian black metal solo project Burzum. It was recorded in March 1993 and was the last recording before Varg Vikernes was sentenced to prison in 1994; the album was not released until January 1996, however. It was released through Misanthropy Records and Vikernes's own record label, Cymophane Productions. A music video was made for the song "Dunkelheit" and received airtime on both MTV and VH1.

<i>Dauði Baldrs</i> 1997 studio album by Burzum

Dauði Baldrs is the fifth studio album by the Norwegian solo act Burzum. Unlike Burzum's previous work, which was mostly black metal, this is an ambient album. It was recorded using a synthesizer and a normal tape recorder by Varg Vikernes while he was in prison, as he was not allowed to have any other instruments or recording equipment. It was completed in a few months due to his limited access to synthesizers, which was also the case with the following album, Hliðskjálf.

<i>Belus</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Burzum

Belus is the seventh full-length album by the Norwegian one-man band Burzum. Released on 8 March 2010 through Byelobog Productions, it is the first Burzum studio album to be recorded after a near 11-year hiatus.

<i>Umskiptar</i> 2012 studio album by Burzum

Umskiptar is the ninth studio album by the Norwegian one-man band Burzum, released on 21 May 2012 through Byelobog Productions. It has been described by Varg Vikernes as a "return to the roots", with a priority on atmosphere. The album's lyrics are taken from an Old Norse poem entitled Völuspá. The album was leaked two months before its release date, due, according to Vikernes, to a former PR agent of his having "sent promotional copies of the entire album to left wing extremist magazines" without his knowledge or consent.

<i>Sôl austan, Mâni vestan</i> 2013 studio album by Burzum

Sôl austan, Mâni vestan is the tenth studio album by the Norwegian act Burzum. It was announced in February 2013 and released through Byelobog Productions on 27 May 2013.

<i>The Ways of Yore</i> 2014 studio album by Burzum

The Ways of Yore is the eleventh studio album by Norwegian musical project Burzum, released on 2 June 2014 by sole member Varg Vikernes' label Byelobog Productions. The album retains the ambient and medieval music sound Vikernes started with Burzum's previous album, Sôl austan, Mâni vestan, albeit introducing vocals.

<i>Thulêan Mysteries</i> 2020 studio album by Burzum

Thulêan Mysteries is the twelfth studio album by Norwegian musical project Burzum, released on 13 March 2020 through Byelobog Productions. It is a double album, comprising the sporadic and random tracks written and recorded by Varg Vikernes since 2014's The Ways of Yore.

References

  1. 1 2 Neill Jameson (October 16, 2017). "Mortiis: From Black Metal to Dungeon Synth and Beyond" . Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  2. ↑ Editorial (30 March 2017). "A Guide Through the Darkened Passages of Dungeon Synth". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  3. ↑ Stuart Maconie (2020-05-24). "Dungeon Synth". BBC Radio 6 Music. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  4. ↑ [1] [2] [3]
  5. ↑ "Intros, Outros and Instrumental Interludes…yes or no?". Man Of Much Metal. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Hannum, Terrence (March 18, 2016). "Instigate Sonic Violence: A Not-so-Brief History of the Synthesizer's Impact on Heavy Metal". Vice. Vice Media. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Göransson, Niklas (1 May 2019). "Old Tower Interview". Bardo Methodology. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Rumbling Under The Mountains: A report On Czech Dungeon Synth" . Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Curtis-Brignell, Andy (6 April 2017). "Out of the Dungeon: In Conversation with Mortiis". Vice. Vice Media Group. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "The Adventures of Mortiis".
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  12. ↑ [8] [9] [10] [11]
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  14. ↑ "Dungeon Synth - Music Out of Joint". DataSwamp. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Old Nick Interview". The Call of the Night. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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  20. ↑ "Masmorra #1 A Dungeon Synth Zine". Hollywood metal. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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  41. ↑ "Roadburn Festival - Old Tower". Roadburn Festival. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  42. ↑ "Sombre Arcane, Francis Roberts, Nan Elmoth, Fvrfvr". Lost Coast Outpost. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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  45. ↑ "I am much scarier in real life... because I am - real". MetalScript.net. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
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  49. ↑ "An Interview With Robert: Ritual Of Ritual". Metal Underground. 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  50. ↑ "Dark Funeral - In Thy Forest". Demo Archives. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  51. ↑ "Dark Funeral - In Thy Forest..." RateYourMusic. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  52. ↑ "The Dark Funeral - In Thy Forest... demo 1993". Asmodian Coven Blog. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
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