Orcs and hobgoblins, ice dragons and wood nymphs, heed my call!! Our obscure digital dungeon has been chosen to exclusively host the results of the 2016 Dungeon Synth Awards, as voted upon and organized by Facebook’s Dungeon Synth community!! Below we have the top 3 best albums and best physical releases (as voted upon by the users), in addition to the top 3 albums and honorable mentions as listed by Grimrik, Medhelan, and Levi, the moderators of the page. So, without further ado, let’s get to it!!
Grimrik
Grimrik is arguably the most well-known producer and engineer in the dungeon synth scene, in addition to being a genius recording artist as well. He’s also one of the guys behind the highly successful DS label, Deivlforst Records!
Listen to and support Grimrik’s music: https://grimrik.bandcamp.com/
Check out his picks for the best that dungeon synth had to offer in 2016 below!
1) “Fall of the Horned Serpent” – Medhelan (Deivlforst Records)
I accompanied this album throughout the process of its making and it was a matter of the heart for me since the beginning. In the end I had the honor to give it its final mastered sound.* Nevertheless, I think I can judge the artist’s output from an observer’s point of view and compare it as a “third person”. That said, I can’t praise this album enough! It is made with a “fresh” approach to DS because it is kind of “cinematic”, composing-wise, even more than what the master, Murgrind, does. It evokes that typical DS magic though; there is no doubt about that. It tells a story and every track conjures the feelings that belong to a part of the story. Lucky are those that have one of the 100 CDs and hence the booklet with all text and beautiful artwork; it all comes together as a huge, consistent experience. Just listening to the mp3 files of course will give you an outstanding journey too. Conclusion: Possibly one of the most underrated DS albums of the year, compared to how much genius is in it and how deep feelings it can evoke. Deep, and very intense.
*I didn’t have any influence on melodies and composing at all, just to make hat clear. Technically, I just gave mixing advice and spotted minor issues that were then fixed by the artist himself before it was handed to me for mastering.
Listen to and support Medhelan’s music: https://medhelan.bandcamp.com/album/fall-of-the-horned-serpent
2) “Fragmenter Av Trolldom” – Skarpseian (self-released / Out of Season)
No need to say too much about this – Skarpseian’s 3rd album shows again his ability to make classic DS which lives from repetitive layers of melodies but never gets boring – a different task to handle! This time he again takes a small step forward when it comes to enhancing the sound, but again he doesn’t overdo it and keeps that old school vibe, hereby repeating his method of using some more electronic sounds here and there, but only a few that spice the whole thing up. Conclusion: Classic and magical.
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://skarpseian.bandcamp.com/album/fragmenter-av-trolldom
3) “A Journey Across Primordial Lands” – Splendorius / Barak Tor / Ræv Jäger (self-released)
This one could a surprising choice for some of the readers I guess. First I really like how those three youngsters collaborated for a 3-way-split. never seen that before. When you listen to it you can clearly hear all of their own unique styles, which fits together on one CD though! You have the epiceness of Barak Tor, the more light approach of Ræv Jäger and the classic reverb-drenched darkness of Splendorius. When it comes to the latter, I like his tracks on here much more than on his new album Moernvar. If you are after more Splendorius’ like on Norfaragell-Thul, this is the go-to album! Conclusion: Interesting collaboration, unique typical styles by each artist and a journey back in time.
Listen to and purchase this split here: https://baraktor.bandcamp.com/album/a-journey-across-primordial-lands-3-way-split
Honorable Mentions:
As you may have recognized it’s very important for me to be taken on a journey by an album but also to be “impressed” by something “new” now and then. This is also valid for those who didn’t make it into my top 3:
“Taur-nu-Fuin” – Thangorodrim (Deivlforst Records)
Probably “the” album of the year for most of the people and I understand why: It evokes a nostalgic feeling of the golden era of DS when it arose from back metal and its musicians. Composed very solid and performed with just the right amount of “dirt” to be old-school, but still listenable.
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://thangorodrimsynth.bandcamp.com/album/taur-nu-fuin-remaster
“Odolosth / Stronghold in the Mountains” – Elffor / Murgrind (Deivlforst Records)
Whereas Murgrind’s part is again the very best I have ever heard in DS both in terms of composition, arrangement, sound, and impact on my imagination, it’s (just) an EP and it includes Elffor’s “Odolosth”, so it couldn’t make it into my Top 3 albums list.
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://murgrind-music.bandcamp.com/album/odolosth-stronghold-in-the-mountains-split
“As Decayed Winds Flutter Through the Trees” – Witch King of Angmar (Swampkult Productions)
Not the typical “this will be something from Grimrik!” indeed at first sight, it yet impressed me with both the atmosphere it evokes and the methods that were used to create it. Just to name the “Waltz” and the accordion. Well done, Grimrik’s attention was attracted!
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://witchkingofangmar.bandcamp.com/releases
Medhelan:
Medhelan is the mastermind behind his eponymous DS project which has thus far been incredibly well-received among the DS community!
Check out his picks for the best of 2016 below!
1) “Taur-nu-Fuin” – Thangorodrim (Out of Season / Deivlforst Records)
2) “Odolosth / Stronghold in the Mountains” – Elffor / Murgrind (Deivlforst Records)
3) “Age of Legends” – Galdur (Werewolf Promotion)
Honorable Mentions:
“Wandering to Nether World” – Morketsvind (På Gamle Stier)
“A Kingdom Beset by Despair” – Faery Ring (self-released)
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://faeryring.bandcamp.com/album/a-kingdom-beset-by-despair
“Fragmenter av Trolldom” – Skarpseian (self-released / Out of Season)
“Long Lost Relics of Power” – Oldenhelm (Wulfrune Worxx)
Levi
Levi is the mastermind behind one of the world’s first DS zines, Dungeons of Darkness (available both physically and digitally!). He had this to say about the state of DS in 2016:
“2016 was a great year for dungeon synth, and if I were to list all the albums I really loved this year the list would grow far too long. So, thank you to all of the artists who contributed to our community this year, and I’m looking forwards to hearing from you again this year.”
Check out his list below!
1) “The Canterbury Tales” – Chaucerian Myth (Out of Season)
Listen to and purchase this album here:https://chaucerianmyth.bandcamp.com/album/the-canterbury-tales
2) “II” – Fief (self-released / Out of Season)
3) “Yeoman’s Tale” – Chronicles of Jest (self-released / Out of Season)
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://chroniclesofjest.bandcamp.com/album/yeomans-tale-2
Honorable Mentions:
“Queen of the Silver Stone” – ElixiR (self-released)
“Demo II” – Apothecarium (Moonworshipper Records)
“Lord Of The Faeries” – RævJäger (Haftvad Records)
“Dans les Cendres du Mordor” – Caverne (self-released)
“The Temple of Elemental Evil” – Sanguine Vescor (self-released)
Users’ Choice – BEST ALBUM:
1) “Taur-nu-Fuin” – Thangorodrim (Out of Season / Deivlforst Records)
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://thangorodrimsynth.bandcamp.com/album/taur-nu-fuin-remaster
2) “Our Dreams Are Made of Dragons” – Erang (self-released)
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://erang.bandcamp.com/album/our-dreams-are-made-of-dragons
3) “Lord of the Fairies” – RævJäger (Haftvad Records)
Listen to and purchase this album here: https://raevjager.bandcamp.com/album/the-lord-of-the-fairies
Users’ Choice – BEST PHYSICAL RELEASE
1) “Treasures from the Dungeon” – Arath (Deivlforst Records)
-Audio cassette in a wooden treasure chest:
2) “Odolosth / Stronghold in the Mountains” – Elffor / Murgrind (Deivlforst Records)
-Digipack CD w/8-page booklet:
3) “Fall of the Horned Serpent” – Medhelan (Deivlforst Records)
-Digipack CD w/8-page booklet:
OK, so there you have it everyone! We hope that you enjoyed these lists! What do you think? What were YOUR favorite DS albums of 2016? Let us know in the comments below!