Synth Metal

Synth metal (or Dungeon synth) is an Electronic music style that prioritizes the creation of marvelous and immersive auditory landscapes. It often draws inspiration from fantastical and medieval settings. Artists predominantly employ synthesizers, keyboards, and drum machines as their primary tools for generating ambient and symphonic soundscapes. Additionally, voices, samples, acoustic instruments, and lo-fi production techniques occasionally feature in the creative process. Owing to the nature of this musical style, dungeon synth musicians focus on using music to convey stories. Frequently, artists create unique scenes from mythology, fantasy literature (such as that of J.R.R. Tolkien), video games, and tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.

Origin of Synth Metal

Andrew Werdna initially used the word in his debut article on Dungeon Synth Blog on March 17, 2011. He referred to it as "the sound of the ancient crypt." Berlin School artists first introduced this genre, notably Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. They crafted intricate compositions with synthesizer-driven arrangements. These artists drew inspiration from concepts of space and futurism, resulting in layered textures within the genre. Jim Kirkwood utilized mesmerizing soundscapes to create immersive environments with a fantasy-oriented ambiance. Dead Can Dance, a musical group, exerted another significant effect with its Neoclassical Darkwave style. They skillfully crafted their songs by using synthesizers and drum machines.

The dark ambient genre significantly impacted the development of Synth Metal since these particular genres shaped many early instances of this musical style. The initial Dungeon Synth artists emerged around the early to mid-1990s, following the Norwegian Black Metal movement. Mortiis embarked on his solo career after he departed from the band Emperor; after that, he embraced a musical style characterized by minimalistic production and compositions reminiscent of the medieval era. Varg Vikernes frequently used ambient/dungeon synth interludes in the Burzum discography. Following his imprisonment, he made two albums known as the "prison albums," namely Dauði Baldrs and Hliðskjálf. These songs were created with a synthesizer and a tape recorder. During the first period, notable endeavors encompassed Depressive Silence, which explored ethereal, opulent, low-fidelity auditory landscapes, and Summoning, which enhanced their Symphonic Black Metal composition by including keyboards and drum machines.

The Genre in Recent Years

During the 2000s, the Synth Metal genre declined, characterized by bands either discontinuing their musical endeavors or diverging from their original artistic direction. The genre saw a resurgence in popularity during the early 2010s, facilitated by the emergence of influential blogs and websites such as Andrew Werdna's Dungeon Synth Blog and the Dungeon Synth Archives Youtube channel, which played a pivotal role in bringing the genre to a broader audience. Werdna's Blog played a significant role in establishing a more rigorous characterization of its auditory qualities. The revival wave was influenced by several projects, including Erang, Lord Lovidicus, and Fief, who drew inspiration from acts of the 1990s.

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