"Shadow Realms: A Dungeon Synth Mixtape" (2023) by Dreadwood Prophecies, a duo hailing from McAllen, Texas, takes the listener on a journey through unexplored realms of adventure and magic. This album, characterized by its atmospheric lo-fi dungeon synth style, showcases the somewhat rare collaboration of two artists in a genre, where most projects tend to be solo.
"Dreadwood Prophecies" seamlessly weaves together lo-fi synths and ambient textures to create compositions that transport the listener to a medieval world of magic and mystery. The band's partnership brings a unique dynamic to the music, resulting in a nuanced and immersive experience.
Drawing inspiration from tabletop RPGs and film scores, the music on "Shadow Realms" evokes a sense of immersive storytelling. Each piece carries its own distinct characteristic, painting vivid mental landscapes as if you were exploring ancient forests or embarking on precarious quests in rundown villages. The ambient pads and field recordings add depth and texture to the simple, yet melodic song structures.
The opening track “The Evil Wizard Is Ruining the Town with His Bullsh*t” sets up the foundation with its repetitive, droning patterns. The track never gets boring though, as different elements are brought in and dropped throughout the song’s three-and-a-half-minute runtime. This track also has the absolute best title on the whole album – in fact, I wish such creativity was utilized for some of the other song titles.
“The Great Unraveling”, the shortest track on the album, is one of the definite highlights with its contemplative, almost gothic synth flute melody. “Somber Longing” matches the atmosphere that the title suggests – the minor key progression on the wavering synths creates a sense of melancholia.
“Into the Abyss” introduces percussion in the form of ritual-like drums, and while being more rhythmic, it is one of the darkest tracks on the album. “Death of a King”, which closes the album, is a truly beautiful piece of synth music – it goes all in on the medieval theme with another memorable flute melody.
Overall, "Shadow Realms: A Dungeon Synth Mixtape", is a commendable release that exemplifies the spirit of dungeon synth. The music strongly reminds me of RuneScape’s soundtrack, which happens to be one of my favorite videogames. The album offers an immersive and enchanting experience, perfect for those seeking an escape into a realm of magical exploration.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
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