Feline Mysteries by PURZUM
There is a saying that once is funny, two times is less funny, but anything after that is hilarious. For those who forget Purzum was a secret release of original comfy music but with cute cat theme titles taken from Burzum tracks. It came as a secret tape put out by Weregnome Records and was sort of a joke intended to defang a piece of DS history rooted in shitty actions by a shitty creator (Burzum not Purzum). Since Filosofeline, the catalog of this project has gone through the gymnastics of trying to come up with Burzum cat puns each time becoming more absurd. Feline Mysteries continues this idea expanding beyond Burzum with metal themed titled like “Fowler in the Yard,” “Vulgar Display of Flowers” and “Were Not Going to Wake It.” If this sounds like a big gag, I can assure you the creators don’t want you to be serious about this and in fact, prefer you don’t. The biggest comedy of this entire thing is the depth and serenity of the music which is joyous and engaging and acts like the biggest joke around.
HDK 230 † Shadow Keep by SHADOWKEEP
“HDK is pleased to present the album “Shadowkeep” on cassette, released digitally by Obsidian Relic Records in 2024. The HDK cassette features new artwork and contains a mini gamebook inspired by the Computer RPG called “Shadowkeep” published by Telarium software for Apple II (1984).” Sometimes its just easier to copy the blurb about HDK music because honestly all of their releases are heavy with theme and concept. If you haven’t looked up Shadowkeep you should while listening to this release like I did and immediately fall in love with the notions of playing CRPGs while the world burns around you. HDK is an enormous label with many interesting releases that at times I feel overwhelmed with their catalog. If you are like me the best thing to do is find a release and hold it tight and allow it to be your guide to mystic lands.
Ancient Quests For Lost Heroes by Baddoar
Baddoar is the work of a French artist who also heads the visually stunning project and utterly unique sounding Wydraddear. Ancient Quests For Lost Heroes, and to some extent Baddoar leans more into the fantasy aspect of dungeon synth with moody and dismal dark dungeon tracks full of adventure but still obscured by fog. Baddoar emphasizes the dark in dark dungeon but not in a sonic way rather an emotional one with music that is full of longing and absence and the stoic notion of acceptance. Ancient Quests For Lost Heroes is fantasy music but one that fully embraces the heroes journey that is sometimes full of somber reflections.
Celestial Sorcery by Desolation Plains
If you remember the halcyon days of 2021, you might have remembered me talking about a tape I got that had a little RPG inside it. This was the work of Desolation Plains and the release of the debut Sword of Hailstone. It was a full adventure which used the JCard as playing board and interactive app which played the music. It was an experience that was unlike anything I have had with an album and could only come from a wild minded creator. Celestial Sorcery is the third release from the project and though it doesn’t come with a little miniature (sad) but its music steps up as a portal which guides one into a world of immersive fantasy ambient which could be a contender for the end of the year lists.
The Sun Set Behind Mount Blue Job by Hoarfrost
This record was released last year digitally and is seeing a tape release through Realm and Ritual. If you actually look at the last release by Hoarforst you will see a misfits dungeon synth tribute record called Dungeon Business which is as absurd as it is good. Compare this to The Sun Set Behind Mount Blue Job, a fully accomplished winter synth record not only in minimal sound but also in the cover painting done by the same creator. This package has already had two tape pressings from its creator and the Realm and Ritual release only continues spreading world of a release which I feel went unnoticed in 2025 even by me. It is a a staggering work of beauty and isolation which feels like it is content not talking to anyone for a few years rather just making music and visual art in worship of winter.
Only the Dead Know (demo) by Grave of Silent Dreams
Grave of Silent Dreams is new as in there are two demos released in just this year. Both releases follow the same pattern as a full demo recording which is advertised as being put directly to vintage tape. Both also make use of the term “dungeon ambient” or “dungeon ambient electronics” both of them are interesting and scant genres which are on the far side of the experimental spectrum. Only the Dead Know is a mixture of lofi dungeon synth, Berlin school minded soundscapes and something I can only describe as “grey ambient” where the landscape embraces a purgatorial palette which feels like it stretches for eternity. DS usually has images of forgotten castles and desolate ruins. Only the Dead Know certainly makes its home among these structures with an imaginative release.
Steaming Woodlands/Blood Tower split by Entmoot / Moonworshipper
If one thing can be said about Moonworshipper is I have no idea what the hell they are going to release. The same could be said about Entmoot. Steaming Woodlands/Blood Tower is a label split between the Midwest based Moonworshipper and the NYC based Entmoot with both projects from the labels creators. If you are familiar with either one of these artists you are aware of the penchant for dark dungeon music mixed in with a healthy dose of coloring outside the lines. Both artists make music which sounds like dungeon synth but just ones that were left outside in the rain overnight.
Reckoning by Wanderhall | Fenmoss
Waldonian Sounds is a Virginia based artist label with what it seems like international artists contributing to a vision/. that vision is storytelling as well as a desire to never be apart of one genre. Wanderhall / Fenmoss is a collaboration between two projects which might or might not be from the same person. Due to the nature of this label and the ability for each project to be entirely unique, Reckoning succeeds not only in sound but also in social justice with proceeds going to immigrant rights. If you are familiar with this artist or label or any of the people involved you are aware of the use of fantasy art as opposition to injustices in the real world.
Faerie Folk by Faerie Folk
We are ending this digest with perhaps the furthest from dungeon and synth as we can get with Faerie and folk. If you have read any of my digests I enjoy strange things and especially when those things don’t fit into any genre and sort of just charisma check their way through life. Faerie Folk continues a long tradition of smuggling folk music into contemporary scenes and having people listen to straight up traditional Celtic fiddle becasue they saw the name faerie in the title. I feel this type of music does well on the road becasue it finds communities who are interested in well made music made by creative people and supported by progressive music labels.