Dungeon synth
{{Short description|Electronic music genre}}
{{Infobox music genre
| name = Dungeon synth
| native_name =
| etymology =
| other_names =
| image =
| alt = A crop of the original film photograph developed from the negatives by Mortiis and used on the cover of Ånden som Gjorde Opprør.
| caption = A crop of the original film photograph developed from negatives by Mortiis, and later used in the cover art for Ånden som Gjorde Opprør.
| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Dark ambient|black metal}}
| cultural_origins = Early 1990s, Norway
| instruments = {{hlist|Synthesizer|keyboard|DAW|MIDI}}
| derivatives =
| subgenres =
| fusiongenres =
| regional_scenes =
| local_scenes =
| other_topics = {{hlist|Berlin School|darkwave|neofolk|drone|neoclassical dark wave}}
}}
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. Dungeon synth usually evokes medieval or fantasy themes.{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Henrietta |date=2025-02-25 |title=‘It makes you feel like the hero of your own quest’: the dark, delightful magic of the dungeon synth scene |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/feb/25/the-dark-delightful-magic-of-the-dungeon-synth-scene |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
Characteristics
The genre employs aesthetics and themes typically associated with black metal{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/10/16/mortiis-black-metal-dungeon-synth-beyond/|title=Mortiis: From Black Metal to Dungeon Synth and Beyond|author=Neill Jameson|date=October 16, 2017|accessdate=January 21, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/03/30/dungeon-synth-list/|title=A Guide Through the Darkened Passages of Dungeon Synth|last=Editorial|date=30 March 2017|website=Bandcamp Daily|language=en|access-date=2019-03-12}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000jfsk|title=Dungeon Synth|last=Stuart Maconie|date=2020-05-24|website=BBC Radio 6 Music|language=en|access-date=2020-05-24}} 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,{{cite web |title=Intros, Outros and Instrumental Interludes…yes or no? |url=https://manofmuchmetal.com/2013/02/13/intros-outros-and-instrumental-interludes-yes-or-no |website=Man Of Much Metal |access-date=1 July 2021}} death metal, and heavy metal{{cite web |last1=Hannum |first1=Terrence |title=Instigate Sonic Violence: A Not-so-Brief History of the Synthesizer's Impact on Heavy Metal |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/synthesizers-impact-heavy-metal/ |website=Vice |publisher=Vice Media |access-date=1 July 2021 |date=March 18, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Göransson |first1=Niklas |title=Old Tower Interview |url=http://www.bardomethodology.com/articles/2019/05/01/old-tower-interview/ |website=Bardo Methodology |access-date=21 April 2021 |date=1 May 2019}} Dungeon synth is contentiously likened to video game music, due to fantasy influences, the usage and layering of synths, and a focus on ambience;{{refn|{{cite web |title=Rumbling Under The Mountains: A report On Czech Dungeon Synth |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/28109-czech-dungeon-synth-review |access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Curtis-Brignell |first1=Andy |title=Out of the Dungeon: In Conversation with Mortiis |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/out-of-the-dungeon-in-conversation-with-mortiis/ |website=Vice |publisher=Vice Media Group |access-date=21 April 2021 |date=6 April 2017}}{{cite web |title=The Adventures of Mortiis |url=https://www.beat.com.au/the-adventures-of-mortiis/}}{{cite web |last1=Bannister |first1=Sasha |title=Mortiis - Spirit of Rebellion|url=https://www.noizze.co.uk/single-post/2020/01/28/mortiis-spirit-of-rebellion-album-review |website=www.noizze.co.uk|access-date=21 April 2021 |date=28 January 2020}}}} however, acts such as Mortiis have rejected the influence of video game soundtracks on dungeon synth.{{cite journal |title=Mortiis Interview with Dungeon Synth Zine |journal=Dungeon Synth Zine |date=1 September 2020 |issue=3 |page=12 |url=http://www.dungeon-synth.com/Dungeon%20Synth%20Zine%20Issue%203%20Mortiis%20Interview.pdf |access-date=21 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=Dungeon Synth - Music Out of Joint |url=https://dataswamp.org/~lich/musings/dsynth.html |website=DataSwamp |access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Old Nick Interview |url=http://thecallofthenight.com/oldnick |website=The Call of the Night |access-date=16 May 2021}}
History
= Precursors =
Dungeon synth is derived from black metal{{refn|{{cite web |last1=Kahler |first1=Charles |title=A Beginner's Guide to…Dungeon Synth |url=https://www.indymetalvault.com/2017/11/21/a-beginners-guide-to-dungeon-synth/ |website=Indy Metal Vault |date=21 November 2017 |publisher=Indy Metal Vault |access-date=21 April 2021}}{{cite web |title=On dangerous paths: an introduction to dungeon synth |url=https://berkeleybside.com/on-dangerous-paths-an-introduction-to-dungeon-synth/ |website=Berkley B-Side |author=Clementine Zimmer |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=6 February 2019}}{{cite web |title=Is Dungeon Synth A Black Metal Offshoot, Or Something More? |url=https://excusetheblood.org/is-dungeon-synth-a-black-metal-offshoot-or-something-more/ |website=Excuse the Blood |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=27 September 2020 |archive-date=6 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406195331/https://excusetheblood.org/is-dungeon-synth-a-black-metal-offshoot-or-something-more/ |url-status=dead }}}} and dark ambient.{{cite web |title=Masmorra #1 A Dungeon Synth Zine |url=https://hollywoodmetal.com/book-review-masmorra-1-a-dungeon-synth-zine/ |website=Hollywood metal |access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nocleansinging.com/2016/02/15/days-of-yore-dark-ambient-black-metal-and-the-birth-of-dungeon-synth-volume-1/|title=Days of Yore: Dark Ambient, Black Metal, and the Birth of Dungeon Synth|date=February 15, 2016|accessdate=January 21, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Göransson |first1=Niklas |title=mortiis vond i |url=https://www.bardomethodology.com/articles/2024/01/24/mortiis-fodt-til-a-herske-interview/ |access-date=5 January 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Everley |first1=Dave |title=Enslaved’s Ivar Bjørnson: 10 albums that changed my life |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/enslaveds-ivar-bjornson-10-albums-that-changed-my-life |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=5 January 2025}} Mayhem's debut EP Deathcrush (1987) even opening with the Conrad Schnitzler composition "Silvester Anfang".{{cite web |last1=HALMSTAD |first1=BREE |title=13 Non-BM Artists That Black Metal Fans Will Enjoy |url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2023/04/24/13-non-bm-artists-that-black-metal-fans-will-enjoy/ |website=MetalSucks |access-date=5 January 2025}}
= 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 project by Varg Vikernes of Old Funeral and Mayhem.{{refn|{{cite web |title=Mortiis: Inventor of dungeon synth! |url=http://permafrost.today/2019/11/04/mortiis-inventor-of-dungeon-synth/ |website=Permafrost Today |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=4 November 2019}}{{cite web |title=The Legendary Mortiis Returns To His Dungeon Synth Roots On Meritorious New Album, 'Spirit Of Rebellion' |url=https://thedungeonindeepspace.com/2020/02/14/the-legendary-mortiis-returns-to-his-dungeon-synth-roots-on-meritorious-new-album-spirit-of-rebellion/ |website=Dungeons in Deep Space |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=14 February 2020}}{{cite web |title=Dungeon Synth Conjures Black Metal Fantasy |url=https://legendo.com/music/dungeon-synth-conjures-black-metal-fantasy/ |website=Legendo |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=25 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Mortiis – Era 1 North American Tour – Live Coverage in Baltimore |url=http://www.thisisdarkness.com/2019/03/29/mortiis-era-1-north-american-tour-live-coverage-in-baltimore/ |website=This Is Darkness |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=29 March 2019}}{{cite web |title=A return to the dungeon: Feature article and interview with Mortiis. |url=https://soundsandshadows.com/2020/01/30/a-return-to-the-dungeon-feature-article-and-interview-with-mortiis/ |website=Sounds and Shadows |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=30 January 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Tiwari |first1=PJ |title=Interview: Mortiis on Masks, the Spirit of Dungeon Synth, and Not Letting The Bastards Get You In The End |url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interview-mortiis-on-masks-the-spirit-of-dungeon-synth-and-not-letting-the-bastards-get-you-in-the-end/ |website=New Noise |access-date=24 April 2021 |date=20 January 2020}}{{cite web |title=Mortiis - Spirit of Rebellion {{!}} Album Review |url=https://www.noizze.co.uk/single-post/2020/01/28/mortiis-spirit-of-rebellion-album-review |website=www.noizze.co.uk |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=28 Jan 2020}}{{cite web |title=Summoning Interview |url=https://thelodgewebzine.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/summoning-interview/ |website=The Lodge |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=2006}}{{cite web |title=Interview with Old Tower Dutch Dark Ambient Dungeon Synth |url=http://bruderdeslichts.com/interview-old-tower-dutch-dark-ambient-dungeon-synth/ |website=Burders des Lichts |access-date=16 May 2021}}}} Under starting Mortiis, Ellefsen embraced the influence of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze,{{cite web |author=Jeremy Saffer |date=July 25, 2019 |title=MORTIIS: Behind the Mask of Mortiis |url=https://outburn.com/interviews/mortiis-back-to-the-dungeon/ |accessdate=April 21, 2021}} Skinny Puppy and Enigma.{{cite web |title=Mortiis: 10 albums that changed my life |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/mortiis-10-albums-that-changed-my-life |website=Metal Hammer |publisher=Louder Sound |access-date=14 May 2021}} 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.{{cite web |title=Mortiis – The Song of a Long Forgotten Ghost (Remaster) |url=https://echoesanddust.com/2019/01/mortiis-the-song-of-a-long-forgotten-ghost/ |website=Echoes and Dust |access-date=14 May 2021}} 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.{{cite web |title=Mortiis - The Song of a Long Forgotten Ghost |url=http://demoarchives.com/Bands/Mortiis-Nor/Mortiis.asp?mistake=Mortiis&cntry=Nor |website=Demo Archives |access-date=14 May 2021}} 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{{cite web |last1=Norman |first1=Joseph |title=(((O))) Interview: Mortiis |url=https://echoesanddust.com/2018/04/mortiis/ |website=Echoes and Dust |publisher=Echoes and Dust |access-date=21 April 2021 |date=2 April 2018}} and later releases from the return to the "Era I" sound, chiefly Spirit of Rebellion.{{cite web |title=Mortiis - Spirit of Rebellion |url=https://downloadmusic.mortiis.com/album/spirit-of-rebellion |website=Official Mortiis Website |access-date=21 April 2021}} Other prominent contemporaries of the genre include Old Tower, Sombre Arcane, Thangorodrim, and Depressive Silence.{{cite web |title=Roadburn Festival - Old Tower |url=https://roadburn.com/band/old-tower/ |website=Roadburn Festival |access-date=16 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Sombre Arcane, Francis Roberts, Nan Elmoth, Fvrfvr |url=https://lostcoastoutpost.com/lowdown/events/sombre-arcane-francis-roberts-nan-elmoth-fvrfvr-si/ |website=Lost Coast Outpost |access-date=16 May 2021}}
Vikernes cited Das Ich, Dead Can Dance and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky among influences on Burzum's ambient aspect.{{refn|{{cite web |title=Burzum: Heart of Darkness "Guitar World" Magazine |url=https://www.burzum.org/eng/library/2010_interview_guitar_world.shtml |website=Burzum Official Website |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=April 2010}}{{cite web |title=Interview with Varg Vikernes |url=https://www.burzum.org/eng/library/2004_interview_bg.shtml |website=Burzum Official Website |access-date=22 April 2021|date=12 August 2004}}{{cite web |title=I am much scarier in real life... because I am - real |url=https://www.burzum.org/eng/library/2010_interview_metalscript.shtml |website=MetalScript.net |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=24 February 2010}}{{cite web |title=Interview with Varg Vikernes |url=https://www.burzum.org/eng/library/2013_interview_dungeon_synth.shtml |website=Burzum Official Website |access-date=22 April 2021 |date=14 April 2013}}}} While, Finnish dungeon synth musician Tuomas M. Mäkelä of Jääportit{{cite web |title=Jääportit Biography |url=https://www.jaaportit.net/biography/ |website=Jääportit Official Website |access-date=29 April 2021}} 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.{{cite web|date=9 July 2009|title=An Interview With Robert: Ritual Of Ritual|url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=45905|url-status=live|access-date=29 April 2021|website=Metal Underground|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429033114/http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=45905 |archive-date=2021-04-29 }}
In 1993, Danish one-man synth project The Dark Funeral released a 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.{{cite web |title=The Dark Funeral - In Thy Forest... |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_dark_funeral |access-date=14 May 2021 |website=RateYourMusic}}{{cite web |title=The Dark Funeral - In Thy Forest... demo 1993 |url=http://ascoven.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-dark-funeral-in-thy-forest-demo-1993.html |website=Asmodian Coven Blog |access-date=14 May 2021}} That same year, Jim Kirkwood published two works which would retroactively be touted as influencing early dungeon synth music: Through A Dark Glass{{cite web |title=Through A Dark Glass - Jim Kirkwood |url=https://www.dungeon-codex.com/artist/jim-kirkwood/album/through-a-dark-glass |website=Dungeon Codex |access-date=14 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Through A Dark Glass |url=https://www.musicmeter.nl/album/792014 |website=Music Meter Netherlands |access-date=14 May 2021}} and Tower of Darkness.{{cite web |title=Tower of Darness - Jim Kirkwood |url=https://www.dungeon-codex.com/artist/jim-kirkwood/album/tower-of-darkness |website=Dungeon Codex |access-date=14 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Tower of Darkness - Jim Kirkwood |url=https://www.musicmeter.nl/album/100297 |website=Music Meter Netherlands |access-date=14 May 2021}} 1994 saw the publication Pazuzu's ...And All Was Silent, which is now a part of dungeon synth canon.{{refn|{{cite web |title=Pazuzu - ...And All Was Silent |url=https://www.metalmusicarchives.com/album/pazuzu/and-all-was-silent |website=Metal Music Archives |access-date=14 May 2021}}{{cite web |title=Pazuzu - ...And All Was Silent |url=http://www.metalstorm.net/bands/album.php?album_id=83616 |website=Metal Storm |access-date=14 May 2021}} the self-released The Soil Bleeds Black demo tape,{{cite web |title=The Soil Bleeds Black Interview |url=http://www.rusmetal.ru/vae_solis/The_Soil_Bleeds_Black.htm |website=RusMetal |access-date=14 May 2021}}}}