Tolkien black metal nerds rejoice! Heralder, the mastermind behind the medieval black metal project Theoden's Reign, returns with Citadel of the Stars, an album that cements Theoden's Reign as one of the most promising voices in the fantasy and atmospheric black metal scene.

In a scene often characterized by nihilistic despair, Mörkdöd is a beacon of hope wrapped in the darkness of the sounds of depressive black metal. The Russian delivers something profoundly redemptive while rejecting the toxic and unconstructive elements of the subgenre.

TopfHelm's Sir Godric is a plunge into medieval madness that perfectly captures what makes dungeon folk so intriguing. Hailing from Belarus, this 55-minute journey delivers 15 tracks of immersive storytelling that feel like a lost soundtrack to some medieval legend.

It's been a while since the Eastern Orthodox Christian black metal group Hesychast last blessed the landscape with their atmospheric, Georgian, and orchestral soundscapes. The wait has been rewarded with For Whom We Sing New Troparia.

Gelure’s most recent album, Inner Sanctum, leans into the more contemplative and meditative aspects of dungeon synth. It captures the sensation of studying difficult books of wisdom while experiencing embarrassing solitude to clear one's mind in prayer and contemplation.

Catharsis is often central to black metal, and atmospheric black metal artist Unreqvited is perhaps one of the best artists to gaze into nature, the stars, and the world around us to reflect and feel a larger connection to those around us and beyond.

Despite being as ripe for black metal and dungeon synth, the Elder Scrolls franchise is a notable gap in the scene when compared to the works of Tolkien and Nordic sagas. Daedric Chamber (a solo project by Snitz) has been on a quest to change that.

Symphony of Heaven has been on a journey to craft an album to follow up The Season Of Death, capturing the band’s mission of crafting what their Bandcamp page calls “Crushing, epic, torturous, and extreme.” 2024’s Ordo Aurum Archeia’does just that.

Ætheria Conscientia is a progressive black metal band from Nantes, France. They are able to intertwine various elements from different genres to create a world of sonic mystery and escape. We had the honor of catching up with the band for an interview.

TopfHelm impressed us recently with their latest release, Sir Godric. There’s so much to unpack that we chatted with Nikita Shkurd, the creative force behind it all, to get more insight and details into the world of Sir Godric, the sound of dungeon folk, and so much more. 

Hailing from France, Houle is a fascinating concept black metal band focusing on mariner life, the ocean, and the chaos of life at the sea. When I first heard their latest album, Ciel Cendre et Misère Noire, I was absolutely entranced in the furious, yet melodic approach to their craft.

Eclectic artistry is not formed in a vacuum, nor is it common in an age where a driving thematic style sells records. Yet, dungeon synth is not a genre that is under any pressure to conform, and Towerhouser embodies that nonconformity in a most honorable way.

We talked with Nick, the creative force behind Witch Bolt, to learn more about the music, the world, and the creative process behind it all. We got into why Witch Bolt’s recent release, The Peace of Wild Things, has an alternate arrangement, as well as some of the future projects. 

Unreqvited has become a foundational name in atmospheric black metal and blackgaze, crafting some of the most expansive, impressive, and beautiful albums you can find in the scene. Alex caught up with 鬼 (Ghost) for an inside look at the artist behind the music.

Hailing from West Virginia, Rejoice In Our Suffering puts a new spin on raw black metal, with an infusion of other genres to keep things interesting. Fueled by thematic elements of hope vs. despair, darkness vs. light, there is a larger-than-life story taking place.

Atmospheric black metal is synonymous with contemplation, mystery, and emotion. One of the artists who I feel best embodies these characteristics is Eldamar hailing from Norway. We caught up with the artist for a brief look into the project.