Somber and melancholic, yet at times also upbeat and cheerful. Walden has a superb ability to express emotion through raw acoustic sound. I got the feeling from this album that I was essentially listening to some indigenous alpine tribe play their songs, yet at the same time, a lonely walk through a misty morning. What is great about this album is that it can both be actively listened to, while also being perfect background music.

Easily my second favorite Darkwood album. Weltenwende gives off feelings of nostalgia, forlorn hope, and remorse for a world that no longer exists, or perhaps never did exist. Yet, at the same time, there is a glimmer of hope, that we will all persevere, and see the light at the end of the tunnel. I personally am a big fan of the mix of traditional string instruments with pounding background drums. This album is another great page in the story of Neofolk.

Alpenglühen is, like most of Sturmpercht's other albums, a fun, traditional, nostalgic, journey through the Alps. Indigenous alpine culture lives and breathes throughout this album, and I cannot think of a better album to listen to while hiking around Hintersee, going for a walk around Ebenau, watching the setting sun reflect off the Untersberg and Tennengebirge, or having a beer with your friends in Hallein. This album is full of Salzburg, alpine folk music.

I found out about Thorvroht from YouTube, and I very glad I did. Frostbound Reveries is an ambient DS album that conveys both the icy nature of the winter season, but also the warm, introspective parts of it. Hope shines on even through the coldest, darkest winter nights. Each track is somber and chilling, but in a relaxed, nostalgic way. This album has without a doubt become one of my favorite Winter Synth albums.

This is Black Metal. Catholic Black Metal truly expresses the darkness and solitude of not being loved by God. I remember reading a couple of interviews with the creator of Reverorum Ib Malacht, and his take on his music, what it means, and the symbolism behind it is just amazing. The idea of a Godhead existing is honestly far more terrifying than one not existing. The drums are brutal and fast, the guitars chug and push the entire sound forward. The vocals sound like Hell itself.

Galdrum is exactly what every medieval metal album should sound like. With flutes spliced in-between heavy riffs and pounding drums, it gets you nostalgic for an age gone by, but hyped for the coming battle. The vocals, both clean and harsh, add a layer of power and life to the entire album. Finishing off with an amazing instrumental is the cherry on top.

Majestic, dark, sublime, and powerful. I cannot think of any more words to describe Hymns To The Lunar Realm. Like gazing upon the vastness of a dark and infinite space, but realizing that your sentience allows you to appreciate such things. It makes you feel both small and grandiose at the same time. For those who like majestic and epic Black Metal, please check this album out. You will not be disappointed.

I've been listening to this album for quite some time on YouTube now, and I knew the time had come that I owned it for myself. Compendium Reliquiae by DIM is just an amazing, beautiful album. I genuinely cannot describe it in any way that does it justice. It is like you are exploring old ruins, contemplating the finite mortal coils, and what came before you. It is ambient, relaxing, and contemplative. Please give this album a listen.

The Rising of the King Arthur by Soltri is honestly one of the few DS albums that can rightly be called "Fairytale Synth". Each song is similar yet stands out on its own. The combination of flutes and lutes (or some other kind of strings) gives it a lofty air of chivalry, adventure, and the lights of old legends long passed. I found out about this album on YouTube beforehand, and I knew that I had to buy it.

I am very thankful and lucky to have gotten this album for free from a code that Windspell gave out. I actually discovered Wilderness Sanctuary on YouTube, and I immediately fell in love with it! It, like nature, is at time bright and cheery, and other times dark and mysterious. A sense of nostalgia and stoicism also seeps through this album. Although Wilderness Sanctuary is listed as "Comfy Synth", I think it works as a normal DS album just fine. I look forward to more from Windspell!

This is THE Dungeon Synth album that lead me down the amazing rabbit hole for this music genre! The fact that it got a remaster is proof that the DS community is the best one out there. "The Black Gate Opens" is one of the most iconic DS songs out there, and this album, as well as any album by Kirkwood is perfect for those who are just getting into DS. I can't wait for the rest of Kirkwood's albums to get this same remaster treatment!

This album is just absolutely beautiful. The emotions and feelings that it invokes cannot genuinely be put into proper words. There is a Wandervögel in all of us, waiting to break from from this grey, modern world that is totally devoid of life. This album speaks to those who truly take in life, and enjoy it to its fullest, with a strong connection to nature and tradition. This album actually almost brought me to tears. Wandervögel is the absolute perfect blend of Alpine Synth and Neofolk.

Devoured By The Oak easily just became one of my favorite Epic/Atmospheric Black Metal albums. The clean vocals and screams are done with such emotions, and the riffs ooze nostalgia and melancholy. I am also a big fan of the female singer featured on a few of the songs. This album cannot be missed if you like anything majestic and atmospheric in the realm of Black Metal.

It is genuinely hard to choose a favorite song on this album. Each one is atmospheric and dark. But that is exactly what I love. This compilation shows the darker side of Alpine Synth. On par with other Alpine-themed bands such as Sturmpercht, Wilder Mann brings a dark, cold, and lonely compilation that is sure to freeze you to your bones.

Just like Almhütte I, this absolutely oozes "Alpine Synth". Wilder Mann (and Reifenstein as a whole) is who I would consider the pure, perfect pioneer of Alpine Synth, a subgenre that I think could sorely use more love and attention. These songs take you to high peaks, where you see the world move on, all while existing in a spiritual limbo. I cannot recommend enough. Please support this good artist.

This album is dark, eerie, and droning. It's different in tone and structure comparative to Wilder Mann's other albums, but still it receives the rightful title of "Alpine Synth". I like Waldgeist a lot because it shows more of the "Sturm und Drang" of the Alps. Its droning tones make it perfect for more passive listening, rather than active listening. Overall, I highly recommend if you're into Dungeon Synth music that is more ambient.

The defining album of a subgenre that I would refer to as "Romantic Black Metal". Not Romantic in the sense of love, but in the artistic movement known as Romanticism. Each song carries an aesthetic that transports you into a cold, dark forest somewhere in 19th century Germany, where nostalgia, melancholy, and introspectiveness reign supreme. Give it a listen, it is a genuinely beautiful album.

Absolutely awesome Black Metal from Brazil! I am always impressed and awe-struck by what the Brazilian bands can do in the BM scene. Each song is powerful, brutal, yet atmospheric and full of sadness. It is genuinely hard to choose a singular favorite song. If you like bands like Lune and Imperium Dekandenz, you'll love Autrest.

The Force Of The Ancient Land is one of the essential Epic Black Metal albums out there. It's dark, but also sublime and majestic, beckoning to a magical land in the forgotten age of heroes. Each song blends perfectly into the other, which makes the entire album almost sound like one giant piece. While lacking a bit on the lyrical side in my opinion, I believe that the instrumentals absolutely carry the album to its deserved glory. 10/10

Alpine Black Magick is a great atmospheric EP. Just as the titel suggests, it's dark, mysterious, and brooding. It carries the aesthetic of ancient esoteric secrets and heroic adventures, hidden deep in misty mountains and forests, waiting to be discovered. Overall, it's a great album that really captures that DS feeling.