Faydark’s Lost Empires is Dungeon Synth straight from Columbus via Springfield, Ohio’s Dungeon Synth label Dungeon Deep Records. I don’t know why I was sent Faydark instead of VM.
True Norwegian Black Metal’s author Pete Beste ordered Faydark from Dungeon Deep…
Perhaps Faydark is the Dungeon Deep hit. Dungeon Synth is a genre which I’d like to call Adult Contemporary Black Metal. Dungeon Synth replaces guitars, and screaming with synthesizers.
It isn’t quite that easy to compare dungeon synth with fusion jazz Weather Report or hardcore post-punk turned house deejays. Dungeon Synth orgins are 90’s Black Metal.
Mortiis of Emperor liked Klaus Shulze, early Pink Floyd and German electronic music. Mortis started in metal as a fan of W.A.S.P. with a love of porn star Samantha Fox. I would call Tangerine Dream a maturation from Blackie Lawless. I won’t slut shame Samantha Fox. He wasn’t super technical so electronic music fit his skill set.
Mortiis realized synthesizers could make occult sounds. Mortiis wore a mask where Mortis looked as if he was from a medieval glockenspiel. Varg Vikernes from Burzum found similar applications of electronics. Varg from Burzum was a European neo-nazi who was known for burning down churches. Norwegian Black Metal is complicated. We all denounce Nazism. In 2010, a pagan cultural anthropologist allowed an understanding Varg Vikeness wasn’t someone you should emulate even if you like his songs or bizarre look.
I had a discussion last week with someone wearing a DarkThrone shirt. We agreed ICE enforcing the genocide of Palestinians, and demonization of immigrants, and real nazis existing eliminate analyzing National Socialist Black Metal as a cultural study into European paganism.
2025 Dungeon Synth’s Faydark’s black Metal band was 2005 Prosanctus Inferi. Prosanctus Inferi last release was in 2020. Neither Faydark, and Prosanctus Inferi are NSBM. I’ve known Jake from Prosanctus Inferi for years.
Prosanctus Inferi. Jake isn’t nazi even though Prosanctus Inferi found respect from Black Metal Purists. From Prosanctus Inferi, I learned that Black Metal bands reject nazism by saying “We Aren’t Political. We Are Nihilists.” Nihilism implies a black metal band isn’t nazi.
From nihilist Black Metal I developed a dismissive conversation of right-wing politics. Hitler’s nazi empire were misguided idealists who placed political beliefs like nazism before a practical functioning ecosystem, economy and democracy. I believe this applies to MAGA Republicans.
For the sake of this review I should reveal Jake hasn’t ever even come close to sounding like a bigoted buffoon. Jake engages intelligent conversations with people of all races, and is friends with many leftist anarchists.
It’s really funny hearing someone denounce nazis while remaining in friendly, polite conversations which still need a result of anti-social nihilism aura for metal cultural reasons.
People like Burzum because Varg burned down churches. Metal doesn’t like religion. Metal is evil.
Nihilism implies while Metal does favor killing religious people. Nihilists don’t subscribe to the idea of why Varg wanted to murder Christians. Nihilism understands murdering people who believe in god is part of metal entertainment. A nihilist can understand a music culture without nazism.
Jake hasn’t said Christians or any religious people should be killed. In metal conversations killing religious people is valued. You can understand a form without becoming a bad parody.
Jake can play guitar. Jake was often called Columbus, Ohio’s best guitar player after Smitty from Dead Sea. I interviewed Jake for the Other Paper. I remember a gruesome death in the band.
Jake didn’t kill anyone like Varg. The story was depressing. I felt bad for Jake. We discussed the death of his friend with an understanding of its existence in a metal article. I had empathy. I still feel for Jake.
In 2025, Dungeon Synth is alive in Columbus, Ohio with Faydark. Lost Empires starts off with Myth Dranner which is 9 minute 24 second romp which feels like the glory of a majestic kingdom. Faydark doesn’t have lyrics.
Cormanthy sound ceremonial with a shimmering almost march. Shadowdale introduces a melody into an ubiquitous journey. Silverymoon is the shortest Faydark song clocking in at 7 minute and 6 seconds with a finality like you saved the queen in the video game. While you know you accomplish your task. Once you won…..you’ve won.
The desolate feeling of the hours spent fighting Engels minions, astroids, and Don Flamenco while your friends were sniffing toxic household fluids, and watching reality tv. You know why your won. You studied HP Lovercraft, Tao te Ching, and Admiral Ackbar for this conquest. I wouldn’t call the thrill of victory bittersweet. Ubermensch is apt.
The credit’s roll. You’ve matured where many haven’t. Faydark is easily the elite Dungeon Synth of our Village of Columbus.
