Dungeon Synth is getting harder and harder to keep up with, as there seems to be a flood of new projects every week. Case in point, the Kentucky-based Dungeon Synth artist Witch Bolt first started putting music into the world in July of 2024, and in that time has released more than 10 albums/EPs (though, this may have been music they had recorded over a few years and just now decided to release). I barely had the time to take in the release of Witch Bolt’s autumnal album Howl in September, before being confronted with a new EP in November, The Peace of Wild Things. Despite just entering the Dungeon Synth scene this year, Witch Bolt seems to have arrived fully formed: not only is the music nuanced and expansive, the accompanying artwork is wonderful, complementing the work and helping to set the listener’s mind to wander. The color choice on each of the album covers is excellent, as is all of the artwork. Witch Bolt is fairly active on the r/DungeonSynth message board on Reddit, and it is from there that I learned that they do all of the artwork themselves. They clearly have a talent for graphical design!
In terms of musical style, Witch Bolt leans away from the adventurous and triumphant nature of some dungeon synth acts and instead focuses on calm, reverberating tones. It is the perfect soundtrack for sitting inside on a cold day, watching snow accumulate. The album art for The Peace of Wild Things features a tiny gnome in a tall pointed hat holding a torch and looking at a large crown lying on the ground. The accompanying album description on the Bandcamp page says this gnome is named Thistlebur. Thistlebur travels around and sketches pictures of his surroundings, helping to better illuminate the landscape. In his journeys he comes across a discarded human crown, which prompts him to reflect on the failures of mankind, along with the regenerating power of nature. This evocative album prompt, along with song titles like “The Unmapped Expanse” and “The Stars Unfold” help to portray a story to the listener as they sit with the album. The music on the album is a calming array of droning synths with slow repeating melodies. Some of the tones are reminiscent of brass horn instrumentation, but greatly subdued. This is somber, reflective music that encourages the listener to ponder things, just as Thistlebur was encouraged to ponder!
If you have any interest in calming ambient music, I suggest that you give Witch Bolt a listen!
Buy Witch Bolt’s music here.
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