A recent post on the /osr subreddit prompted me to delve into an my extensive and unfinished (as is often the case) collection of Dungeon Synth music, and, by extension, to this article. Dungeon Synth is a sub-genre that blends together electronic, dark ambient music, with more black / death / atmospheric metal elements, to create an (often) lo-fi sound, reminiscent of 80’s and 90’s video game soundtracks. Dungeon Synth evokes a broad range of themes of fantasy, nature, and history. Pen and Paper RPGs are actually often a direct source of inspiration for the artists and some albums are made specifically with TTRPGs in mind.
I fell in love with the genre some years back and it has been a steady companion of mine when working on or preparing games. I also often use Dungeon Synth albums as music in games I run. There has been no other music that I’ve found that can so well capture the feeling of what TTRPG, fantasy gaming feels like and evokes in me. From the more serene, Tolkienesque, nature-inspired sounds, through the tense, engrossing, even asphyxiating atmosphere of a slow dungeon crawl, to the dynamic, rushing, tempos of an intense battle or confrontation with a ferocious enemy. Dungeon Synth has it all. And there is so much to choose from and to dig through...
The aforementioned Reddit discussion led me to go through some of my collection on YouTube and put together a couple of playlists – one specifically for dungeons, one for a more Dark Sun inspired feeling and one for a general deposit, which I will share below.
Before that, I want to acknowledge the often shady, fencewalkery or outright racist or Neo-Nazi reputation some parts of the scene carry. In some cases, it is rightfully so, due to a strand of the origins of the genre. But it certainly is not the case for all, even the majority of Dungeon Synth music out there.
If you read my blog, you can probably guess that my personal political views stand at the absolute, outright opposite to that of fascism. I do my best not to support, let alone promote any product, release or artist that can be connected to the far-right. Then again I do not do a complete background check on every single piece of music I come across, and might not be infallible. That said here are some recommendations.
Distribution
Conocimiento Oculto zine
While you will find many different channels with tons and tons of music, this particular channel has become my personal favorite. Partially due to their political stance, but even more so for bringing up some absolute gems, that often go overlooked elsewhere. I mention a few below.
Artists
Gnoll // Kobold // Dunjon Magik
I group these three together as they come from the same DIY label, and hell might even be the project of the same people. Don’t know. What I know is that they are the absolute top music for any OSR game. Hell, their albums even have the OSR logo. I got to know them through Conocimiento and could not be happier.
In general, the whole Heimat der Katastrophe label has many other great titles. Worth a dig through and listen to.
Galdur // Ithildin
Galdur is my go-to for Tolkien-inspired Dungeon Synth. There are other really quality Tolkienesque artists out there, but Galdur has a certain melancholic, depth and color that just evokes the Silmarillion. Ithildin on the other hand, would be my go-to for the more whimsical side of Tolkiens' work.
Ashkahn // Battlespire
If you enjoy Elder Scrolls and, especially, the atmosphere of Morrowind, look no further. Let the sand of Vvardenfell and the ashes of the Red Mountain sweep you away.
Quest Master // Fief //Umbría
Whenever I’m looking for music I can use for any OSR session or something that will guarantee to take me to a place I want to be creative, anything from these three is a sure shot. Enchanted forests, old ruined keeps, adventures at the tip of a sword...
Errang
THE top when it comes to Dungeon Synth, which can gradate into that blood-rushing, intense, grand confrontation at the end of a dungeon or an adventure. Their work is truly extensive and are considered one of the heavy-weights of the genre.
And finally...
My playlists
A collection I use for dungeon crawls, but also generally for NSR / OSR games. Includes a few (dark) ambient pieces at the end.
I put this together for a desert, Dark-sun-inspired campaign I was running and I still enjoy it to this day. Again a few ambient pieces at the end
This is where I just put albums I come across and eventually listen to. There is no particular order to the albums. There are about 850 pieces there currently. At the moment I’m somewhere around 650. Feel free to go through it.
Hope you enjoy them.
If by any chance you find something in my recommendations or playlists that should not be in there, cause they are fascist shits, let me know please and I’ll remove them.
