Sequestered Keep "Sorcerous Steel" (2022)

 

 

Its been five years since The Vale Of Ruined Towers, a Dungeon Synth adjacent release that I remember fondly for its its lush medieval fantasy direction, one similar to Fief. Sorcerous Steel has little in the way of surprise, having now unearthed these fruits from the niche scenes of bandcamp. Without a lick of darkness, the record peruses through the pleasantries of natures charms. Its got melodies to fill the meadows of a warm summers day, set a few hundred years back of course. Splendor gushes forth as each song gently drifts along rivers of cleansed historical imagination.

The five years of its creation don't amount to anything remarkable. Its arsenal of virtual instruments, pan flutes, trumpets, plucked harps and tambourine led percussion are brought forth crisp and clear. They harness the sweetest, most welcoming of melodies. The record is a constant wash of jovial notation and serine warmth forged from a fictional nostalgia of Medieval days that sweeps hardships out of sight.

These songs consistently dance in their own moment. Gradual progressions and structures emerge but the very nature of these joyous, spirited melodies keeps one locked in the present moment. Conjuring similar tones of bright monarchistic wonder, the riches of the day, the albums own progression too is just a series of moments. Each song fades out in a similar state to where it started and thus the whole project feels like background music for a setting, perhaps in a video game. This might sound negative but sometimes its exactly what you want. This is music for the background, something too sooth you with its purposely romanticized nostalgia.

Rating: 5/10

Sequestered Keep "The Vale Of Ruined Towers" (2017)

Continuing our dive into the mysterious, adventurous realms of Dungeon Synth we come across this praised release by an artist I was already familiar with. I have many of the previous records from the American composer known as Sequestered Keep, because they were free and plentiful. In a span of a few months they released a dozen albums onto bandcamp, all with a striking monochromatic covers of mythic castles, epic landscapes and darkly forests. Unfortunately I wrote the music off as being far to minimal and effortless, I got the impression it was more about the fantasy of Dungeon Synth than the music itself, minimal because it was put together hastily.

If that is true or not there is no doubting this new logo and introduction of color in the album art signifies a shift in quality. The majesty unfolds with a gleam of medieval fantasy and mystic imagination not far from the kin of Fief. With bright melodies reflecting playful adventures and carefree mischief The Vale Of Ruined Towers paints a rather warm and serine setting within the so often gloomy and decrepit micro genre. Playing into the fantasy side of its sound, a welcoming tone invites the listener in to stay in this carefree realm.

The aesthetics take on a bright, pronounced and glossy sound as luminous instruments in the form of harps, bells, horns and choral synths chime in tandem through compositions of layered melodies which often stack up to several layers, creating a colorful web of sound. Its held together by a constant but easily overlooked percussive line of steady hi hats and the meek shaking of a quiet tambourine without a kick or snare in sight to enforce any groove beyond keeping tempo. Its result is a colorful vision of glory from mystic realms of surreal natural beauty where kings and queens bestow their lands.

With a fairly consistent tone its scope may sound a little narrow as its song structures and musical progressions rarely break the mood and atmosphere of the instruments. It gives the whole album a stagnancy within a beautiful setting. When instruments fade, melodies shift and songs turn direction its as if it goes around in a circle. The record sets a fine tone and atmosphere for the specific mood but on closer inspection feels like it has the power to grow and expand yet the songs remain firmly in the same spot. A great record in some regards yet being familiar with this style It feels like the opertunity as passed to push it further.

Rating: 6/10