‘Brogvar & Wyrgan's Quest for the Basilisk Horn’ by Pauldron
‘Brogvar and Wyrgan's Quest for the Basilisk Horn’ by Pauldron
Pauldron is a dungeon synth artist who leans more into a narrative structure than others I have encountered. While others might focus on capturing a mood or setting, the Norwegian RPG-oriented project focuses on a world built around sentient lizards, cults, and heroic quests with albums like 2022’s Secret of Scales and Talons and 2023’s Under a Reptilian Moon. Pauldron’s latest release, Brogvar and Wyrgan's Quest for the Basilisk Horn, shares on Bandcamp that it follows, “Lizard mercenaries Brogvar and Wyrgan are hired by the power-hungry swamp king to collect the basilisk horn – a legendary ancient artifact that grants unimaginable powers of dark magic.” Though that seems too specific for an album that uses no lyrics, it’s surprising how much of that narrative Pauldron can capture through creative synth work.
The opening “Deep Marshland” uses sound effects expertly woven into the synth soundscape to mimic the sensation of entering a deep swamp. The song is dynamic enough to evoke the feeling of entering a place and observing various features - hence the swampier synth mixes with moments of more reflective, mesmerized chords. The only thing missing would be some splashing sound effects, and it would take me right back to traversing the Southern Swamp in Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.
“On the Prowl” continues to evoke a solid narrative through only sonic means. The sensation of pressure is achieved through sharp drum beats and strange harpsichord syncopations. It also adds a component of creeping through waves of marimba and birds squawking. “In the Halls of the Corrupted Swamp King” mimics some first-level dungeon-crawling music, and it’s excellent. Sinister synth dances over plucking, quick electric drums. I imagine Brogvar and Wyrgan have fought their way through a mighty fortress to find themselves at the feet of the Swamp King. While using similar motifs in the previous swampy songs, this track creates a foreboding yet regal atmosphere.
Paulron then lets the narrative take off from these opening tracks with “Endless Wandering” and “A Wild Beast Appears.” These tracks use more choral and wandering synths while employing steady beats to evoke the feeling of chance encounters and battles. It sets a great sensation of exploring an open landscape before “Sneaking Through the Wyverns' Nest” pushes the album to its central conflict. Between this song and “Traces in the Mud,” many similar tones and motifs reoccur from the earlier tracks around the Swamp King, yet Pauldron keeps a more mysterious and uneasy edge to each song. You feel the sensation of these lizard mercenaries stealthily infiltrating a strange, swampy land unknown to them. It evokes beauty through its ethereal synth work yet danger through its marching and stripped-back drums. These feelings then intertwine in “Pestered by the Bog Wraith,” creating a menacing mood while remaining subdued. It’s clear that Pauldron wants this to be a mini-boss moment.
With strong narrative pacing, Pauldron recreates your at-the-bonfire Dark Souls moments with the calming and tranquil “Fireflies in the Nightsky.” However, Pauldron doesn’t let this be a lazy song with just calm chords played over ambient noise. Instead, robust synth occurs to add layers of whimsy and more directed reflection. Brogvar and Wyrgan's Quest for the Basilisk Horn keeps things interesting with more dissonant and uneasy sections in “Into the Serpent's Lair” and “Glowing Eyes Watch Every Move.” The ladder alongside “Snatch the Horn'' even features light distortion on guitars and drums with various tempo changes to mimic the anxiety of passing through a challenging dungeon filled with traps and enemies. After the rapid chaos of the crescendo of the previous song, “A Newfound Power'' closes the album with fanfare and marching drums of triumph and glory.
Brogvar and Wyrgan's Quest for the Basilisk Horn is not just a collection of tracks, but a cohesive narrative that immerses the listener in a fantastical, reptilian world. Pauldron’s ability to guide the listener through a classic RPG story without using lyrics is truly remarkable. The album's immersive nature and narrative progression leave us eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Pauldron's world, a testament to the power of music to transport and engage.
You can follow Pauldron on Bandcamp, Instagram, and Facebook.
