Based out of Athens, Georgia, Rowland crafts an ongoing narrative for the Hobbit Jamwine, who decided to leave his home in Frogmorton with only a walking stick and a long pipe. 2024’s ‘Flies the Coop III’ continues Jamwine’s sonic story, although in a new manner. 

‘The Collector’ evokes a sense of wonder and enhancement through the mundane with simple, droning synths veiled beneath the sound of ethereal tides churring over and over. Through these calming songs, Witch Bolt creates a hopeful, reflective, and renewing album.

‘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.

Weress pulls on a fantastical aesthetic to weave fantasy and dungeon synth flawlessly inspired by the medieval-rich landscape of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in their latest release ‘Rêvasseries Chevaleresques’, a title that translates to “Knightly Daydreams” in English. 

Foglord simulates the essence of wandering the woods in meditation on a personal journey, which is exactly the atmosphere of ‘Hymns of the Winterlight’. The album creates an excellent environment to engage in relaxed, meditative thought. 

Mountain Realm, a dungeon synth project that I simply find fascinating, has bestowed upon listeners a gem of an album filled with fantasy, darkness, hope, and enigma. Where the music takes you is as much a mystery.