Crossroads by Hole Dweller

If you're a fan of atmospheric black metal, you'll probably like Dungeon Synth music too. This niche subgenre typically features ominous electronic instrumentation to create a dark ambiance, shrouded in the subversive aesthetics of black metal. But what happens when you subvert the subversive?

Hole Dweller's newest EP Crossroads builds on the high fantasy themes often present in Dungeon Synth, incorporating a Lord of the Rings-inspired sound. But while other metal bands reference Tolkien's fiery pits of Mordor and barbaric gangs of orcs, Hole Dweller resides in the quaint western lands of Middle Earth, among the rolling green hills of the Shire. Instead of clanging industrial noise and tortured Nazgul shrieks, Crossroads presents charming lo-fi midi tones in a folksy yet complex arrangement. This halfling-sized EP winds through the small town of Hobbiton and over the Brandywine river, before reaching its apex at the Battle at High Hay. The final Reprisal is the most melancholic track on this release, introducing a sense of unease as our band of travelers prepares to leave the safety of the Shire for good, perhaps never to return. The road goes ever on and on. 

This endearing EP may not sound like your typical Dungeon Synth release. There are no sonic allusions to burning churches or viking raids or the black plague. But by incorporating a quasi-Celtic folk metal sound into this quaint electronic composition, Hole Dweller invokes a sense of nostalgia for a world that never existed. Crossroads is just the right amount of excitement and adventure for any homesick Hobbits.

-Kalen