It’s on occasion that I like to take a quick step back from all the heavy music that I find myself immersed in more often than not, and go into something that’s far more mellow to calm my brain just a little and simply fall into something seamlessly. Dungeon synth is a style that, like ambient and noise, is one that I often fall back on to really turn my brain off and absorb whatever is thrown at me. It’s with the debut album from Wooded Memory that dungeon synth is given yet another chance for my ears, and despite lacking in a couple of areas, certainly delivered what I was looking for.

Seeing bands from my home state is always a nice thing to see no matter what style they belong to, and I can’t help but feel that Wooded Memory is one of the only dungeon synth acts we got that’s original to the state, but I’m likely to be wrong. That being said, I do it stays around for some time because there is loads of room for improvement with “Once…”, but it’s not far behind that Wooded Memory shows us that he can certainly create a listen that’s equal parts entrancing and relaxing. While the rhythms are repeated far too often for my liking, it’s each track that gives us a new flavor while not being quite as medieval, sinister or anything of the like as opposed to what plenty of others that I’ve heard in the world of dungeon synth. That doesn’t mean Wooded Memory has neglected such ideas in the creation of “Once…”, but rather this record feels more of an experience through portals of the past via ways of nature and crumbled ruins versus dark caverns with the dripping of water as an ominous anchor to reality. There’s a good dose of mysticism that’s spread well throughout “Once…” to keep you listening, and even though experience will serve as a massive help to future creations of Wooded Memory I’d be lying if I told you if I didn’t find enjoyment in the simplicity of this debut.

A solid beginning with room for improvement is far from anything to be ashamed of, and an act like this which feels like a real project of someone who has a sound they simply want to be heard almost can’t produce anything that should be dismissed immediately. “Once…” gives us a quick glimpse into what Wooded Memory is capable of, and I’ll be damn sure to come back to this act to see what evolution will occur. And who knows what’ll be born from that?

LISTEN to “Once…” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Wooded Memory on Facebook here.