It’s with dungeon synth that I’ve always had an interest in but I rarely visit it simply because it’s one of those styles that I really have to be in a mood for the vast majority of the time, and when I talk about it I want it to be something that really got me going. When I first peered into this release from Machina Coeli, it was really just the lengths of the songs that caught my interest but its the following performance that almost immediately earned my approval.

I’m far from an expert about anything related to dungeon synth since I only very occasionally dive into the style, but seeing a fourteen-minute track from this style really caught me off guard and I truly do hope it’s not an uncommon thing since it’s definitely something I wouldn’t mind more of! The first track “Lure of the Forgotten Lake” presents to us is just four minutes long as serves as a nice introduction more than anything, and it’s in the two other tracks that the real meat lies as it’s in the over 30 minutes that they cover providing just about everything I could ask for out of a dungeon synth work that knows how to keep my attention. Machina Coeli could’ve easily broken up these lengthy pieces with there being plenty of moments of fading before another part gets going, but I actually prefer it this way since everything flows together incredibly well. “Lure of the Forgotten Lake” definitely benefits from having such long tracks because it embodies the spirit of dungeon synth all the more even as Machina Coeli clearly shows us the understanding of the style that’s at play here with such intrigue that it keeps you listening for the entirety that it’s going on for without breaking a single sweat in any scenario. The whole of this work has a great medieval feel to it and it permeates every note with such a great quality to boot it’s by the end of “Lure of the Forgotten Lake” that you’re left wanting more like I am.

Like I said, it’s not too often that I find myself wanting dungeon synth, but when I do it’s got to be something like this and if this is just a precursor as to what Machina Coeli can bring to the table then I think I’ve found myself a regular act that I may have to come crawling back to with each release. “Lure of the Forgotten Lake” has plenty to offer for anyone interested in the realm of dungeon synth, and I truly do hope to hear more from Machina Coeli before long.

LISTEN to “Lure of the Forgotten Lake” on Bandcamp here.