Entry 751 - Sequestered Keep - The Vale of Ruined Towers

Style: Dungeon Synth

Primary Emotions/Themes: Taking a long walk through an unfamiliar woods only to stumble upon the ruins of a forgotten civilization and the exploration that ensues

Thoughts: I think dungeon synth is becoming a type of comfort food for me. It's the genre that I turn to when I need to feel warm and at home. Sequestered Keep is exactly what I needed at this moment, and listening to the Vale of Ruined Towers did not disappoint me in the slightest. 

I was speaking with one of my closest friends a few days ago. I was musing about how dungeon synth has largely taken the place of video game music in my collection. They both feel very similar, and both bring me back to that nostalgic feeling of when I was a kid. Dungeon synth just happens to hit that spot a bit more for me of late.

Sequestered Keep in particular has a way of composing their songs that hits right in to those nostalgia feels. Somehow this music brings me right back to middle school when I was playing a ton of computer RPG's. Those soundtracks have such an uncanny resemblance to this that it's kinda crazy. 

The compositions are simple yet completely full. Typically one melody will be playing with a full assortment of backing ambient keyboards. Sometimes a counter melody will play to go with the main melody of the song, but the overall execution remains exceptionally simple. 

The songs have a distinct renaissance feel to them. I can picture a merry bunch of folks dancing in period clothing to the music quite easily. The simplistic nature of the music too helps maintain this feeling, three to four minstrels playing at the local fair is an image that often gets conjured while listening.

Sequestered Keep is a project that I am rather new to. The flavor of dungeon synth is decidedly old school, often imitating the early to late ninety's material from the scene... before it even had a name. The end result though is the same, it brings me back to a time when I could spend hours upon hours playing Might and Magic, or Ultima, or the early Elder Scrolls games. It reminds me of simpler times.

Written March 31st 2024