 |
| So Called Hell, 2020 |
This is a ritual.”
Never had I thought about the threatening character of a flute before. Throughout my adventures in Dungeon Synth, it has dominantly positioned itself as a gentle entity; mysterious but kind. Thankfully, Hasufel shows us a much more vile and direct interpretation of the instrument. One that has more in common with a soaring whip, than it does with a summer breeze.
The statement above underlines the active character that is found within Lamentations Of The Foul High Priest. The record does not stand still. It does not approach atmosphere in its conventional sense. Rather, it actively impels a feeling of urgency. Where others use the term ‘ritual’ or ‘evocation’ as a signifier that they are of the same crowd as their contemporaries, Hasufel takes these terms and turns them into an actual experience. One that is focussed, and takes over the room as the main point of interest. In other words: Hasufel’s debut does not evoke another world, it evokes the act of evocation.
It is precisely this lack of a means to an end that makes Lamentations Of The Foul High Priest such an interesting release, as it is in sharp contrast to the dominant idea that Dungeon Synth is a vehicle to explore whatever is out there, or within oneself. In a way, its dynamic character urges the listener to experience what is going on; giving no time to drift off, as there is nothing to drift off to.
TL;DR: A vile yet intriguing interpretation of what Dungeon Synth can be, advocating an active attitude against a more passive one.
Hasufel on Bandcamp
