“I’d love to see an active live FLDS scene taking shape and growing entirely independent of my organization.”
While you may be hard-pressed to find a functional basement in Florida, the Sunshine State still has its fair share of underground goings-on. Our latest subterranean endeavor comes in the form of Florida Dungeon Fest, an aptly named gathering of spirits seeking the type of sonic bliss only certain strains of lo-fi synth can provide.
The two-day event unites over a dozen artists from across the country in celebration of all things dungeon synth, a sub-subgenre of electronic music with black metal roots tracing back to Norway’s Lords of Chaos days of the early 1990s. Guests of the Fest can expect tunes ranging from giddy to grim, with a heavy helping of nostalgia for good measure: Think Super Mario Bros supping at Medieval Times and you’re in the right castle. Collaboratively curated by Austin-based label Engraven Records and locals Spark Booking Collective, the lineup features a gauntletful of artists from the Texas synth elite.
Among the Lone Star Statesman of the fantasy-themed festival is the endlessly charming Assorted Potions, helmed by one known only as “The Threadmage.” The sounds in stock from this act are top-shelf storytelling goods sure to set imaginations ablaze. Fellow Austinite Lost Tales take a page from the classic DS style with warm ‘n’ warbly synth for the sentimental, while Goblet Grotto‘s chalice-tipping chiptunes offer a cozy toast to break up the standard fare.
Enough messin’ with Texas (for now): Comfy synth heads will rest easier to the soothing sounds of Tennessee’s Spife, while Philly’s Shadow Knell take a break from their day job in Poison Ruïn to enchant us with a mystical slice of dark ambience by way of dungeon synth.
Save a “hails” for Hillsfar (a wizard from who-knows-where) and your mystical maestro Maalthir will return the favor with a serving of “adventure synthesizer musick” — aka old-school DS done damn well. While you’re at it, lend a listen to New York’s Hermit Knight if you’re in the market for a somber serving of “emotional fantasy synth music” to tickle your forlorn fancies.
And now, in conversation with the dungeon masters of Spark Booking and Engraven Records, we raise the curtain for a peek at the approaching Fest and the future of dungeon synth in Florida.
Orlando Weekly: How did the Fest originate?
Engraven Records: Dungeon synth pulls from many realms — metal, fantasy, horror, medievalism, DIY, video games, and even new age, ambient and industrial music — for which Florida seems like a strong nexus point. Some places need to have live DS explained to them; I think Florida is going to take naturally to it.
I’d been wanting to set something up [here] for a while and saw Chris (of the band Angmaar) posting online about wanting to do the same thing, so I reached out to see what he had in mind and he put me in touch with Zeke (of Spark Booking), who would be our promoter with local ties to Central Florida live music while I spread the word in the greater DS community.
There is already an excellent Southeast Dungeon Scourge series of shows that technically would regionally encompass Florida, but there had yet to be anything in the state itself. I was interested in homing in specifically on Central Florida. So FDF is a smaller festival focused on bringing people with similar interests in this area together and jump-starting a local FLDS scene.
Zeke/Spark Booking: Throughout the years I’ve been helping to promote events, I’ve always tried to embrace the niche and unusual. Dungeon synth is exactly that — and it’s also something I haven’t worked with before. That’s intriguing to me as a musician, and also because it poses unique challenges in the booking process. When Chris (Angmaar) reached out to form the bridge between Engraven Records and myself, I was more than thrilled about it. The Fest came about naturally as we spoke and exchanged knowledge, agreeing that Orlando/Central Florida would be more than accepting to the atmosphere and musical stylings of the DS scene as a whole.
How were the artists selected, and by whom?
ER: Artists were selected from those I’d worked with for last year’s Texas Dungeon Siege or other DS shows I’ve organized in Texas. I started with Florida and worked my way out from there on the map, inviting those who lived in the nearest states first to play. There aren’t as many live DS acts from the Southeast yet as there are from the other regions so, by the last few spots on the bill, I’d worked all the way out to some of the Great Lakes- and Northeast-located artists. I was thrilled to discover two new artists during the process, Angmaar in Orlando and Vorlauf in the Pinellas area, to represent Central Florida.
How does a DS festival differ from other music shows you’ve booked?
ER: The community [is] refreshingly welcoming and supportive, and everyone either already has their own DS project or is only one step away from starting one. It’s like everyone is both a friend and a collaborator. And because the idea of [DS] as a live genre is still somewhat nascent, there aren’t any preconceptions or precedents set for what exactly “live DS” is or how it should be played, so we’re getting to see it develop in real time and be interpreted in a lot of different ways.
As an artist, it’s extremely fulfilling and exciting to be a part of something unique and be carving out new creative ground. As a fan, it’s awesome to get to watch so many talented friends keep pushing the limits of what we’re doing and, in turn, keep inspiring me to challenge myself and push towards even more immersive, captivating performances.
What is your goal for this fest and the future of DS in Florida?
ER: To inspire the formation of more live FLDS acts and kickstart the booking of more DS artists and shows in Florida. I have roots in Florida, family currently living there, and a lot of love for the state. I’d love to keep coming back to make FDF an annual thing, especially situated at this winter spot in the calendar where these types of events aren’t ideal in most other regions of the country. More importantly, I’d love to see an active live FLDS scene taking shape and growing entirely independent of my organization in the months between Fests.
There you have it, swordsfolk and sorcerers. Now if you are brave of heart, dust off your D&D gear, check your chainmail and click here for a rare interview with Florida Dungeon Fest headliner and mysterious Virginia-based synth mage Vaelastrasz.
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This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2025.