Sometimes I come across music recommended to me on Bandcamp and I will end up checking it out and usually reviewing it. This was one of the few times I did not know what I was going to expect based on a band’s description. Mexico’s Dismal Symphonia is a project that is hard to truly classify but is tagged under fantasy ambient, symphonic black metal and dungeon synth. Now going into this, I only knew what symphonic black metal was reading these tags but after listening to this album, I can see where these tags and labels came from.
Not much can be found about Dismal Symphonia but it seems that Narn e’ Rach Morgoth is the debut full length from the solo project from Chihuahua, Mexico. The album is fourteen tracks of epic piano work and percussion that dance together and intertwine majestically. The album is about the life of Turin, son of Húrin. Each song represents a moment that changed his life until his death. The epic fantasy and battle elements are a heavily present theme that is felt throughout the duration of the album. Tracks like Death Came From Anfauglith (Lalaith’s Song) and the four parts of The Tale of the Dragon Helm show this epic tale unfold with the beautifully written synths and pounding percussion work. The track The End of the Black Sword is my personal favorite as there is spoken vocals around the middle of this track that give some story narrative which stands out most from all other tracks.
All and all, I’m glad I stumbled across this. It may not be straight forward “metal” with guitars and vocals but it has that vibe that makes it fit in perfectly with anyone who loves Bathory and Diabolical Masquerade. This whole album could be the perfect soundtrack to an epic fantasy movie or game and still captivate any metal fan. If you are a fan of epic battles, perfectly crafted tales and legends and beautiful melodies, then this album is for you. ¡Auta i lómë!
Overall Score: 9.0/10
Review by Neil Andersen
