Dolorous Gard

Malfet
Pacific Threnodies
General | Oct 2023

Reviews

HYPRK
Reviewed 2023-11-10
Self-described “pastoral dungeon synth” from Atascadero, CA. Sweeping medieval-flavored instrumentals that have one foot in Middle Earth and the other in Arthurian legend (the title is a nod to the name of Sir Lancelot’s castle). Cinematic, with some really nice synthesizer melodies that fans of new age music will also enjoy. Pairs nicely with Fall weather. And yes, the artist performs live wearing a cloak and chainmail on a candle-lit stage. FCC Clean TRY: 4, 5, 8
RIYL: Hole Dweller, DIM, Fogweaver, Skyrim and/or renaissance fairs, pushing up your glasses when you make references to The Silmarillian, etc.

1. Epic, sweeping
2. Slow start with ringing bells. Thundering percussion
3. Edgy, dramatic, percussion-forward
*4. Triumphant with sweeping melodies. Great breakdown at the 3:40 mark into a nice lilt
*5. Delicate harpsichord intro. Gradually swells into a great orchestral fantasy piece
6. Lonesome, wandering
7. Eerie, floaty, mysty
*8. Galloping with an awesome harp melody and sweet strings
9. Flutey, fairy tale like, a little Celtic
10. Epic, harp-led
11. Gentle finale. Features a sample from LOTR of Gandalf’s speech about the afterlife

Recent airplay

Ride for Ruin
To Assail the Thresholds of Woe
Molly Enthroned
Music CasseroleDec 30, 2023
To Assail the Thresholds of Woe
Music CasseroleNov 25, 2023
Bifröst Ascend
Virtually HappyNov 20, 2023

Charting

2023-11-09 — 2024-01-11
Week EndingAirplays
Dec 31 1
Nov 26 2

Track listing

1. Meadow of Shattered Lances
2. The Perilous Beauty of Loss
3. Ride for Ruin
4. To Assail the Thresholds of Woe
5. Half-Sick of Shadows
6. The Tomb Which Bore His Name
7. Dolorous Gard (The Dungeon-Tower)
8. Gardens of Delight
9. Bifröst Ascend
10. So Short a Season
11. Molly Enthroned