Waeltaja - Beholding The Ruins Of My Kingdom

Finnish dungeon synth project Waeltaja returns to a lost and desolate realm with Beholding The Ruins Of My Kingdom, a deeply melancholic journey through solitude, battle, death and the remnants of a kingdom already condemned to history.

Across four extended compositions, Waeltaja combines traditional dungeon synth with sweeping atmospheric textures, sombre medieval-inspired melodies and a stronger percussive presence. Rich layers of synthesiser create visions of ruined citadels, abandoned landscapes and vast starlit skies, while the slow development of each piece allows the atmosphere to unfold gradually.

There is also a narrative running through the album. A solitary warrior begins his journey towards a final destiny, eventually returning to the ruins of his kingdom and entering one last hopeless battle. Death follows beneath the stars, before the story closes with funeral pyres burning upon abandoned shores.

Melancholic and forlorn rather than triumphant, Beholding The Ruins Of My Kingdom captures the distinctive old-school spirit of dungeon synth while surrounding its medieval imagery with a cold, immersive ambient atmosphere.

Recommended for listeners of traditional dungeon synth, dark ambient and melancholic atmospheric synth, particularly Mortiis and Vinterriket.

Limited edition of 200 copies in a six-panel digipak CD.