Happy anniversary to LINE OF DURIN's dungeon synth album Ever Homeward (2022)!

According to The Metal Archives, Line of Durin is Tolkien-themed epic atmospheric black metal from California and Oregon in the United States. If you are a Tolkien fan, you may be interested in knowing that, according to internet sources, the band's name itself comes from the Royal Dwarven family. They are descendants of Durin the Deathless. Durin is one of the original Dwarves to be awakened by Aulë, and is the father of all dwarves. I mention these story details because I am not a Tolkien expert: I hope I got the story right. If not, I'm sorry, feel free to correct me, Tolkien fans.

The album is about the history of Durin's folk. To me, the music sounds like a soundtrack to the Lord of the Rings movies. There are tons of choirs, which I like a lot. It sounds like monks (or dwarves, would be more accurate, right?!) chanting; there is lots of synth, of course; there is a feel of folk and medieval imagined atmospherics. There is some black metal, but it is just one of several elements, given that this is not fast, furious black metal. Anyway, dungeon synth fans may like this album; and if you don't know what dungeon synth is, well, friend, today is the day. Today is the day! Let's go! (Or, rather, let's take a long, patient, meandering walk through the forest and mountains, and let's hope that no dragons attack us.)

Line of Durin

Ever Homeward

March 25, 2022

Eöl - Vocals, Vocals (choirs), Narration (tracks 8, 9), Bass, Bass clarinet, Recorder, Tin whistle, Keyboards

Zirak - Guitars, Guitars (acoustic), Vocals (choirs)

Telchar - Vocals, Narration (tracks 2, 4, 5, 7), Guitars, Guitars (acoustic), Cello, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals (choirs)

Mahal (02:17), Durin the Deathless (05:25), First Born's Caprice (00:49), Ered Luin (06:51), Oakenshield (04:45), Smaug the Terrible (03:40), Balin's Fated March (04:27), Ghostly Halls of Stone/Balin's Tomb (07:22), and Bane's End (08:49). Total time: 44:25.

Line of Durin - Ever Homeward