Nachtjäger comes to AMR with their debut full-length release following the success of the “Night Hunters” and “Fallen Winter Kingdom” E.P.s. The Eternal Traveler is an exemplary display of dark ambient composition skill and sonic storytelling that takes the listener on a three-part journey following a lost soul’s journey across a cold, blue-black soundscape. Excellent atmosphere–this album is superb, put simply.
Released by Ancient Meadow Records. Professionally duplicated limited edition cassette with black and white j-card and cassette sticker
Limited to 100 copies out on Ancient Meadow Records
It’s a tranquil Sunday afternoon and I’ve decided to take a little time to catch up on some reading, as well as to focus on my next Dungeon Synth review. Since I love to listen to music while I read, I put on ‘The Eternal Traveler’ by Nachtjäger. It was the perfect arrangement, as the somber vibes emitted from this album played in to the harrowing novel that I was reading. This near seventy minute opus consists of eleven tracks that range in a myriad of synth varieties, albeit remaining steadfast in the realm of Dungeon Synth. The result is an amazing adventure through bleak – but alluring – domains, with minimalistic modulations and calming synth leads. “My Watchtower In The Darkness” commences with a darkened intonation that would be fitting for a Medieval crusade. Slightly grim, yet composed in a way that exudes strife and victory. With a dirge-like cadence, this is such an emotional song to kick things off. “Crystalline Caverns” is one of my favorite songs on the album with its eerie vibe and haunting ambience that is detailed throughout. Limpid synth leads establishes a transparent connection with the layers of bleak atmospherics, causing a ritualistic effect. “Traveling On Spectral Vessels” once again changes the vibe of the album, giving off a lighthearted appeal that is enough to sooth a savage beast. Well written, there is a plethora of melodic parts and they are woven together seamlessly in an orchestral fashion. “Woodland Sanctuary” is a chilling abode with minimalistic drones and sparse synth leads. However, this approach is extremely effective, especially with creating an emotional sound of theatrical proportions. “Insights Born From Ashes” again alters the audial course and gives forth a Renaissance-era anthem with gothic undertones and slightly reverberated keys. “Lost Scripts Of Old” is an enticing piece that includes a psychedelic vibe and clean synth leads that are reminiscent of the Comfy Synth sub-genre. There are several layers of keys that create a delicate harmony and the outcome is quite mesmerizing. “Ancestral Homelands” takes us back to a darker sound, almost emitting a Black Metal-style song introduction. However, whimsical effects elicit a funereal vibe and concludes with a buildup of synth leads that has a massive sound. “Winds Tell Of A Dying Age” is constructed like a saddened symphony, with a reluctant pace and a passionate arrangement that is redolent of somber times and post-war struggles. Without a doubt, this is the most elegant track on the album and another of my personal favorites. “Astral Signs In The Northsky” is a besieging song that combines many elements of ambient music and Dungeon Synth variants. The slow climb and descent of the musical scale is fused with eccentric synth effects, producing a slightly lurid sound that ends rather abruptly. “Heralds Of The New Dawn” is a dreamy little dirge with retrospective effects and a heartfelt arrangement that combines rhythmic tones and atmospheric expression. The final track on the album is a majestic masterpiece. “Transcendental Relics” is a twenty three and a half minute long treasure that integrates soothing ambience and elongated synth tones is an epic symphonic composition. There are bits of synthwave, orchestral arrangements, and obscure melodies throughout that definitely keep this long player interesting and most of all, relevant to the theme of the rest of the album. With a substantial amount of reverb, this song sounds really thick and quixotic, demanding multiple listens with it’s addictive appeal. This is my favorite song on ‘The Eternal Traveller’ and such a beautiful way to finalize this exhilarating album. Nachtjäger has successfully produced an amazing Dungeon Synth experience with ‘The Eternal Traveller’. With tracks that transfer the lister to majestic dimensions of castles, Medieval setting and mystical elegance, this album is a spectacle of synth amazement that resists genre tags and symbolizes musical growth in the community. If you’ve not heard this album, I highly recommend checking it out and please support the artist by downloading it from the link below.
A lost souls journey in three acts
Part I - Wanderer of Unknown Lands
Endless battles had I fought
Yet never found redemption
My castle was my refuge
Staring into the endless night
Solitude was never to be found
So I went on an unending journey
Through the wastelands of time
Within deep dark dungeons
Under the starlit sky
Crossing rivers long forgotten
Into lands where no one dwelled
Deserted realms without a king
The cosmic void enfolds
Becoming a sanctuary to me
Here I burn forever
Wisdom born into light
Part II - Remnants of Lore Long Lost
I traded my weapons
For parchment and quill
What once was
It must rise again
The key to the hidden gates
Knowledge of sun and moon
For this wisdom is life
Words never written
Unearthed from the dust of time
Many a man has surrendered
Loosing mind and body
To these revelations
Conquering death forever
A promise to the relentless man
I will not falter, will not fail
Ancient mastery awaits
Part III - Transcendental Relics
Knights in shining armor
Sorcerers older than time
They bow to elder spirits
They seek thee in eternity
No gold or silver will suffice
Only life eternal
Chaining them to catharsis
No absolution
No perpetual bliss
Repent! Repent!
Enlightenment yields insight
A forsaken relic of eternity
Become one with the universe
Bound to the soil of time
Leaving this mortal plane
Sample: https://nachtjaeger.bandcamp.c...
