Umbra Vulgaris

02/09/2022

The Anser Flare CD-R's. A handful of advance copies still available

02/09/2022

Digitals of Anser Flare's "Gnosis" now available on Bandcamp.

6 track album

02/09/2022

Today is Bandcamp Friday, where Bandcamp waives their revenue share. As always, our digital discography is 75% off https://umbravulgaris.bandcamp.com/

Dark atmospheric music since 2021

01/08/2022

Madrigals will be back on Spotify/streaming soon. Click the link to pre-save! Anser Flare will be available on Bandcamp 9/9 and streaming services 9/30. https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/madrigals/fallen-3

Stream and Save Fallen - Distributed by DistroKid

01/08/2022

A hearty shoutout to Moonlight Betrothed for keeping the reviews on this site to the original black metal/dark ambient theme. Meanwhile, I have gotten increasingly bored of writing about metal. This is an enduring problem of mine when engaging with metal communities; the degree of "loyalty" that is expected can be a little bit over the top. Metal is very important to me, but I am not going to ignore other music in some quest to be pure or "true." …...

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/08/01/album-review-electric-light-orchestra-secret-messages-1983/

A hearty shoutout to Moonlight Betrothed for keeping the reviews on this site to the original black metal/dark ambient theme. Meanwhile, I have gotten increasingly bored of writing about metal. Thi…

17/07/2022

https://anserflare.bandcamp.com/
Bandcamp page for Lupaus' solo project Anser Flare.

16/07/2022

This week I wanted to branch out from reviewing black metal and DS, if only slightly. Fallen were a short-lived funeral doom band from Norway. (Though listed as "on hold," their guitarist Christian Loos passed away in 2006, and A Tragedy's Bitter End remains their only full-length album. Some of the former members are still active in the Norwegian doom band…...

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/07/16/album-review-fallen-fallen-2015/

This week I wanted to branch out from reviewing black metal and DS, if only slightly. Fallen were a short-lived funeral doom band from Norway. (Though listed as “on hold,” their guitari…

03/07/2022

Since Umbra Vulgaris began, I've listened to a lot of Dungeon Synth and its similar styles. Winding the clocks back about two years, I was really only familiar with Era I Mortiis, Burzum, Summoning, and a tiny bit of Fief. I would have never expected the variety of different sounds present in the genre. This list ranges from "classic" DS to adjacent styles....

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/07/03/top-10-dungeon-synth-releases/

Since Umbra Vulgaris began, I’ve listened to a lot of Dungeon Synth and its similar styles. Winding the clocks back about two years, I was really only familiar with Era I Mortiis, Burzum, Sum…

20/06/2022

Katatonia fans can be split very roughly into two camps: people who mostly admire their early blackened-death-doom work, and those who enjoyed the band's evolution to goth and doom-laden prog-rock sound. Among the first group, it's common to hear Brave Murder Day touted as their best; the second will probably name The Great Cold Distance as it is accessible while remaining gloomy and even hauntingly beautiful....

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/06/20/album-review-katatonia-viva-emptiness-2003/

Katatonia fans can be split very roughly into two camps: people who mostly admire their early blackened-death-doom work, and those who enjoyed the band’s evolution to goth and doom-laden prog…

08/06/2022

Bloodlet Throne is the solo black metal project of Malacath (also the brains behind Winterfell and Xanthos). His sound features influences ranging from the typical second-wave set, to DSBM like Drowning the Light and Xasthur. Sovngarde features eight original songs and a cover of Burzum's "War." Dungeon-synth elements are evident on the intro and spoken word closer, but generally the album doesn't rely on synthesizers....

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/06/08/album-review-bloodlet-throne-sovngarde-2022/

Bloodlet Throne is the solo black metal project of Malacath (also the brains behind Winterfell and Xanthos). His sound features influences ranging from the typical second-wave set, to DSBM like Dro…

06/06/2022

The next cassette release on Umbra will be Fenrir's Haze. Fenrir is the black metal/dark ambient project of Massachusetts-based musician Scumfrost. For me the novelty of dungeon synth wore off nearly a year ago. A member of Dungeon Synth Cult posts monthly lists of every release, lately noting that the overall volume has decreased. That may be, but it's still well over one hundred new albums/EPs/comps every month....

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/06/06/branching-out-monday-morning-ramble/

The next cassette release on Umbra will be Fenrir’s Haze. Fenrir is the black metal/dark ambient project of Massachusetts-based musician Scumfrost. For me the novelty of dungeon synth wore of…

02/06/2022

Through June 30th use code SYLVAN to get 25% off the bundle. Two CD's and a tape of your choice while copies are still available.

Forest Synth Bundle from Umbra Vulgaris Records

28/05/2022

Forest Synth Bundle now available on Bandcamp.

07/05/2022

The spring Umbra releases are out today. One of them in particular is a new project of mine called Deabruen. The other member of the band is my good friend Azeyrn, who is more commonly known to the dungeon-synth scene as Narbaiz. He is a remarkably talented musician and writer of lore. This is what fueled our collaboration on Deabruen, working to write an ongoing story of a man and his inner demons....

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/05/06/forthcoming-collaborations/

The spring Umbra releases are out today. One of them in particular is a new project of mine called Deabruen. The other member of the band is my good friend Azeyrn, who is more commonly known to the…

06/05/2022

28/04/2022

Hi everyone! (Update 4/29)
Madrigals - Fallen cassettes are scheduled tentatively to arrive on time for May 6. Shipping can't really be predicted nowadays. 30 copies available, PM to pre order. Remaining copies will be sold through B/C.

https://umbravulgaris.bandcamp.com/album/fallen

4 track album

15/04/2022

In January 2022 I started a collaboration with another DS musician. It was going to be a side project but over time the process of crafting songs and a story became my primary musical focus. Deabruen (Basque for devilish or of the devil) is the project of vocalist/composer Azeyrn and myself, combining Burzumesque synthesizers with a spoken word narrative. The story is still developing, but will focus on a lost soul trying to regain hope, sanity and find inner peace....

http://umbravulgaris.com/2022/04/15/deabruen-specter-of-a-moonless-night/

In January 2022 I started a collaboration with another DS musician. It was going to be a side project but over time the process of crafting songs and a story became my primary musical focus. Deabru…

03/04/2022

The idea for Umbra Vulgaris came about in late December 2020. The intention was not to start a label in the proper sense, but to claim ownership of my music and distribute some tapes or CDs without outside influence – at the time, recording early material as Madrigals...

The idea for Umbra Vulgaris came about in late December 2020. The intention was not to start a label in the proper sense, but to claim ownership of my music and distribute some tapes or CDs without…

03/04/2022

Official website/blog under construction
https://umbravulgaris.com/

shades of dark ambient...

25/03/2022

All the places you can find us and get in touch.

Ambient & dungeon synth label since 2021

23/03/2022

Madrigals 'Fallen' EP reissue artwork- arriving May 6 alongside our other spring items

18/03/2022

In preparation for our spring releases... Free digital download codes for anyone who wants them, tapes are reduced price and come with a bonus item. Cheers

14/03/2022

update:
A free compilation will be out in May, featuring material from the previous year by friends in the DS/dark ambient community including .aztia , .music , and more.

Madrigals' Fallen reissue also arrives in May.

Working to have a predictable schedule and release material together 3x a year, whether tapes or digital. Tentative forecast is spring releases (May), late summer, and midwinter. Stay tuned!

12/03/2022

Anything Bandcamp lets us keep from digital sales of this split will go to Red Cross UA. Thanks to everyone who has supported the release so far.

5 track album

10/03/2022

Price drop on the newest tape, link in comments. There's also a funny typo in the track listing which Narbaiz alerted me to. "Order of Nature's Gardens" S/B "Order of the Guardians of Nature" (Izadiaren Zaindarien Agindua)

08/03/2022

Follow Madrigals on Spotify! The split with Narbaiz will be available for streaming soon, along with great DS/BM playlists.

Artist · 40 monthly listeners.

04/03/2022

Happy Bandcamp Friday!
More codes for the Madrigals/Sylvanum split.
Any tape sales until Saturday are being donated to UA Red Cross.

27/02/2022

"Fallen" will be re-released on cassette in May

"From whimsical percussion to layers of soothing synth chops, ‘Fallen’ is a mesmerizing album that exemplifies gothic undertones and a knack for catchy rhyth...

19/02/2022

Side A: Narbaiz - The Unreachable Tower
Side B: Narbaiz & Madrigals - Two Is Company

released February 18th 2022
artwork by Inigo Gil

17/02/2022

The Unreachable Tower / Two is Company by Narbaiz & Madrigals available on cassette and digital February 18th. Very limited supply on white cassette shell, with original artwork by Narbaiz.

Copies shipped to Umbra will arrive in the US tomorrow night!

14 track album

09/01/2022

09/01/2022

09/01/2022

Madrigals & Sylvanum - Withering Hymns

released December 3 2021