Hello fellow Hermits, and welcome to the ninth ritual of Hermit Rites! I’ve got some of the usual suspects here in a long list of music that I listened to, as well as some reviews of some of those albums, but there are a few here that, genre-wise, are eyebrow raising. There is also a new interview with the amazing synth artist Ziri! She’s been slowly building a name for herself in the synth community and is killing it. I also have included a small selection of photos I took at Elk Island National Park.
There have been a few changes in how my life operates in June, unfortunately, meaning things coming in July and after might be a bit different. I don’t know for sure. Either way, I once again work twelve or fourteen hours a day at two different jobs just to keep my shit together, so my writing has taken a bit of a hit.
The first fun thing about the new second job is that on the Saturday in which I had the interview (May 31st) is that when I got home there was a notice in my mailbox telling me (and all my neighbours) we have to move on or before August 31 because they are tearing the buildings down to build new apartments. Hooray for gentrification.
The second fun thing about the new second job is that I’m working on a boat.
I have been able to get a pair of new drabble pieces done this month, and some subscribers have seen that I have published them in the “Notes” section of Substack, and these drabble are part of the world of the novella I am writing. The novella seems to be moving towards a bit of a high fantasy setting with magic and swords and shit, which is roughly where I wanted to go, so now we get to see at what part of the story weird shit starts happening. If you’re a writer you know what I mean. If you’re a reader only, sometimes the most carefully laid plans are laid to waste because your secondary character who you planned on killing like three pages in just won’t fucking die. And the problem is writers like me who allow these assholes to have agency. We treat them like real people. Then kill them.
The new drabble are also down below.
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MUSIC
1. From Dreams to Living Things III: From the Plough to the Stars [2025/Fiadhcore Comp] 2. Varguille - Oathbreaker/Dark Gods [2025/Punk] 3. Secret Sorcery - The Curse of Fenncraag [2024/Fantasy Synth/Ziricore] 4. Gun Girl - Vengeant Siege of Unholy Divinity [2024/War Metal/Eleanorcore] 5. Starer - Wind, Breeze, or Breath [2023/Black Metal/Snowwolfccore] 6. Ancient Mariner - Ancient Mariner [2023/Fantasy Synth/Sea Synth] 7. Hircine - Evermore [2022/Neofolk/Damiancore] 8. Over the Mist - Sea of Sorrows [2022/Fantasy Synth/Sea Synth] 9. Helleborus - The Carnal Sabbath [2016/Symphonic Black Metal] 10. Helleborus - Prayer of the Undying [2017/Symphonic Black Metal] 11. Helleborus - Saprophytic Divinations [2019/Symphonic Black Metal] 12. Moss Knight - Songs for Spring [2025/Fantasy Synth/Vernal Synth/Timcore] 13. Slough Feg - New Organon [2019/Progressive Metal] 14. Android’s Cottage - Welcome Ohm [2024/Fantasy/Space/Comfy Synth] 15. Atroce - Necromantiae Bestialis [2018/Black Metal] 16. Cetorhinus - Demo [2024/Harsh Noise/Wendycore]
17. Lammoth - Tales of Treachery [2024/Medieval Black Metal/Bobbycore]
Lammoth’s Tales of Treachery is a killer symphonic black metal album. It starts with the creeping darkness of dungeon synth and goes into absolutely savage black metal full of riffs that twine through your head and vocals that flay the flesh from your bones. All four songs feature epic sounding guitar work that reminds me of Immortal, Naglfar, and Dimmu Borgir, with some elements of Panopticon thrown in for fun, with the last song “Brandywine Memories” having a My Bloody Valentine feel inside of it. It’s only 26:34 minutes long, but Tales of Treachery does what a lot of albums twice that length do, and better. And somehow this is only the debut! I am very excited to see what kind of Tolkien-inspired horrors Lammoth conjures in the future.
18. Erotica - The Undoing [2024/Black Metal] 19. Great Dragon - Aria of Sorrow [2024/Black Metal] 20. Indrid Cold - Hidden Village [2023/Dungeon Synth] 21. Fogweaver/Erreth-Akbe - The Immanent Grove (Split) [2020/Fantasy Synth/Evergreencore] 22. Pisssniffers - Pisssniffers (x2) [2025/Crust] 23. Lust Hag - Lust Hag [2024/Black Metal/Eleanorcore] 24. From Dreams to Living Things III: From the Plough to the Stars [2025/Fiadhcore Comp] 26. Cemetery Urn - Cemetery Urn [2017/Death Metal] 27. Habak - Insania [2023/Melodic Crust] 28. Katatonia - Brave Murder Day [1996/Death Doom] 29. My Dying Bride - A Line of Deathless Kings [2006/Gothic Doom]
30. Ancient VVisdom - A Godlike Inferno [2012/Occult Rock] 31. Ancient VVisdom - Deathlike [2013/Occult Rock] 32. Ancient VVisdom - Sacrificial [2014/Occult Rock] 33. Ancient VVisdom - 33 [2017/Occult Rock] 34. Iravu - A Fate Worse Than Home [2023/Progressive Black Metal/Hareeshcore] 35. From Dreams to Living Things III: From the Plough to the Stars [2025/Comp] 36. Form of an Owl - Signal Abnormality [2025/Atmospheric Cello/3Dancore] 37. Moss Knight - Sogg’ed Burlap Boots [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Timcore] 38. Moss Knight - Sogg’ed Burlap Boots [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Timcore] 39. Fun Lovin’ Criminals - The Roosevelt Sessions [2023/Hip Hop/Funk] 40. Synth for Pets - Symphonies for Walks/Lovely Night in the Woods [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth] 41. Your Ancestors Knew Death - …In Ways You Never Will [2023/Goth/Post Punk] 42. Torn the Fuck Apart - A Genetic Predisposition to Violence [2018/Technical Death Metal] 43. Morke - …Of Oak and Snow [2019/Black Metal/Castle Metal/Ericcore] 44. Gray Friar - Etymologies I [2022/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Friarcore] 45. Gray Friar - Etymologies II [2022/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Friarcore] 46. Planning for Burial - It’s Closeness, It’s Easy [2025/Experimental Doom/Shoegaze] 47. Torn Cloak - Torn Cloak [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Friarcore] 48. Grat Strigoi - The Prophetic Silence [2024/Black Metal] 49. Woe - Absinthe Invocation [2007/Black Metal] 50. Wolven Daughter - Gospel of the Claw [2024/Black Metal] 51. Willow Tea - Fairy Circles [2024/Fantasy Synth/Willowcore] 52. The Vision Bleak - Songs of Good Taste [2004/Gothic Metal] 53. VENUS-426 - Causeways Into the Night [2004/Noise/Wendycore] 54. Damhnait - Verse (Remediated) [2024/Black Metal/3Dancore] 55. Villein - Book of Trismosin [2024/Medieval Fantasy Synth]
56. Damhnait - Ghouls of All Defunct Regimes [2024/Black Metal/3Dancore] 57. Damhnait - False Teeth [2024/Solo Piano/3Dancore] 58. Damhnait - Oñate [2024/Black Metal/3Dancore] 59. Damhnait - Revolutionary Oppressor [2023/Black Metal/3Dancore] 60. Damhnait - Weeping [2023/Black Metal/3Dancore] 61. Damhnait - Laughter [2023/Black Metal/3Dancore] 62. Wandering Oak - Resiliance [2024/Folk Metal/Progressive Black Metal] 63. Atlantic - Timeworn [2025/Atmospheric Post Black Metal] 64. Białywilk - Wniebowstąpienie - [2025/Atmospheric Black Metal] 65. Imipolex - Acts of Vulgar Piety [2025/Blackened Death Metal] 66. Lust Hag - Irrevocably Drubbed [2025/Symphonic Blackened Death Metal/Eleanorcore] 67. Moss Knight/Fernmage - Live from Woodhaven (Split) [Fantasy Synth/Timcore] 68. Moss Knight/Fernmage - Live from Woodhaven (Split) [Fantasy Synth/Timcore] 69. Zireael - Brokilon [2024/Fantasy Synth/Ziricore] 70. Zireael - Upon Her Blade… [2025/Fantasy Synth/Ziricore] 71. Form of an Owl - Signal Abnormality [2025/Atmospheric Cello/3Dancore] 72. Hircine - Old Kings Fall [2024/Fantasy Synth/Forest Synth/Damiencore] 73. 殞煞 Vengeful Spectre - 殞煞 Vengeful Spectre [2022/Folk Black Metal] 74. Zonos - Void of Dream [2023/Ambient/Experimental Synth] 75. Wooden Vessels - Meadowtrek Woods: Life and Ecology [2024/Fantasy Synth/Forest Synth] 76. Wood Archer - In the Plague of Tyrants [2024/Dungeon Synth] 77. Wintersleep - Wintersleep [2003/Indie Rock] 78. Agathocles - The LP’s 1989-1991 [2014/Mincecore] 79. Mace - Demo 2024 [2024/Beatdown Hardcore/Industrial Metal] 80. Outta Pocket - Waste Of A Man [2023/Beatdown Hardcore] 81. The Muslims - Fuck These Fuckin Fascists [2021/Punk] 82. Veiled Lady - Glowing Spores/Fungi Friend [2023/Fantasy Synth/Mushroom Synth] 83. Horrenda - Dioltas [2025/Black Metal] 84. Vargouille - Oathbreaker/Dark Gods [2025/Punk] 85. Vargouille - Oathbreaker/Dark Gods [2025/Punk] 86. Hellstorm of Flaming Nothingness - …regrets [2023/Minimal Drone] 87. Crown of Asteria /Canus Dirus - A Harmonious Union of Vibration (Split) [2021/Atmospheric Black Metal] 88. Sylfvr - A Nice Evening Stroll/Soul Vapour [2024/Fantasy Synth/Sylfvrcore] 89. Katatonia - Dead End Kings [2012/Gothic Metal] 90. Vernal Ecosphere - Finite Planetary Possibilities [2025/Cosmic Synth/Sylfvrcore] 91. Vernal Ecosphere - Finite Planetary Possibilities [2025/Cosmic Synth/Sylfvrcore] 92. The Barrowfolk - Small Graves [2025/Ambient/Wiilowcore] 93. Dolven - In My Grave… Silence [2025/Acoustic Doom Metal] 94. Form of an Owl - Signal Abnormality [2025/Atmospheric Cello/3Dancore] 95. Lunar Cult - The Blade Was Forged to Fit Your Hand [2025/Medieval Fantasy Synth] 96. Galdr - Galdr [2011/Atmospheric Black Metal] 97. My Dying Bride - Feel the Misery [2015/Gothic Doom] 98. My Dying Bride - Feel the Misery [2015/Gothic Doom] 99. Galdr - Mörkergång [2015/Atmospheric Black Metal] 100. Vanagandr - Felled Yew [2024/Atmospheric Black Metal] 101. Chalice of Wyrms - Three Wyrms [2025/Fantasy Synth/Sylfvrcore] 102. Craft - White Noise and Black Metal [2018/Black Metal] 103. Junius - The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist [2009/Post Metal] 104. Starer/Myrvandrer/Ambergaze/Mistral - Four Sorrows (Split) [2025/Atmospheric Black Metal/Snowwolfcore] 105. Korn - Korn [1994/Nu-Metal] 106. Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker [2014/Industrial] 107. Christina Vane - Nowhere Sounds Lovely [2021/Bluegrass] 108. My Dying Bride - A Line of Deathless Kings [2006/Gothic Doom] 109. Moss Knight - Sogg’ed Burlap Boots [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Timcore] 110. Moth Night - Hearthen Tome VIII: Onward to the Astral Bastion [2025/Fantasy Synth/Dream Synth/Timcore] 111. Korn - Korn [1994/Nu-Metal] 112. Korn - Life is Peachy [1996/Nu-Metal] 113. Korn - Follow the Leader [1998/Nu-Metal] 114. Smoulder - Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring [2019/Epic Doom] 115. Faery Ring - Mys & Frox [2024/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth] 116. Pig Destroyer - Book Burner (Deluxe) [2012/Grindcore] 117. My Dying Bride - For Lies I Sire [2009/Gothic Doom] 118. Dandy Warhols - This Machine [2012/Alternative Rock] 119. Buried in Desolation - Restoration [2025/Drone Ambient/Ziricore] 120. Hefnfelth - One Small Quest [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth] 121. Crimson Keep - Plague Fens [2025/Fantasy Synth] 122. My Dying Bride - The Light at the End of the World [1999/Death Doom] 123. Saltmarsh - These Wounds Shan’t Heal… [2025/Post Black Metal/Doomgaze] 124. Edicule - Finitude [2025/Atmospheric Black Metal] 125. Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars [2023/Gothic Metal] 126. Kataonia - Dead End Kings [2012/Gothic Metal] 127. Auspicium - For the World That Was and That Is to Come [2022/Atmospheric Black Metal] 128. Small Oak - Demo I [2025/Ambient/Forest Synth] 129. An Autumn for Crippled Children - Only the Ocean Knows [2012/Post Black Metal] 130. Mondernte - Communion [2025/Atmospheric Black Metal] 131. Junius - Forcing Out the Silence [2004/Post Punk/Post Rock] 132. Buried in Desolation - Restoration [2025/Drone Ambient/Ziricore] 133. Hefnfelth - One Small Quest [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth] 134. My Dying Bride - A Line of Deathless Kings [2009/Gothic Doom] 135. Skeleton Mage - Ruinscapes I [2025/Dungeon Synth/Dungeon Folk] 136. Moss Knight - Sogg’ed Burlap Boots [2025/Fantasy Synth/Comfy Synth/Timcore] 137. The Rubber Bullys - Cakes [2018/Punk] 138. The Rubber Bullys - Imperical Disaster [2020/Punk] 139. Starer - Wind, Breeze or Breath [2023/Atmospheric Black Metal/Snowwolfcore] 140. The Vision Bleak - Songs of Good Taste [2004/Gothic Metal] 141. Iravu - A Fate Worse Than Home [2024/Atmospheric Black Metal/Hareeshcore] 142. Ancient VVisdom - 33 [2017/Occult Rock] 143. Secret Sorcery - The Curse of Fenncraag [2024/Fantasy Synth/Ziricore] 144. Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars [2023/Gothic Metal]
AN INTERVIEW WITH ZIRI
Ziri is the woman behind several synth projects, and another elusive hermit that I’ve had the pleasure of asking questions of. This time I took my staff and cloak to the mountains and forests of New Zealand to do so, and found her among the feijoa trees.
Ziri, photo supplied by the artist
How did you discover synth music, and what was it about the genre that drew you in?
My memory is swiss cheese so I can’t remember exactly how I found it, but the first album I ever listened to in this genre was II by Fief. This would’ve been about 7 years ago. I’m always a fiend for getting into new genres of music, and having never heard of dungeon synth before, I dived right in. Fief was a weird one to start with because it’s kind of an outlier with the whole neo-medieval folk sound going on, but I found it to be incredibly beautiful and intricate and the perfect lure to get me hooked.
What made you realize it was also the type of music you wanted to make? Was it immediately after discovering synth you wanted to create your own, or did that desire grow slowly?
I’ve wanted to make music for a very long time. I used to play guitar (poorly), but could never push myself to create any kind of art, music or otherwise. When I finally did start writing and recording, it was well after I was introduced to the genre. Honestly, my relationship with dungeon synth has been tumultuous at best. Because of my tendency to stick my hand in every pot, I have a rather shallow familiarity with most genres because I’m always bouncing between different obsessions. So with dungeon synth, I have periods where I’m really into it, then I’ll go a long time where I’m not into it at all. My main inspiration to start making synth music of my own was mid-2023 when I became acquainted with Caylen (of Hekseblad fame) and their solo synth music. I don’t recall exactly what did it for me, but I was probably just listening to one of their albums and thought “hmm, maybe I could make something like this?”.
Considering how many synthers have metal albums in their discography, have you written under other genres in the past?
What you see on my three Bandcamp pages is every piece of music I have ever released. If the dreams of my past had ever come to fruition, I would have started a psych rock band and probably would never have dabbled in synth music. Or maybe I would have, no one will ever know. Metal is absolutely in my future though, or at the very least harsher music than what I’ve released so far. I’d honestly love to play synths in a black metal band, who knows if that’ll ever happen though. But if I ever find myself with a guitar again, there is a 99% chance that you’ll hear some absolutely dreadful black metal from me.
You have released under six names, with only two under the Zireael banner. Is this intentional, and is there a specific scheme to the project names?
Actually, I have released music under a total of seven names so far which makes it even worse. The only intent here is that there was a period of time where I constantly had new ideas that didn’t fit well within established concepts so I just kept creating new aliases. Nowadays I find myself slowing down and writing more material for the projects I’ve previously released under so expect less of that in the future. I currently have projects in the works for all of my projects (aside from Zireael).
Of all your albums, which do you think was the most difficult to translate from idea to actual finished songs?
Definitely my latest album, Upon Her Blade. Every single aspect of creating this album was more complicated and more tedious than anything else I had done up to that point. Every song was difficult, even the shorter ones, but especially “…Zireael” because of it being 10+ minutes and having multiple movements. I absolutely fucking hated working on this thing by the end of it. Once it was finished though, I was so proud of what I did. I am not doing that kind of music again for a long time though.
How do the surrounding areas of New Zealand influence the music you make? Do you go onto nature walks to write or do you do everything at home?
It’s difficult to write synth music outside given that I have nothing portable and I don’t really want to be taking notes while I’m walking or hiking. But this country does influence me, primarily my project Feijoa Tree.
For those who are unaware, feijoas are a staple of Kiwi culture and you can find a tree in every backyard. We actually have four feijoa trees on our property, though they’re all far too young to bear fruit. When I started this project, I wrote a few songs that were going to be on an album inspired by endemic birds, but that project was shelved so I could work on “A Day in the Life”. I will be restarting work on the aforementioned bird album this year, hopefully sooner than later.
Have you noticed that the more you write, record, and release that the process gets easier, or more difficult?
It definitely gets more difficult. It’s weird because before I became a musician, I thought it’d be the complete opposite. But I find myself learning something new every single day, even if it's just learning how to use a compressor better or discovering a new trick for programming drums. And with every new thing I learn, the process for writing and recording gets longer and more tedious. If I knew then what I know now, those first few records would have sounded so differently. And I know in a year's time, I'll be saying the same thing for what I've released this year. It’s a never ending cycle of learning and experimentation, and I think that’s really cool. If I ever get to a point where I think there’s nothing left to learn or improve on, then there must be something fundamentally wrong with me.
I know you’re a reader and a gamer, and the title of the Gloomlurker/Witch’s Amulet split is Tales from the Bannered Mare, so I’m assuming at least the Elder Scrolls are inspiring for your music. What other games are you a fan of, and find inspiring your works as well?
Obviously Zireael is inspired primarily by The Witcher books & games. Though some of Upon Her Blade took inspiration from Halo’s OST. Aside from that and Gloomlurker, there isn’t too much I take inspiration from, besides other music. The last EP for my electronic project Maximum Mana* takes some inspiration from Mass Effect, though I can’t say if future releases will follow suit as that project is kind of on the backburner right now. I will say though, I’ve started writing a new album for Gloomlurker because of my recent play-through of Oblivion Remastered so that’s where my focus is right now.
*The seventh project I forgot about - Dustin
Are any of your projects also live bands?
None of them are. But all of them could be!
What is it about the world of The Witcher you find most intriguing and inspiring?
This is a really good question because it's made me realise that much of the Witcher universe is not particularly interesting. And I think that's exactly why I love it. While it's technically high fantasy, it doesn't really feel like it, partly because of something within the lore called the Conjunction of Spheres – that being the cosmic event which created rifts between worlds, causing interplanetary migrations of people, animals and monsters alike. Humans are invaders of this world (and may have even arrived from Earth itself!), and the elves that came before were just as much invaders themselves.
The humans in The Witcher are much like us. They speak like us, they build cities like us, they play politics like us. It feels like medieval earth with a fresh coat of paint. Seeing magic and monsters firsthand as a commoner is rare, despite being a daily occurrence for someone like a witcher. The culmination of all of this is what keeps me immersed, and it's why when you introduce things that might be considered “supernatural” it feels somewhat ordinary and not particularly jarring.
Also, Geralt is an interesting protagonist and killing monsters is fun.
Since it has been adapted to both video games and television, which of the three Witcher mediums is your favourite?
The games and it isn't even close. I love all three games, both of the expansions, and the expanded lore.
As for the show, I’ve never seen it and I don't know if I ever will honestly. I kept an eye on it as it was initially releasing, then the whole thing with Henry Cavill happened and I lost what little interest I had.
And for the books, I've read the first two and they're pretty good. The dialogue is stiff and the writing is a bit strange at times, but the stories and characters are lovely, and it's cool to have added context for the games. I’ve heard from others that the books actually get worse after Sapkowski moves on from the short story format so I’ve been hesitant to go any further.
How many different synths do you have? Do you have a main composing and recording synth?
What I’m about to say is sad, but I do not own a single synthesizer. Not yet at least. What I do own is a midi controller and a few fantastic synthesizer plugins. A Day in the Life was recorded entirely with Arturia’s DX7 clone and I’m in love with it. Aside from Arturia, I also use a couple synths from Korg and Roland. While not as fun or as cool as physical equipment, I make do with what I have.
What is your recording set-up like? How much has it changed since you’ve started until now?
When I first started, I had absolutely nothing. I composed my first album using my fucking mouse on a midi piano roll and it was bloody miserable. Now I have a midi controller, an audio interface, and a decent Shure microphone. It’s not much, but it works. I’ve been scouring local online marketplaces for months for better equipment that won’t break the bank so hopefully my situation improves in the near future.
What is it about synth music that encourages anonymity?
I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps it’s the ever present (and annoying) connection with black metal that refuses to go away. Or maybe it’s the mysterious and mythical nature that so much of dungeon synth is themed after that encourages people to embody those traits within themselves. I personally prefer names attached to my projects because it makes it easier for people to find my other stuff if they like what I do. It doesn’t bother me too much when other people do it though, unless they’re fascists using anonymity to hide behind.
What is your favourite physical format to experience music with?
I’ve gone back and forth between tape and vinyl for a long time, but I’ve recently starting to appreciate CDs again. Why? Because: they’re super easy to use, you can skip and pause easily, they’re compact (hence the name), and I’m wicked nostalgic for them. When I moved to New Zealand, I paid a small fortune to ship most of my music here, including my favourite CDs and I’m so happy I did. That all being said, I haven’t had a CD player for years so I can’t even enjoy them! Similarly, I can’t play my records and tapes either because I have no speakers, so I’m stuck in the digital age for the time being.
Now that you’ve been involved in synth as a fan and a composer, where would you recommend new fans start off with exploring the genre?
The answer to this isn’t as cut and dry as I’d like it to be, so I’ll suggest a few different artists that people can use as jump-off points: Aura Merlin, Bergtatt, Forsaken Keep*, Greenhollow, Keys to Oneiria, Moss Knight, Scrying Glass, & Sylfvr.
Alternatively, look up the “fantasy synth” tag on Bandcamp and click on album covers that look nice, that’s what I do.
*Forsaken Keep is a project from Froth, and you can read my interview with him here. - Dustin
DRABBLE
A drabble is a short work of fiction of precisely one hundred words in length. The purpose of the drabble is brevity, testing the author's ability to express interesting and meaningful ideas in a confined space. Wikipedia
A WALK THROUGH ELK ISLAND
I went for a several hour walk on June 3 with my besties Pearl and Dakota and their friend Dale through the Elk Island National Park and it was glorious. We stuck to one trail, the Shirley Lake Trail. We smoked some weed, talked some shit, and just enjoyed the time.
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