The Emerald Grotto, by Alloch Nathir

The Emerald Grotto

by Alloch Nathir

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baboonsandmoons Lush and mysterious. A beautiful, whimsical journey deep into the green. Favorite track: Lost in the Wooded Labyrinth.

Tristan Feilla A release that paints the listener's trek into an enchanting and gloomy woodland with a wide palette of stellar synth tones. The pacing on this album is fantastic, as it moves effortlessly between sounds of wonder, intrigue, peace, and contemplation. Definitely give this one a spin. Favorite track: The Conjurer's Cauldron.

Strickland Two years later, The Emerald Grotto remains a favorite of mine that I've listened to many times. Strong forest feels and purposeful compositions.

karmafish Alloch Nathir delivers a sublime piece of art, exceptionally blending sounds of nature with DS soundscapes. Favorite track: Lost in the Wooded Labyrinth.

Kaptain Carbon If the well sewn melodies were not enough, the whole of The Emerald Grotto comes into focus with the addition of babbling brooks and bird calls. While adding ambiance to a dungeon synth record is not new, Alloch Nathir seems to have make the combination not only feel refreshing but also nearing the level of craft. Favorite track: Tome of the Mercurial Font.

David Loveless Some of the best forest/fantasy synth I’ve heard in a long time. Very serene and inviting but dark when it needs to be.

Full review here: thedungeonindeepspace.com/2020/07/17/pastoral-refrains-cater-to-the-gentle-side-of-nature-on-alloch-nathirs-the-emerald-grotto/ Favorite track: The Pearl in the Cavern Pool.

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brand new super ferric tape in forest green shell

Includes unlimited streaming of The Emerald Grotto via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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1.	Tome of the Mercurial Font 03:49	buy track
2.	Lost in the Wooded Labyrinth 03:28	buy track
3.	Embraced by Dawn's Gentle Grace 02:09	buy track
4.	Beyond the Traveled Trail 03:09	buy track
5.	The Conjurer's Cauldron 02:21	buy track
6.	Reflections in a Windshorn Mist 02:42	buy track
7.	The Pearl in the Cavern Pool 02:59	buy track
8.	The Emerald Grotto 04:30	buy track

about

MYSTIC TIMBRE 039

"The tag of 'forest synth' most often times refers to a variety of dungeon synth which is either inspired by the sounds of the forest, has forest ambient on top of the music, or both. Forest synth is also wild in its interpretation where one can have experimental ambient or more structured fantasy synth. Alloch Nathir is in the later camp with a record that is both regal and mystical with ambient bird calls buried deep within its music. The Emerald Grotto then turns into a record which is inviting, warm, and kind at heart, offering the listener nothing less than a retreat from whatever madness is in the current world ... This might be perfect for anyone currently unable to travel far outside as this will be a small mental retreat to a solitary clearing in the woods." - Kaptain Carbon, Tape Wyrm (tapewyrmmetal.com/archives/2970)

Alloch Nathir has used their debut album as an exercise in mystical worldbuilding, a canvas upon which to paint the titular domain. Unfolding as a journey across these mysterious woodlands, The Emerald Grotto ambles through a mélange of captivating sounds over its path: Romantic melodicism; the beautiful escapism of forest synth; traditionally-brewed dungeon synth; the moody timbres of classic ambient; and the lo-fi basement fantasy experiments of HDK releases. The painstaking attention to the details of these varied sounds, and the cohesion of their narrative presentation, ensure the Emerald Grotto is a realm worthy of repeated exploration.

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released June 22, 2020

Written / Performed by Alloch Nathir
Production by E.D. Owens and Alloch Nathir
Mastering / Design by Anthony Pandolfino
Artwork by Gustave Doré (1832-1883)

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