“The Siege of Athens” — 1st Greek Dungeon Synth Festival
Amidst ritualistic beats, lo-fi soundscapes, and dark epic motifs, the first Greek Dungeon Synth Festival kicks off at KET on December 19, before visiting Thessaloniki the following day.
The opening night features five iconic acts of the genre: Amn, Anglachel, Budrum, Varvitos, and Ksorki.
● The musical genre dungeon synth was born on the fringes of the black metal scene of the 1990s, as a side but autonomous movement that uses synthesizers to create atmospheric and introverted soundscapes. It draws inspiration from dark romanticism, medieval castles, epic fantasy narratives, and the sense of a world lost in time.
At the heart of the genre lies lo-fi production: deliberately raw timbres, simple melodic lines, repetitive motifs, and an aesthetic that references both old video game music and dark ambient.
Over time, dungeon synth evolved into a distinct subculture, far removed from the aggressive style of black metal: a community of DIY artists releasing limited editions, tapes, zines, and illustrations that reinforce the handmade and mystical character of the genre. Today, it is a self-contained musical universe.
● Merchandise will be available at the festival venue, including T-shirts and a compilation cassette with 15 unreleased songs that capture the contemporary image of the local scene.
🔷 Combining the aesthetics of DnD and Forgotten Realms with synthesizers that sometimes lean toward fantasy and other times toward krautrock, the result is the distinctive sound of the duo Amn. Dividing their time between Athens and London, Amn have developed a consistent and rich discography since 2019. They recently completed their first international tour in the US, performing alongside Orcus, Silencio Permanente, and Flickers from the Fen, followed by live performances in England. Their participation in the festival marks their first appearance in Greece.
www.amndungeonsynth.bandcamp.com
🔷 Clearly inspired by Tolkien’s mythical world, Anglachel is the name of the dungeon synth project by Admetos (also a member of Elegos, Faunus, and Echoes of Oblivion). With a continuous discography since 2017, the project is now among the most important names in the international “second generation” revival of the genre. They have already participated in events such as the Rethymno Rocks Festival and the Dark Dungeon Festival III in Belgium.
🔷 Budrum‘s personal project (also vocals/guitar in LIKNO) began in 2024 in Kozani. With piano and various keyboards as its main focus and occasional use of vocals, the project moves in old-school aesthetic directions, while incorporating influences from medieval and ancient Greek music, as well as Balkan, Greek folk, and classical traditions.
🔷 After experimenting with different musical genres, Varvitos embarks on his personal journey from Heraklion in 2020 with the EP “The Lost Bard”. Drawing inspiration from role-playing games, fantasy films, historical themes, and comics, he incorporates fantastical elements and narrative storytelling into his musical motifs. Since 2025, he has been accompanying the Anglachel project as a drummer in its live performances. His participation in the festival marks his first live appearance as Varvitos.
🔷 Ksorki sprouts in 2020 in urban dungeon synth (“Psalms from the Underworld”). The sequel finds the project on more synth-punk paths (“Necroastika,” “Land of the Great Mushrooms”). With several live performances under its belt, it is preparing for its new album (“Handshake with Satan”).