Anyone who thinks of epic, orchestral battle sounds when they hear the title Berserker will be proven wrong by Runeneck – with the synthesizer hitting them right in the face. The album, released via Strength and Anger, is a prime example of the dirtiest corner of the current basement synth revival.
The first thing you notice when listening is the absolutely uncompromising production. Nothing is polished here. The drum machine sounds clanging, dry, and whips the track forward with an almost danceable, punky rhythm. It’s this primitive “umpf-chak” beat that immediately makes you nod your head, while the synth melodies lie over it like a rusty fog.
The synthesizers themselves play melodies that are deeply rooted in neo-folk, but have been pulled through so much distortion and lo-fi grime that they sound more like an 8-bit console giving up the ghost in a damp dungeon.
Unlike purely instrumental dungeon synth projects, Runeneck relies on vocals – and they pack a punch. It’s a distorted, hoarse yelp that lies clandestinely buried in the mix. It sounds less like singing and more like the echo of a goblin or a mad warrior cursing away in a cave. This gives the whole thing a black metal atmosphere without the need for guitars.
The surprising thing about Berserker is its energy. This is not music to fall asleep to or for pen-and-paper role-playing games. This is music that pushes forward. The opener has a strangely catchy “earworm quality.” It’s a bizarre mixture: on the one hand dark and menacing, on the other hand almost “party-ready” for people who prefer to drink Nordhäuser Doppelkorn neat. It is reminiscent of the raw energy of early Grausamkeit (B.S.o.D.) recordings, but implemented purely electronically.
Berserker is a short, intense statement. Runeneck proves that you don’t need expensive equipment to create atmosphere. It is minimal, it is raw, and it is incredibly fun in a perverse way.
This is the soundtrack for the moment when the barbarian warrior trades his axe for a cheap keyboard but retains his rage. A must for fans of Old Tower, Vothana (the demos), and the whole “raw synth” movement.