On the heels of Dream Division’s The Devil Rides Out, Tom McDowell’s new record label Library of the Occult returns with its second album release. This time it’s Gates of Nessus, the new long player from UK producer/composer/sound designer and electronic music legend Robin Ogden, aka Ogre. As per typical Ogre fashion, it’s top shelf Gothic electronic and you should be very excited.
From Library of the Occult :
Ogres delivers an album of mood music for deep dungeon crawling, pen and paper RPGs, and cult paperback fantasies of yester-decades.
Inspired by Gene Wolfe’s The Book Of The New Sun, Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Dark Souls, Kentaro Miura’ Berserk, Fighting Fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, and many other great adventures.
Gates of Nessus is a masterwork in aural fear and Gothic darkness. Ogre delivers a tour-de-force of musical incantations that will raise the dead and lower us into the unknown murky waters of flickering candles, whispered secrets, and the dark arts. Robin Ogden has proven himself one of the very best working in the heavy synth/imagined soundtrack world, creating visceral sonic realms that feel pulled straight from some fever dream or late night exploitation horror film.
“Winding Stairways” is the perfect jumping off point for the world of Gates of Nessus. Imagine deep-diving into the coolest, darkest RPG you’ve ever played. 1am, the lights are down, and the smell of incense overwhelms you. The prickly rhythm of the notes, wavering synth lines, and ghostly melody of the music pulls you into the world of the game. Musically it’s a cross between Konami Kukeiha Club’s Castlevania work, Fabio Frizzi’s City of the Living Dead and the two Johns, Carpenter and Harrison respectively.
“Winding Stairways” is a portal into the world of Gates of Nessus. It’s Robin Ogden opening the door to the castle and showing us what is waiting. It’s a delicate balance between the macabre, the ethereal, and the ornate beauty that sits in the shadows waiting for us to bump into it. It’s Orgre in top form, making music to entice and make your blood run cold all at the same time.
Listen to “Winding Stairways” below, then head over to Library of the Occult’s Bandcamp and Instagram pages and hit follow. Ogre’s Gates of Nessus will go on sale 9/4/20, limited to 150 copies on toxic green vinyl. Don’t wait on this. It’ll vanish into the ether before you know it.
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