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PRESS RELEASE:
Chronicler Of Ardul
Sounds of Ardul
10 April 2026
Sounds of Ardul is a sweeping orchestral journey into the dark fantasy realm of Ardul, composed by David Williams of CHRONICLER OF ARDUL. Instead of relying on metal elements, the album embraces cinematic storytelling through rich symphonic textures, intimate folk tunes, and atmospheric worldbuilding. Each track feels like a moment from a larger adventure, guiding listeners through taverns, shadowed forests, ancient mists, and violent clashes. With recurring motifs, emotional character themes, and evocative arrangements, Sounds of Ardul invites audiences to step directly into the world itself, experiencing its wonder, danger, and humanity firsthand.
“Watch Over Me (feat. EXILED HOPE)” opens the album as a bardic folk song carried by clean guitar, violin, hand percussion, and the expressive voice of Sofia Frasz, following a lost traveler yearning for home while navigating the perilous roads of Ardul. “Watch Over Me (Village Version)” shifts to a smaller, more comforting space, portraying the safety and simplicity found within village walls through a short instrumental loop of guitar and violin. “You’re Gone (feat. SYYN)” brings the emotional weight of loss to the forefront, with Aaron Johnson III delivering a somber tavern ballad about love, its fleeting beauty, and the devastating revelation of death that reshapes the meaning of each chorus.
The album’s worldbuilding takes a lively turn with “Oh Me Oh My,” a rowdy late-night tavern song featuring vocals by David Williams, built from stomps, claps, bottle taps, and a catchy refrain meant for drunken patrons. “Woodlands” ventures outside into the dark beauty of Ardul’s forests using strings, harp, clarinet, piano, and choir to evoke mystery and deceptive warmth. Its variations expand that setting: “Woodlands (Alternate Version)” isolates the listener with cello, piano, and harp, while “Woodlands (Battle Theme)” heightens the danger with brass, percussion, and rhythmic urgency as hidden threats reveal themselves.
“In the Mists of the Myrewood (Remastered)” returns to the foundational themes of the larger Ardul mythos. A solo piano piece born early in the project’s history, it whispers with darkness and elegance, building into the thick, treacherous fog that defines the Myrewood. “Veiled Truth” explores moral ambiguity through shifting strings, piano, choir, and guitar, reflecting the uneasy question of whether familiar faces can be trusted. “Unwelcomed Guests” continues the rising tension with timpani heartbeats, clacking percussion, unsettling strings, and a divided choir as an unwelcome figure approaches with unclear intentions.
“To Arms! (String Quintet)” marks the snapping point where conflict erupts, delivering an intimate yet fierce battle theme reminiscent of classic RPG duels. “Temporary Respite” pulls the listener back into calm with soft piano and choir, offering a resting place after turmoil. “Moments From Disaster” churns with heavy drums, tense strings, rumbling voices, and pounding piano, capturing the split second before catastrophe when every instinct screams to act.
“Underground” descends into the cold, winding depths beneath Ardul where dissonant strings, heavy drums, male drones, and brooding piano create deliberate disorientation. “Underground (Alternate Version)” tightens the space to a quieter but more claustrophobic passage lit by a single torch. “To Arms!” unleashes the full symphonic battle, a large-scale conflict with expanded orchestration and dramatic intensity.
The album’s final bard song, “Zarek the Bloody,” introduces a legendary figure whose reputation is both heroic and ominous. With accordion, bass, percussion, and vocals by David Williams, the piece hints at Zarek’s deeds, the cursed blade he wields, and his place in the greater Ardul narrative.
Sounds of Ardul also includes extended ten-minute looping versions of twelve tracks, crafted for worldbuilders, tabletop players, writers, and listeners who want to immerse themselves even further. As the third pillar of CHRONICLER OF ARDUL’s overarching project, this album expands the world’s scope while maintaining musical motifs that connect past works to future stories.
About CHRONICLER OF ARDUL:
CHRONICLER OF ARDUL is the cinematic dark fantasy project created by composer and multi-instrumentalist David Williams, blending orchestral storytelling with the atmosphere and intensity of extreme music. Formed in 2023, the project explores the mythic world of Ardul through three creative pillars: metal, orchestral composition, and written narrative. Every release expands the lore, using recurring motifs, character themes, and emotional worldbuilding to connect albums, stories, and songs into one cohesive universe. Influenced by SHADOW OF INTENT, MENTAL CRUELTY, Nobuo Uematsu, and Yasunori Nishiki, CHRONICLER OF ARDUL approaches concept music with the depth of a novel and the drama of a film score.
The project began as an idea in 2015 and has since grown into a multi-medium saga, starting with the Myrewood EP in 2023 and continuing with Sword of Virné and accompanying short stories. Williams handles all writing, recording, mixing, and artwork, giving the project a distinct voice anchored in emotional honesty and narrative purpose. Every melody is intentional and often foreshadows future events in the overarching story, creating a world that rewards close listening. CHRONICLER OF ARDUL stands as a unique fusion of fantasy, composition, and immersive storytelling, inviting listeners not only to hear the music but to live within the world it creates.
Connect with CHRONICLER OF ARDUL:
Official Website: chroniclerofardul.com
Bandcamp: https://chroniclerofardul.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chronicler-of-Ardul-100063489851273
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicler_of_ardul
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ChroniclerOfArdul
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5h3LfVFyzZA7Tl0eBhQxKg
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chronicler-of-ardul/1678862672
