Discover the Haunting Music Video for ‘Dead Trees’ from The Crooked Moon Soundtrack!

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Without a doubt, Avantris Entertainment, or Legends of Avantris as it’s also known, excels at creating immersive settings. A quick look at their projects or a brief listen to one of their role-playing campaigns is all it takes to see this. It seems we aren’t the only ones who appreciate their work. The Kickstarter for Avantris Entertainment’s outstanding “The Crooked Moon” tabletop Folk Horror campaign was fully funded in just one minute, and in total, 21,793 backers pledged an impressive $4,020,234 to bring this chilling 5e masterpiece to life.

In this review, we’re particularly enamored with “The Crooked Moon” campaign, admiring aspects like its distinctive Halloween-style races and folklore-inspired creatures. However, what truly stands out for us is the fact that it includes an original soundtrack as a bonus for pre-orders. That’s right! If you reserve your spot for Legends of Avantris’ “The Crooked Moon” campaign, you’ll also receive a fittingly thematic soundtrack from The Blasting Company. And to add to the excitement, we’re thrilled to unveil today the lyric video for the third single from “The Crooked Moon”, entitled “Dead Trees”.

You can listen to this haunting melody along with its visually stunning music video right here. This song narrates the tale of Gorthos, the Beast of Blight – a character that I instantly fell in love with at first sight.

Legends of Avantris’ The Crooked Moon Single “Dead Trees” Tells the Tale of Gorthos, the Beast of Blight

Is there any tale more poignant or heartrending than one that explores the contrast between decay and beauty? We can’t wait to delve deeper into the character of Gorthos once The Crooked Moon is out, but even from the song “Dead Trees” and the intriguing illustrations shared by Legends of Avantris in their music video, it’s clear there’s a rich tapestry of depth and sorrow woven into this story. We yearn to uncover more secrets. The haunting lyrics of “Dead Trees” plead, “Judge me not for what I’ve become,” as they describe roses that once bloomed with vibrant blood-red petals now lying in lifeless heaps. Our hearts ache in anticipation! Gorthos is about to join the ranks of my most beloved complex characters.

In the tales of Avantris, known as Legends of Avantris, there’s additional information about Gorthos, the Accursed One from The Crooked Moon. This character is depicted as a malevolent archfey who symbolizes corruption and decay. Gorthos often appears as a massive, skeletal deer, a chilling amalgamation of plant life, rotting foliage, and decomposed animal remains, as you can see in the illustration provided.

In a chilling manner reminiscent of wind rustling through dry foliage, Gorthos’ gravelly voice resonates, while her antlers contort in ways that resemble tangled wicker. Nestled within the Hartsblight Forest is a devoted group of druidic followers who care for her, spreading her curse throughout the land. If the unsettling yet compelling portrayal of Gorthos and the haunting melody of her song do not evoke the complete folk horror atmosphere that The Crooked Man will bring to your upcoming Dungeons & Dragons campaign, we are unsure what else could.

Mikey Gilder, CCO of Avantris Entertainment, shares:

In the tale of Gorthos from The Crooked Moon, we found such a heart-wrenchingly poignant story that we were determined to perfectly convey her melody in our album. This was an arduous journey involving multiple revisions and investigations into various musical paths to encapsulate the essence and narrative of this character. Although Dead Trees initially faced some challenges, I am overjoyed with where we eventually ended up, and it’s now one of my favorite tracks on the album.

Legends of Avantris and The Blasting Company Teamed Up for This Single and a Whole The Crooked Moon Soundtrack

The intricate and hypnotic melodies of the song “Dead Trees” have an uncanny ability to immerse listeners in a surreal landscape of dread. It’s not by chance that this composition employs some intricate and uncommon instruments. In actuality, the piece demands Uilleann Pipes (Ireland’s national bagpipe), Hurdy Gurdy (a unique instrument operated by hand crank), and Nyckelharpa (a Swedish “keyed” fiddle). Finding these instruments separately is already challenging, but locating a skilled musician who can master them all is even more difficult. Yet, when played in harmony, they generate an enchanting sound that whisks you away from our reality and into a mystical dimension.

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Indeed, a blend of serendipity and destiny played a role in creating the track from The Crooked Moon’s soundtrack. Josh Ross Kaufman of The Blasting Company recounts an instance during a trip to Ireland where he stumbled upon a quaint pub. Inside, he heard the sound he had been searching for, which happened to be Siobhan Hogan playing the Uilleann pipes. Although she hadn’t recorded music for anything like “Dead Trees” before, she graciously agreed to contribute her skills to The Crooked Moon’s track. Listen closely to the final third of the song, where you can hear the challenging Uilleann pipes adding a layer of intensity and depth. In essence, it seems as if the mythical forces of folklore aligned to bring this melody to life.

Where Can You Listen to “Dead Trees” and Other Songs From The Crooked Moon‘s Soundtrack?

The song “Dead Trees” penned by Josh Ross Kaufman and Justin Rubenstein of The Blasting Company is now accessible for streaming across all platforms. Notably, it’s the third single to be released from the album The Crooked Moon soundtrack. Don’t forget to listen to the other two tunes as they are simply catchy! Additionally, you can pre-order the entire soundtrack at $15, here.

Full Song Credits for “Dead Trees”

  • Written by: Josh Ross Kaufman & Justin Rubenstein
  • Produced by: The Blasting Company
  • Mixed by: The Blasting Company
  • Mastered by: Tom Rogers at Atomix Media
  • Performers:
    • Ekaterina Shelehova – Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals 
    • Eliana Athayde – Double Bass
    • Cory Beers – Tapan
    • Siobhán Hogan – Uilleann Pipes
    • Kim Nguyen – Harp
    • Justin Rubenstein – Cello, Nyckelharpa, Classical Guitar, Whistle
    • J.R. Kaufman – Hurdy Gurdy, Classical Guitar, Whistle, Backing Vocals

Pre-Order The Crooked Moon Today and Make Your Next Dungeons & Dragons 5e Campaign Folk Horror-riffic

Absolutely, this intriguing environment is set up for a compelling adventure because there’s a campaign to be undertaken and an eerie journey to embark on, brimming with folklore, mythology, monstrous creatures, Halloween spirit, and an abundance of aesthetic beauty. To ensure you don’t miss out on the fun, pre-order The Crooked Moon, a Folk Horror game in 5E by Legends of Avantris today.

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2025-02-28 20:03