Fable by MIKHAIL DAKEN is an enigmatic and dark alt-rock, dark wave track that matches its energy beautifully with an intense music video that emphasises the key themes that make this piece so special. The sound DAKEN captures from beginning to end with this one is a tone of seething, dark power. The guitar layers are the first aspect to lean into that tone.

They bond and intertwine creating this ever-changing tapestry of sound that bends and shifts whenever you think you can understand it. It keeps the audience on their toes sonically while underpinning the melody beautifully. The synths utilised in the song are another strong sonic aspect. They have a vintage crackly sound, again leaning into the palpable sense of unknown, ancient evil. These malevolent layers of chaos are contrasted by the crisp clarity of the vocals. They deliver the narrative of the track beautifully while not taking away from the tone through their contrast. The vocals act as a guiding light, cutting through the weight of the composition, an essential tonal element to provide enough juxtaposition to emphasise the darkness of the composition. The video adds clarity to the narrative, exploring the Lovecraftian world of the song through a palpable unknown evil. The animation reminded me a little of Call of Cthulhu, a role-playing game that captured my imagination as a child. The video never gives away too much, allowing the audience to fill in the gaps in the narrative. Its consistent tonal palette of dark blues contrasted by elements of striking blood red makes its way into the other parts of the music video. It’s impressive to see this level of thought-out cohesion in all aspects of a video. It certainly contributes to the power of the song and shows a unity of vision between all the creatives involved in the sonic and visual aspects of the project.

Overall that consistency of vision shines through in this project and highlights DAKEN’s creative prowess.