About
Dispel Photo by Lucian Novus Obscurum
The Sound
Dispel (dih-spel): Metal Majesty meets Gothic Mystique! Fantasy Metal, Gothic Rock – Fantasy Inspired Darkwave – Gothic Metal
Dispel puts the Go in Gothic! Through heavenly vocals, driving beats, booming bass, oscillating keyboard and dark melodies. Dispel seeks to create a musical narrative praising spiritual quests (the Hero’s Journey), Medieval lore (Dante’s Inferno), mythology, mysticism (Tarot), fantasy (Dungeons & Dragons).
The History
From the primal rhythm of campfire drums to the relentless march of a Midwest work ethic, the journey to Dispel has been one of fire and transformation. The path began with an obsession to the raw energy of early metal and punk. In those early days, underground music carried a blade-sharp message — Attack your destiny — sparks were struck.
The true pilgrimage began behind the drum kit of the 90s hardcore punk band Face Value, where sweat and sound collided night after night. There were no shortcuts — only endless rehearsals, gear-laden vans, long miles, and inevitable breakdowns. But it was during a European tour that destiny intervened. Beneath the flickering strobes of an underground Goth/Industrial club in Berlin, a new sound called out — alien yet familiar — a siren song from another world. The atmosphere was alchemical, the impact lasting.
Years passed. The spirit of punk remained, but its form grew hollow. The old rituals no longer summoned the same fire. Seeking deeper meaning, a degree in music and an apprenticeship in studio alchemy and engineering followed, sharpening the tools of the craft and deepening the commitment to sonic sorcery.
And then — in the liminal space between myth and memory — Dispel was born. The modern world had grown too gray, too silent. Inspired by the timeless lore of medieval history and the mythical quests of Dungeon & Dragons, a new vision was summoned from the ashes. Yet fate had one final enchantment to cast.
Within the sacred stone walls of a Cleveland cathedral, at a drum circle bathed in candlelight and mystery, a voice emerged — Ravensea. A Berklee College of Music-trained vocalist and music therapist, she became the band’s oracle. Her voice, both ethereal and commanding, gave form to the vision. But more than that, she unlocked the forgotten truth: that music is the ancient tongue of the soul, a force beyond language, beyond nation — a spell that binds all who listen.
The Inspiration
Forged in the fires of myth, mystery, and magic, Dispel was born from an obsession with fantasy gaming, Dungeons & Dragons, medieval history, and the enduring shadows of gothic culture. The goal was never just to play music — it was to summon it, to glorify these sacred themes through sound, and to craft sonic realms where legend and lore live again.
Their debut album, LORE, charted the ancient arc of the Hero’s Journey — a path walked by seekers, warriors, and wanderers since the dawn of storytelling. Each track was a rite of passage, a stage in the soul’s evolution, echoing the timeless call to rise and transcend. Rooted in the haunting meditation Infelix ego, penned by Girolamo Savonarola before he faced the flames, LORE weaves despair into triumph — the agony and ecstasy of transformation.
Their second album, INFERNO, dives deeper still — a descent into Dante’s vision of the underworld. Not merely an adaptation, but an immersive reimagining of The Divine Comedy, this conceptual work explores sin, suffering, and the soul’s climb toward redemption. It is a journey lit by fire and shadow, guided by poetic wrath and sacred insight.
“Creating conceptual albums about medieval history, spiritual quests, and fantasy gaming is the heart of our inspiration,” says founder Scott Dispel. “We believed — instinctively — that there was an audience out there waiting for these stories to be told through music. Our hope is to awaken that call within our listeners — to stir their spirit, and inspire them to attack their destiny.”
Photo by Adventure Photography
