Forgive me if this has been asked but the words I used in the search yielded little results I was looking for. As the title suggests I have been watching some dystopian themed classic movies, and while some are just horrible, the analog synth sounds used in those films I love. Are there any artists who continue with this sound now a days, or perhaps some metal bands, whatever sub genre, incorporate this sound with their music? Very curious if this is a thing these days.

Cheers

Well, if you are just lookin' for horror score style retro synths, check out Zombi, Jeff Grace, Vercetti Technicolor, Perturbator, Disasterpiece, and (of course) John Carpenter's recent solo releases.

As for metal bands who incorporate this stuff, there are a lot of them. Depends on what you are looking for genre-wise or the extent to which you want to hear those influences incorporated. Hooded Menace, for example, appends covers of horror score themes to almost every release.

Zombi would be a good one as he specifically said 70s, but Perturbator, Disasterpiece and even the master John Carpenter doesn't even come close to sounding 70s.

Eh, I think Carpenter's Lost Themes has a very 70's vibe. You are right that Perturbator / Disasterpiece get closer to the 80's.

Of any of those, Lost Themes is the only one that comes close to sounding 80s. Definitely not 70s though; the synths are all too new and creating sounds that weren't even possible back then. Same with Perturbator, Disasterpiece and most of these other new synthwave/future-retro artists. They have the right idea but the samples and synths they use are far too modern to be "real" retro. If I can have a modulation matrix on my synth with wavetables and unlimited routing possibilities (of which their music has plenty) it is definitely not going to sound like anything from the 80s. Perturbator is awesome and one of my favorite artists in the synthwave revival style but you won't be able to find a real piece of music from the 80s time period that sounds anything like these acts.

Good points.

What about Boards Of Canada - Tomorrow's Harvest? That album gives me a late 70s/early 80s vibe too. Reminds me of a cross btwn Zombi & "Sorcerer" era Tangerine Dream.

I haven't listened to it but anything that sounds like Zombi and TD should be pretty rad!

Be forewarned, the beats can be quite modern sounding at times but the synths have that squelchy 70's horror tone to them. A very interesting hybrid.

Jeff Grace's Cold In July score might interest you as well; more along the lines of a mid-80's Carpenter.

Edit: I'd also happily take any good recs you got as I just eat this stuff up!

You might know him already but basically anything by Vangelis is amazing. Listen to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIl0rlR7zgU

This type of sound design and filter work in 1977 is utterly groundbreaking.

Jean Michel Jarre is another obvious mention here. The original Oxygene is also similarly groundbreaking and kickass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz1cEO01LLc

Very familiar with Jarre but I'd never given Vangelis much of a listen beyond Blade Runner -- will remedy that!

https://firstcontact.bandcamp.com/album/first-contact

The track that ends this EP, "Icefall," is fantastic.

Two Words: Typhonian Highlife


Spencer Clark’s, also known as Monopoly Child Star Searchers/Charles Berlitz/Fourth World Magazine/Vodka Soap/Tarzana, latest project. Inspired by Hellraiser, Wendy Carlos, HR Giger and 70’s and 80’s soundtracks. Highly recommend you check this out it was truly a revelation for me, his work with voice samples and synths is incredible. I have a hard time explaining this baroque masterpiece but I think this is what you’re looking for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BLHk8vjRnE
The Fourth World Magazine album is just a taste of HR GIGERS STUDIOLO (2014), which is the complete project of Typhonian Highlife. I think a new album might come out soon. Msg me if you want a link for this

Goblin - Italian prog horror soundtrack masters. Their Suspiria and Profondo Rosso scores are classics.

The Stranger Things score has been on constant repeat on my stereo; more 80s than 70s but masterful just the same.

Listen to Wendy Carlos soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange, that sort've would count although it mostly classical music done on a moog synthesizer.

Not new, but are you familiar with Tangerine Dream? Have fun going through their albums, they've made over 100!

You'll absolutely want to check out the upcoming Khonsu album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pglis3IXzNs