Summoning (band)
Encyclopedia
- For other uses of the word, "summoning", see Summoning (disambiguation)Summoning (disambiguation)Summoning may refer to:*Summoning, or conjuration, the calling of spirits or other entities via magic.*A summons issued by a court.*Summoning , an Austrian black metal band influenced by Tolkien....
.
Summoning is an Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band. They are known in part due to their extensive use of J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
mythology as lyrical subject.
Biography
Summoning was formed sometime in 1993 by Silenius (Michael Gregor), Protector (Richard Lederer) and Trifixion (Alexander Trondl). Before creating Summoning, Protector was playing drums in a thrashThrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
/death metal
Death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band called Marlignom and had embarked on a four year study of drums in music school. Silenius was in a doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band Shadow Vale (at 16 years old) and had a few years in music school studying piano. Before Summoning, Silenius was making music, together with Pazuzu (Ray Wells) in a band Cromm. Trifixion played in the band Pervertum.
Summoning recorded two demos (Upon the Viking's Stallion and Anno Mortiri Domini), as well as a split with the Austrian band Pazuzu (The Urilia Text) and a five-track promo tape for Lugburz
Lugburz (album)
Lugburz is the first full length album by Summoning. This album consists mostly of demo songs which were rearranged. Lugburz means "Dark Tower" in Black Speech and is commonly applied to the tower of Barad-dûr in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
. Nearly all songs from the demos were never released after or took place on CDs in a very different version.
The demos sold quite well in a record shop in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, called "Why not". Some time later Silenius got in contact with T.T. (Thomas Tannenberger), eventually leading to the birth of Abigor
Abigor
Abigor is an Austrian black metal band formed in 1993.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by P.K. and T.T. After the release of several demos, original vocalist Tharen left the band and was replaced by Silenius, who recorded vocals for all Abigor releases until the recording of Channeling the...
. Silenius ended up doing all vocals for Abigor releases (except the demos) as a permanent member until 1999. The first Abigor album was recorded for the young Napalm Records label, which led to Silenius managing to get a deal from Napalm for Summoning's debut Lugburz
Lugburz (album)
Lugburz is the first full length album by Summoning. This album consists mostly of demo songs which were rearranged. Lugburz means "Dark Tower" in Black Speech and is commonly applied to the tower of Barad-dûr in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
in 1995. At that time the members of Summoning were: Silenius - vocals, keyboards, bass; Protector - vocals, keyboards, guitar; Trifixion - drums (his last release with the band); Pazuzu lent some additional vocals and wrote some of the lyrics. Lugburz
Lugburz (album)
Lugburz is the first full length album by Summoning. This album consists mostly of demo songs which were rearranged. Lugburz means "Dark Tower" in Black Speech and is commonly applied to the tower of Barad-dûr in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
was more traditional black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
and very different from the band's later releases that would follow.
The band continued as a duo after the departure of Trifixion, releasing Minas Morgul
Minas Morgul (album)
Minas Morgul is the second full length album by Summoning. The band and many of their fans consider this album to be their debut album as it developed the "Summoning-sound" and brought the band to a larger audience.-Track listing:- Credits :...
in 1995. This was the band's first release in their new style, an epic and atmospheric style utilizing guitar purely as a background instrument and synth almost as a lead, using re-recorded early songs. Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur (album)
Dol Guldur is the third full length album by Summoning. All lyrics are written by P.K. of Abigor and J. R. R. Tolkien, who is even credited in the album booklet. The final track, "Over Old Hills" is taken from a song by Protector's solo project, Ice Ages....
, in 1996, continued this style and saw an influence from Protector's darkwave project Ice Ages. It also credits J.R.R. Tolkien for lyrics. In 1997, the Nightshade Forests
Nightshade Forests
Nightshade Forests is the first EP by Summoning. It consists of four songs left over from the Dol Guldur sessions in 1996.-Track listing:-Credits:*Protector - vocals, guitars, keyboards*Silenius - vocals, keyboards...
EP was released, and has since been included on the recent Dol Guldur pressings . After this, the band ceased all work for nearly two years, and also stopped work with many of their other music projects. But in 1999, Summoning returned with Stronghold which, while still in the classic Summoning style, focused more on guitar work to create melodic lines rather than keyboards and synthesizers than in previous releases.
In the year 2001 the follow-up Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame is the fifth full length album by Summoning. It is the first of their releases to feature clean vocals, on the chorus of "Farewell". It is also their first album to make extensive use of audio samples , giving the album a slight dramaturgic bent...
was released. This release was a kind of combination between the old and new style of Summoning, with the keyboard lines being more epic and polyphonic while the guitars bore a similarity with the more complex and rock-esque guitar-style from Stronghold. This time the band used more spoken-word samples to bring a more dramatic style to the songs and for the first time the band works with clear vocal choirs on the song Farewell. The lyrical concept again was totally based on Tolkien's Middle-Earth, but for the first time it was combined with some inspiration from Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
's fantasy writings. In 2003, they released the Lost Tales
Lost Tales (EP)
Lost Tales is the second EP by Summoning. It consists of two songs: "Arcenstone", that was originally written for Silenus' Mirkwood project and "Saruman", a song left over from the Dol Guldur sessions in 1996.-Credits:...
EP, which consisted of leftovers from the Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur (album)
Dol Guldur is the third full length album by Summoning. All lyrics are written by P.K. of Abigor and J. R. R. Tolkien, who is even credited in the album booklet. The final track, "Over Old Hills" is taken from a song by Protector's solo project, Ice Ages....
sessions.
2006 saw the release of Oath Bound
Oath Bound
-Notes:*The name Oath Bound was selected because of its relationship with the Silmarillion theme the album has, which is in reference to the Oath of Fëanor....
, which consisted of all new material. The long break between the latest two albums was due to struggles in the band members personal lives, along with lack of ideas. This album featured a "relaxed arpeggio style" guitar sound, which the gave a more epic feeling to the sound. They also had better equipment available to them for this album and were able to create greater choir vocals than they had done before. A 4-song mini CD was suggested for release in 2007 containing at least one song which didn't make it onto Oath Bound
Oath Bound
-Notes:*The name Oath Bound was selected because of its relationship with the Silmarillion theme the album has, which is in reference to the Oath of Fëanor....
due to size issues. However, this idea has been abandoned and Protector has begun work on music for a full-length release, while waiting for Silenius to finish recording the next Kreuzweg Ost
Kreuzweg Ost
Kreuzweg Ost is a darkwave/martial industrial project founded by Michael Gregor and Martin Schirenc. The music is a blend of world war-related samples and loops with booming sounds and instrumental pieces. There are no vocals; instead, the predominant samples are arranged so that they take the...
album.
Musical Characteristics
On their debut album LugburzLugburz (album)
Lugburz is the first full length album by Summoning. This album consists mostly of demo songs which were rearranged. Lugburz means "Dark Tower" in Black Speech and is commonly applied to the tower of Barad-dûr in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings...
, Summoning showed the musical traits of a more traditional, raw black metal band, although had a reverberated sound to the production. After this album, the band began to develop a slower, denser, and more epic sound to their music, showcased in such albums as 2001's Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame is the fifth full length album by Summoning. It is the first of their releases to feature clean vocals, on the chorus of "Farewell". It is also their first album to make extensive use of audio samples , giving the album a slight dramaturgic bent...
, and in their latest effort Oath Bound
Oath Bound
-Notes:*The name Oath Bound was selected because of its relationship with the Silmarillion theme the album has, which is in reference to the Oath of Fëanor....
. Their trademark sound is characterized by very minimalistic and quiet guitars often low in the mix, heavily programmed and reverberated drums, multi-layered synthesizer and keyboard melodies mimicking a full orchestra which often dominates the rest of the mix apart from the saturated drums. Vocals are still sung in the traditional black metal fashion, however vocals are often heavily reverberated as well. Male voice choir sections also make an appearance on the albums Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame is the fifth full length album by Summoning. It is the first of their releases to feature clean vocals, on the chorus of "Farewell". It is also their first album to make extensive use of audio samples , giving the album a slight dramaturgic bent...
(on the song Farewell) and Oath Bound
Oath Bound
-Notes:*The name Oath Bound was selected because of its relationship with the Silmarillion theme the album has, which is in reference to the Oath of Fëanor....
(On the songs Might And Glory and Land of the Dead).
Full Lengths
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
| 1995 | Lugburz Lugburz (album) Lugburz is the first full length album by Summoning. This album consists mostly of demo songs which were rearranged. Lugburz means "Dark Tower" in Black Speech and is commonly applied to the tower of Barad-dûr in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
| 1995 | Minas Morgul Minas Morgul (album) Minas Morgul is the second full length album by Summoning. The band and many of their fans consider this album to be their debut album as it developed the "Summoning-sound" and brought the band to a larger audience.-Track listing:- Credits :... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
| 1996 | Dol Guldur Dol Guldur (album) Dol Guldur is the third full length album by Summoning. All lyrics are written by P.K. of Abigor and J. R. R. Tolkien, who is even credited in the album booklet. The final track, "Over Old Hills" is taken from a song by Protector's solo project, Ice Ages.... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
| 1999 | Stronghold | Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
| 2001 | Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame is the fifth full length album by Summoning. It is the first of their releases to feature clean vocals, on the chorus of "Farewell". It is also their first album to make extensive use of audio samples , giving the album a slight dramaturgic bent... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
| 2006 | Oath Bound Oath Bound -Notes:*The name Oath Bound was selected because of its relationship with the Silmarillion theme the album has, which is in reference to the Oath of Fëanor.... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
EPs
| Date of Release | Title | Label |
| 1997 | Nightshade Forests Nightshade Forests Nightshade Forests is the first EP by Summoning. It consists of four songs left over from the Dol Guldur sessions in 1996.-Track listing:-Credits:*Protector - vocals, guitars, keyboards*Silenius - vocals, keyboards... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
| 2003 | Lost Tales Lost Tales (EP) Lost Tales is the second EP by Summoning. It consists of two songs: "Arcenstone", that was originally written for Silenus' Mirkwood project and "Saruman", a song left over from the Dol Guldur sessions in 1996.-Credits:... |
Napalm Records Napalm Records Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg.... |
Line-up
- ProtectorRichard Lederer (musician)Richard Lederer is an Austrian metal musician most notable for being a member in the bands Summoning, Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, and Ice Ages...
: Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards - SileniusMichael Gregor (musician)Michael Gregor is an Austrian musician who is currently in the bands Amestigon as vocalist, Kreuzweg Ost as programmer, and Summoning as vocalist, keyboardist, and bassist; the two latter bands are bands that he is a founding member of. He supplied vocals for Abigor from 1994 to 1999 and appeared...
: Bass, Vocals, Keyboards
Guest musicians
- Trifixion: Drums on Lugburz
- Pazuzu: Vocal parts on Lugburz
- Tania Borsky: Female Vocals on Stronghold
Related Bands
Protector (Richard LedererRichard Lederer (musician)
Richard Lederer is an Austrian metal musician most notable for being a member in the bands Summoning, Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, and Ice Ages...
) is engaged in other projects
- Die Verbannten Kinder EvasDie Verbannten Kinder EvasDie Verbannten Kinder Evas is an Austrian music project signed to Napalm Records, which was founded in 1993 by Richard Lederer and Michael Gregor.- Biography :...
: Dark wave project, http://www.dvke.info/ - Ice AgesIce Ages (band)Ice Ages is an Austrian dark electro / industrial band signed to Napalm Records. The band is a one-man band consisting of Richard Lederer from Summoning and Die Verbannten Kinder Evas.-Biography:...
: A melodic kind of EBM, http://www.iceages.info
Silenius (Michael Gregor) is the creator and sole member of Kreuzweg Ost
Kreuzweg Ost
Kreuzweg Ost is a darkwave/martial industrial project founded by Michael Gregor and Martin Schirenc. The music is a blend of world war-related samples and loops with booming sounds and instrumental pieces. There are no vocals; instead, the predominant samples are arranged so that they take the...
. Silenius also served as the vocalist for the Austrian black metal band Abigor
Abigor
Abigor is an Austrian black metal band formed in 1993.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by P.K. and T.T. After the release of several demos, original vocalist Tharen left the band and was replaced by Silenius, who recorded vocals for all Abigor releases until the recording of Channeling the...
between 1994 and 1999. Silenius Is also an active member in Amestigon, a pagan black metal band, as well as Shadow Vale, and Mirkwood, both of which are Darkwave Ambient projects.
Other bands with friends of Summoning are listed on their website http://www.summoning.info under links.
External links
- Official website
- Summoning at Napalm RecordsNapalm RecordsNapalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock.Originally, Napalm Records focused mainly on black metal acts such as Abigor and Summoning and folk metal bands such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg....
- Summoning Interview in Horror Garage