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 thrash/death metal band called Marlignom and had embarked on a four-year study of drums in music school. Silenius was in a doom metal 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. 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 called "Why not". Some time later Silenius got in contact with T.T. (Thomas Tannenberger), eventually leading to the birth of Abigor. 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 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 was more traditional black metal 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 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, 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 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 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's fantasy writings. In 2003, they released the Lost Tales EP, which consisted of leftovers from the Dol Guldur sessions.
2006 saw the release of Oath Bound, which consisted of all new material. The long break between Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame and Oath Bound was due to struggles in the band members' personal lives, along with lack of ideas. Oath Bound featured a "relaxed arpeggio style" guitar sound, which gave a more epic feeling to the sound of the album. The band also had higher-quality equipment available to them for the recording of the 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 due to size issues, however, this idea was abandoned and Protector instead began work on music for a full-length release while waiting for Silenius to finish recording the next Kreuzweg Ost album.
Following the release of Oath Bound, Summoning entered a period of inactivity. Silenius experienced a creative block and lacked inspiration for creating new music for Summoning. He also suffered a heart-attack which "knocked me out for another half a year, but somehow all this brought me to a point where I got hungry again and since then I concentrated again on making riffs. Everything started in small steps. but after a while I knew in which direction the music was going and the more I knew this, the easier it was to compose and the result is what you hear now."
In February 2012, the band announced on their website that they were in the process of writing new songs, and were hoping to have most of the songs complete by the end of the year. In December 2012 it was announced that all the guitars and Protector's vocal parts for the new album were complete and that the upcoming album would be entitled Old Mornings Dawn. Old Mornings Dawn was released in June 2013 on Napalm Records and lyrically focuses mostly on nature themes, as well as J.R.R. Tolkien's Valinor.
In 2015 the band confirmed that they had already begun working on creating a new album, and were focused on rewriting some of the leftover material from Old Mornings Dawn.
On December 15, 2016 a compilation tribute album titled 'In Mordor Where The Shadows Are - Homage to Summoning' was released by Wolfspell Records. The album features covers of 21 different Summoning songs by artists such as Caladan Brood and Emyn Muil.
On August 12, 2017, Summoning posted an update on their official Facebook page noting that despite troubles, setbacks and disputes, the band's new album will be released in January 2018 through Napalm Records. The band posted a teaser of the new music, although they did not disclose the name of the forthcoming album.
On October 1, 2017, Summoning posted an update on their Facebook page announcing the title of the album as With Doom We Come. The album was subsequently released on January 5, 2018.
The band's debut album Lugburz was a traditional black metal album, with a raw, lo-fi production style. On their following album Minas Morgul the band's sound changed significantly, and has been characterised as "a departure from straight black metal in favor of bold atmospheric experimentation which retains a definite blackened feel." The band's sound has remained relatively consistent since then. The band's sound is frequently described as 'epic, 'hypnotic', and 'atmospheric', and makes extensive use of keyboards, choir vocals, clean singing, synthesized instruments, and programmed drums. Though the drums are programmed, they are played using a keyboard rather than with a drum machine. Their sound has been described as "a particularly widescreen version of progressive black metal, a style that more recently has been infused with an almost medieval strain of twiddly folk music of the lutes 'n' flutes variety." The band's music is deeply influenced by the literature of J. R. R. Tolkien, particularly The Lord of the Rings. Most of the band's lyrics are derived from Tolkien's own works. Silenius has claimed to be influenced by dark wave and ritualistic music as well as fantasy literature.
The band has said that they consider themselves to be composers rather than musicians and do not practice together before recording. Guitarist Protector does not own a guitar and has used a different borrowed guitar for every recording since Dol Guldur.
Old Mornings Dawn
Summoning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and in the halls still doth thy spirit sing
songs of old memory amid thy present tears,
or hope of days to come half sad with many fears.
Though along thy paths no longer runs
while war untimely takes thy many sons,
no tide of treason can thy glory drown
I am the blood!
Old mornings dawn,
i am not the light you see,
but only that which is falling on me.
The misty stars thy crown, the night thy dress,
most peerless magical thou dost possess my heart,
and old days come to life again,
old mornings dawn...
In these lyrics, Summoning is recalling a golden era of the past, and juxtaposing it with the uncertain present. The first stanza suggests a sense of nostalgia for old memories, while also acknowledging the current state of affairs - perhaps alluding to a time of war, which has seen many sons lost. Despite this, the glory of the past remains unyielding, and the stars continue to shine in the sky, as if to remind those below of the greatness that once was. The second stanza speaks more personally - the singer claims to be a part of this legacy, representing the blood of those who fought and died for their cause. The final lines offer a sense of hope, as the singer looks to the future with a renewed sense of possibility, and the idea of "old mornings dawn" serves as a reminder that, no matter how dark the current time may be, the sun will rise again.
Overall, these lyrics evoke a sense of longing for a time that has passed, while also recognizing the challenges of the present. They offer a reminder that, even in the face of adversity, there is always the possibility for change and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
The windy years have strewn down distant ways;
The passing of time has taken us far from past experiences.
and in the halls still doth thy spirit sing
The memory of those experiences still resonates within us.
songs of old memory amid thy present tears,
Our current circumstances bring forth mixed emotions of joy and sorrow based on past experiences.
or hope of days to come half sad with many fears.
Anticipation of the future brings with it apprehension and uncertain expectation.
Though along thy paths no longer runs
The paths we have traveled are long gone.
while war untimely takes thy many sons,
Violent conflict robs us of our loved ones before their time.
no tide of treason can thy glory drown
The honor and respect we hold for past experiences cannot be taken away by any form of deception or betrayal.
robed in sad majesty, the stars thy crown.
Though we are somber, we remain dignified and hold on to the memory of our past achievements.
I am the blood!
Our essence is deeply rooted in these experiences, and they will forever be a part of us.
Old mornings dawn,
We reflect on the past and embrace its significance.
i am not the light you see,
We do not stand out but remain humble in our acknowledgment of the past.
but only that which is falling on me.
We receive the light of the past and allow it to shape us accordingly.
The misty stars thy crown, the night thy dress,
The mysterious nature of the past is what contributes to its enduring power.
most peerless magical thou dost possess my heart,
We are deeply moved and inspired by these memories.
and old days come to life again,
Our reflections allow us to relive the past and truly appreciate its significance.
old mornings dawn...
We are reminded of the power of the past and how it shapes us in the present.
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Yt
38:37 Of Pale White Morns And Darkened Eves
Here many days once gently past me crept
in this dear town of old forgetfulness;
here all entwined in dreams once long I slept
and heard no echo of the world's distress
For here the castle and the mighty tower,
more grey and dim than long cold autumn rain,
sleep, nor sunlit moment nor triumphal hour,
wakes their old lords too long in slumber lain.
Like moments clustered in a crowded year,
today's great sadness, or tomorrow's fear;
faint echoes fade within their drowsy halls
like ghost; the daylight creeps across their walls.
Jesus Christ, is that fucking song about depression or what? it speaks way too much to me rn
Muhammad Nusairat
Flammifer
Beneath the moon and under star
he wandered far from northern strands,
bewildered on enchanted ways
beyond the days of mortal lands.
Through evernight he back was borne
on black and roaring waves that ran
o’er leagues unlit and foundered shores
that drownded before the days began.
His sword of steel was valiant,
of adamant his helmet tall,
an eagle-plume upon his crest,
upon his breast an emerald.
3. Old Mornings Dawn
The windy years have strewn down distant ways;
and in the halls still doth thy spirit sing
songs of old memory amid thy present tears,
or hope of days to come half sad with many fears.
Though along thy paths no longer runs
while war untimely takes thy many sons,
no tide of treason can thy glory drown
robed in sad majesty, the stars thy crown.
I am the blood!
Old mornings dawn,
i am not the light you see,
but only that which is falling on me.
The misty stars thy crown, the night thy dress,
most peerless magical thou dost possess my heart,
and old days come to life again,
old mornings dawn...
4. The White Tower
While, i, look at the moon ... alone i look out under moonlight
From in my windy tower ... from in my white and windy tower
Ye bide no moment and await no hour,
But go with solemn song and harpers tune
Through the darkest night ... through darkest night and shadow seashores
To the distant trees, the trees that brought the light to valar
Whose fruit and flower are the moon and sun,
Where light of earth is ended and begun.
Here only comes at whiles a wind to blow
Returning now down .... down the way ye go,
With perfume place, and places of unearthly trees ... of unearthly trees
Here only long ... afar through window pane
I glimpse the sound of the golden rain
that falls now down ... for ever on the outer seas ... on the outer seas.
Ir in-elenath gwennin
I' il thinna,i amar u-dartha
Am man darthon, a linnon
Nu galad hen fireb?
(When the starry host has departed
The star fades,the world does not wait
Why do i linger and sing
Under this fading mortal light?)
5. Caradhras
When winter winds are piercing chill,
and through the hawthorn blows the gale,
with solemn feet i tread the peak,
that overbrows the mountains vale.
Redhorn; my doom!
Where twisted round the barren oak,
the winter vine in beauty clung,
and howling winds the stillness broke,
the crystal icicle is hung.
Redhorn; my doom!
But still wild music is abroad,
pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
and gathering winds, in hoarse accord,
amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.
High upon the land,
on the highest (mountain) peak i hear
(the echoes of) the world profound.
6. Of Pale White Morns And Darkened Eves
Here many days once gently past me crept
in this dear town of old forgetfulness;
here all entwined in dreams once long i slept
and heard no echo of the world’s distress
For here the castle and the mighty tower,
more grey and dim than long cold autumn rain,
sleep, nor sunlit moment nor triumphal hour,
wakes their old lords too long in slumber lain.
Like moments clustered in a crowded year,
today’s great sadness, or tomorrow’s fear;
faint echoes fade within their drowsy halls
like ghost; the daylight creeps across their walls.
7. The Wandering Fire
The wandering fire .... the fire woodlands filling;
in glades for ever green it glows,
In dells immortal immortal dew distilling
The flower that in secret fragrance grows.
Uncounted leagues away it lies from here,
And foam there flowers ... there flowers upon the sea
By cliffs of crystal ... of crystal carven clear
On shining beaches ... beaches blowing free.
Through the gleaming ... vales its singing going,
Were breathing keen on bent and briar
The wind beyond ... beyond the world's end blowing
To living flame the wandering fire.
Uncounted leagues away it lies from here,
And foam there flowers ... there flowers upon the sea
By cliffs of crystal ... of crystal carven clear
On shining beaches ... beaches blowing free.
The wandering fire .... the fire with tongues of flame
With light there ... there kindles quick and clear
The land forgotten ... of long forgotten name:
No man may ever may ever anchor near
8. Earthshine
Heard you the sound ... the sound of the muffled drum
And all the trumpets mournful blast
They tell that the time ... that the combatant's time has come
to all his dreams of glory past
Sealed till the last ... the last deep trumpet shake,
The earth with all its awful sound
Then shall the dead ... the dead arousing, wake,
While even nature sinks around!
The mother weeps ... she weeps her beloved son,
Who was her hope her joy her pride
He was the one ... the widows only one
For him she surely would have died
Her pilgrimage is nearly past,
her every earthly woe,
like the ancient tree that falls at last
when wintry tempests blow
What marvel that she wildly cries
For the grave its prey to yield?
oh what avail are tears or sighs
his earthly doom is seald.
Don't grieve for me
I'm not there
I am the gentle autumn rain
Hold up my lamp to light your way
farewell to thee
9. The Darkening Of Valinor
[Special Edition Bonus Track]
Fair shall the end be!
We will never turn back from pursuit.
War shall he have and hatred undying.
We and we alone shall be lords of the unsullied Light, and masters of the bliss and beauty of Arda.
Fair shall the end be!
We will never turn back from pursuit.
War shall he have and hatred undying.
10. With Fire And Sword
[Special Edition Bonus Track]
Only the weak believe,
that what they do in battle,
is who the are as men
Far in the north neath hills of stone
in caverns black there was a throne,
by flame encircled there the smoke
in coiling collumns rose to choke.
Slowly his shadow like a cloud
rode from the north and on the proud
that would not yield his vengance fell;
to death or thraldom under hell
With fire and sword his ruin red
and all that would not bow the head
like lightning fell the northern land
lay groaning neath his ghastly hand.
Gorlung
AUTUMN! The time has come to listen to Summoning!
The Luc1f3r
yeah, autumn depressions incoming
Sebastian
I'm cracking it open - mid winter. -40c outside. Bleak
S. R.
Every day of every season is good to listen summoning 🖤
Mari Sinclair
Autumn in Austria to be exact. I was there, listening to Summoning all the way.
Carly Karvalho
To mine in all the fuck year lol lol
khold 75
One of favourite and best albums of all time 🤘🔥🎶🎵🖤🎩🥂. What a masterpiece!!! 👏👏👏🤘🔥🕯🕯🎶🎵🖤🎩🥂
hyperionsweofficial
Very few bands stay true to their original musical roots and still manage to make high quality music say 15 + years have passed. Summoning is a good example of that kind of band indeed.
T 4.2
ROOT also does this.
Yasodhara Gautama
Well observed. Many banda loose their quality through the years.