Country of origin:
Austria
Location:
Vienna
Status:
Active
Formed in:
1993
Genre:
Epic/Atmospheric Black Metal
Themes:
Occult (early); Fantasy (Tolkien, Moorcock), Medieval themes, Nature (later)
Current label:
Napalm Records
Years active:
1993-present
Summoning's first song with programmed drums (recorded in the spring of 1995) was featured exclusively on the 1995 Napalm Records compilation CD With Us or Against Us. Apart from Trifixion's work between 1993 and 1995, Summoning has always used a drum machine. Summoning's first song with programmed drums (recorded in the spring of 1995) was featured exclusively on the 1995 Napalm Records compilation CD With Us or Against Us. Apart from Trifixion's work between 1993 and 1995, Summoning has always used a drum machine.
Summoning is an atmospheric and epic black metal band from Vienna, Austria, formed in 1993. The group is known for its expansive, keyboard‑driven sound that blends black metal with epic, medieval and fantasy‑inspired atmospheres, often drawing lyrical and conceptual influence from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle‑earth and other fantasy literature. Since 1995 the core lineup has consisted of Silenius and Protector, who handle vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and programmed drums without ever performing live. Their early work was more traditional black metal, but starting with Minas Morgul the band developed a distinctive, immersive style that has remained consistent through multiple albums. Over the years Summoning has released a series of full‑length albums and EPs on Napalm Records, including Lugburz, Minas Morgul, Dol Guldur, Stronghold, Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame, Oath Bound, Old Mornings Dawn and With Doom We Come. They are regarded as pioneers of atmospheric fantasy‑oriented black metal and have maintained a cult following across the metal underground
Summoning was part of the Austrian Black Metal Syndicate, along with Abigor, Cromm, Golden Dawn, Knechte des Schreckens, Pazuzu, Pervertum, Trifixion, and Vuzem.
Compilation appearances:
- "No Named Song" on Winterthrone Sampler Tape (1994)
- "Untitled" on With Us Or Against Us (Napalm Records, 1995)
- "Flight of the Nazgul" on Das Heilige Blut (Dunklen Kunst, cassette, 1995)
- "Nightshade Forests" on Mystic Art Vol. 2 (Mystic Arts Productions, 1997)
- "Flesh and Blood" on With Us Or Against Us Volume 2 (Napalm Records, 1997)
- "Lugburz" on Revolution Of The Dead Souls (1998)
- "Like Some Snow - White Marble Eyes" on Metal Explosion N°13 (Metallian Editions, 1999)
- "Long Lost Where No Pathman Goes" on Darkness Is Thy Kingdom - A Journey Into Dark-Metal Sounds - Volume 2 (Zoomshot Media Entertainment, 1999)
- "Like Some Snow - White Marble Eyes" on Black Metal Vol. 2 (Hard N' Heavy, 1999)
- "Long Lost So Where No Pathway Goes" on Mystic Art Vol. 7 (Mystic Production, 1999)
- "Long Lost to Where No Pathman Goes" on With Us Or Against Us Volume 3 (Napalm Records, 1999)
- "Dol Guldur (1996)" album on Black Metall Collection II CD-ROM (KorAx Multimedia, 2000)
- "Farewell" on Metal Hammer (Metal Hammer, 2001)
- "South Away" on Mystic Art Vol. 17 (Mystic Art, 2001)
- "Farewell" on Hell Awaits CD Sampler N°5 (Hell Awaits, 2002)
- "Runes of Power" on KnuckleTracks XLI (Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles, CD, 2002)
- "Saruman" on Primal Rock (TX2 Holland, 2003)
- "Land of the Dead" on Fear Candy 27 (Terrorizer Magazine, 2006)
- "Land of the Dead" on Maximum Metal Vol. 102 (Metal Hammer, 2006)
- "Land of the Dead (Edit)" on The Realm Of Napalm Records bonus CD (Napalm Records, 2006)
- "Land of the Dead" on Rock Tribune - CD Sampler Maart 2006 (Rock Tribune Magazine, 2006)
- "Land of the Dead" on Loud Sounds #42 (Rock Hard, 2006)
- "Old Mornings Dawn" on Symphonic Metal 7 - Dark & Beautiful (Golden Core Records, 2014)
- "Old Mornings Dawn" on The World of Symphonic Metal (ZYX Music, 2016)
- "Valley of the Frozen Kingdom" on Sophistication Tape
- "Morthond" on Metal Collection 2: Ragnarok CD-Rom (Deconstruction)
| Current | |
| Silenius | Vocals, Bass, Keyboards (1993-present) |
| See also: Abigor, Amestigon, ex-Cromm, ex-Kreuzweg Ost, Mirkwood (Aut), Shadow Vale, ex-Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, ex-Pazuzu | |
| Protector | Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Drum programming (1993-present) |
| See also: Ice Ages, ex-Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, Brachialilluminator (live), ex-Grabesmond, ex-Malignom, ex-Pazuzu, ex-Sanguis et Cinis, ex-Whispers in the Shadow | |
| Past | |
| Trifixion | Drums, Vocals (1993-1995) |
| See also: ex-Charnel God, ex-Pervertum, ex-Trifixion, ex-Werwolf, ex-Pazuzu, ex-[´hush], ex-Spicecake, ex-Vienna Subs | |
| Anno Mortui Domini | Demo | 1993 | |
| Upon the Viking Stallion | Demo | 1993 | |
| Lugburz - Demo 94 | Demo | 1994 | |
| Promo Tape 94 | Demo | 1994 | |
| Creation of the Dark Age | Split | 1994 | |
| The Urilia Text | Split | 1994 | |
| Lugburz | Full-length | 1995 | |
| Minas Morgul | Demo | 1995 | |
| Minas Morgul | Full-length | 1995 | |
| Nightshade Forests / Lugburz | Compilation | 1997 | |
| Dol Guldur | Full-length | 1997 | |
| Nightshade Forests | EP | 1997 | |
| Stronghold | Full-length | 1999 | |
| Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame | Full-length | 2001 | |
| Lost Tales | EP | 2003 | |
| Oath Bound | Full-length | 2006 | |
| Sounds of Middle-Earth | Boxed set | 2007 | |
| Old Mornings Dawn | Full-length | 2013 | |
| With Doom I Come | Single | 2017 | |
| With Doom We Come | Full-length | 2018 |