Summoning

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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Mirdautas vras!

I have...I have been a sword in the hand and
I have been a shield in the fight and
I have been the string of a harp and

I can shift my shape like a god!
Farewell

Summoning was formed in 1993 by drinking buddies Richard Lederer, Michael Gregor and Alexander Trondl, who met in a pub in Austria. They secured a deal with Napalm Records in 1995 and released their debut Lugburz, a traditional Black Metal album that was quite different from their later projects.

Shortly after recording Lugburz, Trondl was kicked from the band for being "a commercial-thinking asshole". Lederer and Gregor continued as a duo, and instead of getting a new drummer changed to keyboard percussion to produce a more epic, atmospheric style. They combined this with low-key guitars and multi-layered synthesizer and keyboard melodies mimicking a full orchestra, while retaining the growling vocals to produce what would become the trademark Summoning sound. Most of their lyrics were inspired by the works of JRR Tolkien, with some songs taking lyrics straight from poems/songs in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

They released five more albums in this style: Minas Morgul; Dol Guldur; Stronghold, which put more emphasis on more complex and melodic guitar work; Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame, the first album to feature clean vocal sections; and Oath Bound, characterised by relaxed, arpeggio-style guitars.

Since Oath Bound, both members have taken time out to work on other projects, with Lederer working on music for a full-length release while waiting for Gregor to finish recording the next album for his solo band Kreuzweg Ost.

Their current line-up is:

  • Richard "Protector" Lederer
  • Michael "Silenius" Gregor

Former members include:

  • Alexander "Trifixion" Trondl - Drums
  • Ray "Pazazu" Wells - Guest vocals on Lugburz
  • Tania Borsky - Guest vocals on Stronghold
Discography:
  • Lugburz (1995)
  • Minas Morgul (1995)
  • Dol Guldur (1996)
  • Stronghold (1999)
  • Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame (2001)
  • Oath Bound (2006)
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