Summoning

Dol Guldur (1996)

Dol Guldur escapes the normal "darkness" that encapsulates many black metal artists, creating vast fantasy epic soundscapes, that still share the gritty idealism of the genre at its best but in a light that is as majestic as anything that came before or after it. Poignant and beautifully emotive melodic work allows for visions of glorious life-affirming scenes. The band transcend hatred for modern society, so often a limitation of lessor artists, and extrapolate their vision that summons the mythological beliefs of the ancients into a future of vast potential. Each song cycle is carefully developed, with an eye to detail, and resolution of the themes therein. Long winding rivers of melody join one another, with use of a second guitar and synth instruments for both polyphony and counter-point, slowly tempting immersion, lulling the listener into a world of fantasy and possibility, through gradually evolving mood. Summoning create the music of victory, a joyous celebration of life after the battle has been won.