Summoning

Summoning is the definitive architect of 'Epic Black Metal,' a subgenre that prioritizes Tolkien-inspired atmosphere over traditional speed or technicality. Formed in Vienna in 1993, the duo of Silenius and Protector pivoted from the raw black metal of their debut 'Lugburz' to a synth-heavy, mid-paced sound on 'Minas Morgul' that would define their career.

R. Tolkien, and a 'wall of sound' production style where guitars provide a textural drone beneath melodic synth leads. They are a studio-only project, having never performed live, which has contributed to their mystique and allowed them to focus on complex, multi-layered compositions. Their influence is massive within the 'black synth' and 'dungeon synth' communities, spawning a wave of 'Summoning-core' bands like Caladan Brood. Critical consensus views them as one of the few black metal acts to successfully integrate symphonic elements without losing the genre's essential grit and underground spirit.