This definitely isn't one of the best black metal albums out there but I really think it's a bit underrated. While most of the songs are dismissable, Grey Heavens, Beyond Bloodred Horizons and Flight of the Nazgul are three wonderful, consecutive songs.

A very underrated album, even among Summoning fans.

^ Definitely. Personally I find the over-the-top epic stuff a little too much for me, while this is "simple" enough to enjoy.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 27.03.2011 at 19:32

^ Definitely. Personally I find the over-the-top epic stuff a little too much for me, while this is "simple" enough to enjoy.

It was already atmospheric and a hint at what the band would become, though it is basically raw underproduced Black Metal.
Different from any other Summoning album but a very interesting release. However, lots of people dislike it because, according to them, it "sounds like shit". Imo, the production is borderline shitty here and there but it's part of the album's charm.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 27.03.2011 at 19:32

Personally I find the over-the-top epic stuff a little too much for me, while this is "simple" enough to enjoy.

Which is why Minas Morgul is good, a perfect blend of when they actually played black metal with more than a hint of what was to come. As well as being kinda bland and unspectacular I find this record has far too many annoying characteristics and lacking in the identity the band would carve.

Written by [user id=4365] on 27.03.2011 at 20:05

Written by Troy Killjoy on 27.03.2011 at 19:32

Personally I find the over-the-top epic stuff a little too much for me, while this is "simple" enough to enjoy.

Which is why Minas Morgul is good, a perfect blend of when they actually played black metal with more than a hint of what was to come. As well as being kinda bland and unspectacular I find this record has far too many annoying characteristics and lacking in the identity the band would carve.

I put both this and MM on the same scale. I prefer Lugburz slightly as it's more primitive and the production is incredibly raw compared to anything else they've done, but Minas Morgul added a lot of their "epic" influence without going too far.

Not even a minute of boring stuff here, kept me hooked right from start to end. Especially love the atmospheric albeit raw production and the incredibly good songwriting. Overall, a very solid black metal record.

Written by RavenKing on 26.03.2011 at 20:17

A very underrated album, even among Summoning fans.

Because we know summoning from more less ambient some kind a BM sound, its rawwish old school in old Norvegian primitive BM sound what bands had back there in days and many still has.

Best summoning album.

I definitely prefer this era/sound of Summoning to their newer outputs.

Like I wrote on the getting-into article: This is an underrated album mostly because the fan-bae is generally not into rawer black metal. It's not as unique as what followed but you can clearly hear it's Summoning. I find it a very interesting album in regards to the melodies involved which you can hear more in the guitars than the keyboards. The riffing on "Flight Of The Nazgul" is excellent.

I consider Trifixion's performance on the drumkit to be very violent and effective. And on a track like "Where Winters Forever Cry" the whole ordeal gets very unique with a danceable beat. This track i worth mentioning just for the beats alone. "Master Of The Old Lure" is absolute violent and relentless. The vocals are also particularly disguting and they never sounded like this again. Their most "orc" sound by far and some of the high-pitched shrieks could have been used in the future. It's a rough album but it's till mandatory listening for Summoning fans.