Summoning "Lugburz"

Summoning was formed sometime in 1993 by Silenius (Michael Gregor), Protector (Richard Lederer) and Trifixion (Alexander Trondl). Before creating Summoning, Protector was playing drums in a thrash/death metal band called Marlignom and had embarked on a four-year study of drums in music school. Silenius was in a doom metal band Shadow Vale (at 16 years old) and had a few years in music school studying piano. Before Summoning, Silenius was making music, together with Pazuzu (Ray Wells) in a band Cromm. Trifixion played in the band Pervertum.

Summoning recorded two demos (Upon the Viking's Stallion and Anno Mortiri Domini), as well as a split with the Austrian band Pazuzu (The Urilia Text) and a five-track promo tape for Lugburz. Nearly all songs from the demos were never released after or took place on CDs in a very different version.

The demos sold quite well in a record shop in Vienna called "Why not". Some time later Silenius got in contact with T.T. (Thomas Tannenberger), eventually leading to the birth of Abigor. Silenius ended up doing all vocals for Abigor releases (except the demos) as a permanent member until 1999. The first Abigor album was recorded for the young Napalm Records label, which led to Silenius managing to get a deal from Napalm for Summoning's debut Lugburz in 1995. At that time the members of Summoning were: Silenius – vocals, keyboards, bass; Protector – vocals, keyboards, guitar; Trifixion – drums (his last release with the band); Pazuzu lent some additional vocals and wrote some of the lyrics. Lugburz was more traditional black metal and very different from the band's later releases that would follow.

Track list:

1. Grey Heavens 01:44   
2. Beyond Bloodred Horizons 03:37  
3. Flight of the Nazgul 07:07  
4. Where Winters Forever Cry 04:04  
5. Through the Valley of the Frozen Kingdom 06:22  
6. Raising with the Battle-Orcs 05:44  
7. Master of the Old Lure 04:14  
8. Between Light and Darkness 03:29  
9. The Eternal Lands of Fire 03:36   
10. Dragons of Time 06:01  
11. Moondance 04:46  

Total Time: 50:44

Lugburz in Tolkien's dark speech means "Dark Tower".

Cover artwork is by Mark Harrison and is taken from Roger Taylor's novel The Fall of Fyorlund (1989).

Recording information:

Recorded and mixed at Beowulf Studio. 

Mastered at Tonstudio Hörnix.