Reviews list for Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn (2013)

Summoning's best and most consistent album since Stronghold

Ah, Old Mornings Dawn. I remember this was one of my most anticipated releases of 2013... and boy did it deliver!

With each listen, I come to love this album more. It's definitely a grower. The band present their trademarked sonic textures (evoking ancient enchanted woods, etc.) as powerfully as ever, with each song sending you into a spellbinding journey through the misty valleys and dark forests of the album cover to discover forbidden wonders. Flammifer, Caradhas and Earthshine will join songs like "Land of the Dead" and "Long Lost To Where No Pathway Goes" in the elite group of Summoning's best.

Some superb lyrics from the duo once again, performed passionately alongside melodies that will make you weep and guitar chord progressions to send shivers down your spine. I also love their increased use of choirs and brass instruments in this album. They are used frequently, in just about every song in fact, but not overdone or tacky - in a way that reminds me of neofolk/darkwave artists like Dead Can Dance or Sopor Aeternus. 

I also must note that the second half of Earthshine is the best thing ever. If you like any of Summoning's previous or future work, just do yourself a favor and get this album. 

Highlights: Flammifer, Old Mornings Dawn, The White Tower, Caradhras, Earthshine

I originally dismissed Summoning as an artist that simply wasn't for me back in the 1990's & haven't given them another chance since but after seeing the positive response to this record I thought it might be time to give them another try.  

My first impression of "Old Mornings Dawn" is that it doesn't sound like your average symphonic black metal band. They use the drum programming as a differentiator in that they don't simply try to mimic a drummer. They use it more like an electronic musician would which opens up a world of potential. Unfortunately these drum sounds are quite out-dated. I had a cheap drum machine in the late 1990's that sounded better than these in my opinion. I also have a background in the techno scene so I find the programming to be pretty simple & primitive in comparison.  

I quite enjoy the vocals & some of the riffs. Each song has some catchy hooks too so I can see why people find Summoning endearing however I have a real aversion to cheesy melodies & there are plenty of those to counteract my overall enjoyment of the album. As with the drums, the synth sounds seem pretty cheap & out-dated to me. The medieval feel of these horn & pan flute lines leaves me cringing a lot of the time. Each time I start to get emotionally engaged one of these melodies will arrive to put me off again.  

Overall this is a frustrating album for me. I can see it's a good example of it's type & I enjoy the fact that it doesn't sound like everyone else. There are some elements that I really like about almost every song however I can never really get comfortable with it due to the medieval cheese factor. I honestly think that I have a problem with Summoning on a conceptual level as much as anything. If I'm honest with myself I really don't want my black metal to sound like this. I like a much darker & more tense style & I can't really relate to the atmosphere Summoning work with a lot of the time.