Review by Rexorcist for Summoning - Stronghold (1999)

Summoning's Stronghold is one of the very first atmo-black metal albums I had ever heard, and I think it was my first symphonic black album.  At the time I was absolutely astounded with what I has heard for the first time, altough now I give Emperor the lead in symphonic black metal, and black metal in general.  Stronghold had been near the top of my black metals list for a long time because it's a perfect album for nerds who want to be serious metalheads.  You really can't mock Stronghold for any fantasy cheese since it's such a serious and atmospheric album.

Stronghold builds itself on many of the best compositions that the band had thought of up to that point.  It was their fourth album, and their previous two already proved that they had merit and a good niche market that appealed to both metalheads and dungeon synth fans, continuing Emperor's schtick with an LOTR theme.  But this the the album where they fully fleshed it out and made the most of their atmospheric and melodic capabilities.  Sure, the album doesn't boast the kind of variety that got so many to love Burzum's Filosofem (a problem they would remedy on the next album, Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame), but this album is all about strong, perfect and sometimes frightening atmospheres.  The ghosts of the elves are wailing in a low requiem mass as the synths and blackened guitars join forces with a slow pace backed up by a clever drummer who adds his own epic layer to each song.  I guess if I had to pick a favorite song from this album, it would be "Where Hope and Daylight Die."

This is one of the best LOTR albums you're going to find.  The same epica and adventure is told through a powerful black atmosphere that will suck you directly into Middle-Earth, even if you're the type of metalhead that can't stand cheese.  Summoning might not be as innovative in symphonic black as Emperor, but they're essential to the genre largely for this album, and I agree with its cult status.