Customer Reviews

Dol Guldur

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dol Guldur was once a man stronghold, but it got recaptured many times by the forces of darkness. It was once the place of the recovering Sauron. The 2nd song, Nightshade Forests, is a great black metal song that clocks near 10 minutes. "Kor" is my favorite song (also near 10 minutes), very fast guitars, min synth use and blackened lung vokills of Protector. "Unto a long glory.." begins as a slow, frightening intro and is great altogether. I love listening to all Summoning albums while reading LOTR books, as it creates the perfect anthem.

It's my favourite cd ever among with his following EP. His atmosphere is haunting! This album is a real triumphant.
Hard to believe that this album sounded ridiculous to me on the first hearings.
It's the most suitable Summoning cd for using as "Lord of the rings" Soundtrack (way more than other summoning works). From the first key of the intro, 'till the last fading echoes of "Over Old Hills", the music is nothing but an amazing SoundScape for Tolkien's work!

1. Angbands schmieden is proberly my fav intro ever. it just drives you in seconds to the album athmosphere.

2. Nightshade forests - AMAZING SONG! Great one to open the album with.. (Proberly in summoning top 5)

3. Elfstone - it's undoubtedly an astounding achievement, and has some of the greatest and most emotional highlights i had the pleasure to hear.

4. Khazad Dum - For many fans it's the best song through the album.

5. Kor - This song is in a bit diffrent mood and production.. not the highlight of the album but still enjoyable.

6. Wyrmvater glaurung - 2nd instrumental. Preparing you for the ending 2 tracks.

7. Unto long glory... - Brilliant majestic battle song!!! Good to hear while reading any battle from tolkien mythology

8. Over old hills - One of my fav songs ever made. Simply amazing track bringing you the sad story of "the cottage of lost play" from "lost tales I".

Musically, calling this music "Black Metal" would be a terrible injustice. this music is just from a diffrent realm - we're not talking here about metal clubs & live shows music.
SSMT: "Dol Guldur is less about music in and of itself, and more about an experience, about a place in the darker recesses of the mind - obscured by the mundane everyday existence."

Just GET IT (or kill yourself), and play it while you're reading "Lord of the rings" Books!

Don't forget to check out the follower EP "Nightshade Forests" which contains 3 songs which originaly wrote for "Dol Guldur", plus another track.

Without doubt, this is one of the most important metal albums ever recorded. While their previous releases had a slight aura of cheesiness about them (they rule, don't get me wrong), as well as a lack of coherence in places, their songwriting talent really comes together here. Not one foot is put wrong, not once do you think "hmm, that could have been better", it is absolutely immersive from start to finish, and reaches a height of totality/wholeness that very few can achieve. This is the triumphant ride home on horseback, having vanquished a deadly foe.

Majestic melodies are slowly developed through repetition into epic, grandiose climaxes, accompanied by the most powerful drumwork on any metal album ever composed, militaristically throbbing thunderously, albeit slow and fairly simple, as well as being a drum machine. Sadness is poignant in places, though there's no immature sentimentality here, simply a great sense of respect and reflection upon those who gave their lives to the cause. Just listen to Khazad Dum - listen to the way the original motif is built on layer-upon-layer, taking the imagination into a bombastic, beautiful journey of emotion and spiritual refreshment. In fact, just listen to any song, they're all sensational (Nightshade Forests and Elfstone are my personal favourites).

If that wasn't enough, this is one of the greatest-produced albums ever as well. Every single instrument appears to be dominating at the same time, yet they aren't fighting with one another, they're working together in harmony. From the booming echoey drums, to the rich, warm guitars. The strong, throaty, proud vocals. The various brilliant uses of keyboards, from the hefty brass sound, shining the sun's warmth down upon the men on horseback, to the sweet woodwind; a flock of birds flying over a healthily flowing stream.

Many of the best metal artists have at least partially had inspiration from those classic books by a certain Mr. Tolkien, which you may or may not know about. Few bands are quite as heavily motivated by those epics as Summoning. Indeed, virtually their entire discography focuses upon nothing but the quests and events of Middle Earth, and the resulting music is no surprise considering the scope and depth that those books covered, and the values held within them.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you again that this album is a masterpiece, but I'm going to anyway. THIS IS MAGNIFICENT. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR YOU NOT TO OWN THIS. BUY IT NOW.

Well, "Stronghold" still remains my favorite while this release and their debut remains my second fav. This is in no way "psuedo progressive rock with growling vocals" that has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read. Go back and learn the elements of black metal. Sure this band is unique. All black metal could "go well with your unicorn and wizarding figurines", again, the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Case in point, get this album. It is very good and one of their best releases next to "Stronghold."

One of the most interesting things about Summoning is the contrast between the two singers, Protector and Silenius. Both offer superb vocals, but each in a very distinct way. Like all Summoning albums, synth drives the songs, and this album particularly has a very "medieval" feel to it. I do think it's a shame that some songs had to be cut from the album and released separately on the "Nightshade Forests" EP. I think a double-CD approach would have been justified in this case, because the songs on the EP are spectacular as well. I, personally, listen to the EP everytime I listen to this album, as the two complement each other perfectly. This is one of my favorite albums, and I strongly urge fans of black metal to check out Summoning.

Phenomenal album, very epic, very easy to put in and get lost to when you just don't know what else to listen too!

[...] Anyways, Dol Guldur is a WONDERFUL album and I recommend it to anyone that likes a low quality that actually SOUNDS GOOD. Their unique style of drumming is what stands out the most! As well as the Vocals for the two guys Protector and Silenius. The sound period is unique with a medieval touch to it. Just about all their cds have a tempo between slow and medium. Just about all their songs have a depth to it which would mean alot to a black metaller. If I were you id at least take a peek at this cd! And others as well!

This is all about ancient melody, and hypnotic rhythm of riding and battle. For black blooded serpents only. Also, why the judeo-christian price?

This is not black metal, rather its bad, pseudo progressive rock with growling vocals. Should go great with your unicorn and wizard figurine collection. I threw it out after one listen. Just awful.