Review by Felix on April 9, 2024.

Perhaps everything is already said and done when it comes to the classic albums of Austria’s most atmospheric metal act. I admit that feel a little discomfort with regard to the term “metal”, because “Dol Guldur” as well as most other releases of Summoning lack rebellion, dirt and brutality – in other words, I miss some of the ingredients which are more or less essential from my point of view when we speak about metal. But at least we have the rasping, pretty demonic vocals and certainly my narrow-minded attitude is no parameter for objective standards. Given this situation, let’s dive into the metal (!) album “Dol Guldur”.

Honestly speaking, I have never read Tolkien and I do not intend to do it before I die (maybe afterwards, if there is still the opportunity). Thus, the lyrical side of the duo remains a closed book to me. Honestly again, I don’t think that’s a problem, because Summoning means atmosphere, atmosphere and finally atmosphere. Their mission is clearly focussed and they are able to realize the self-given order. The album from 1997 is less a collection of single songs, but rather functions as a collage of heroic melodies that usually only come to your mind when you are standing at the top of a hill, looking over the wide country to the horizon. Well, there are mountains enough in lovely Austria, so maybe Summoning wrote the album in dizzying heights? Either way, “Dol Guldur” is able to present coherence and big dimensions. It does not make sense to put the spotlight on single songs, because they are not individualists but serve the greater whole.

Production-wise, the guitars do not stand in the centre of the sound (another thing that is hardly understandable for someone whose metal socialisation began with “Highway to Hell” and “Hell’s Bells”). The keyboards are on an equal footing and they characterize the sound of the album. The guitars are more or less only an addition. Do not expect guitar solos, especially no wild ones. These expectations would end up in frustration. Anyway, the keyboards give the album a warm, almost silk sound – but an appropriately at the same time. It reflects the fantastic world where Summoning artistically live. As the drums are not marginalised either, the mix is more or less perfectly fine for this form of “metal”. You see, I am still learning the ropes.

Apart from all these positive facts, I am not fully enthusiastic. “Dol Guldur” delivers great pictures in front of the inner eye, it is epic, consistent, meditative and homogeneous, but does it offer a more than solid degree of excitement? Naturally opinions differ, I would not answer the question with a clear yes. Although I feel that the harmonies of songs like “Khazad Dum” do not leave me cold, I must say that a familiarisation effect occurs quickly. I don’t speak of boredom, by far not, but over the distance of a full-length with a playtime of nearly 69 minutes, I miss the intensity of more aggressive sounds. Thus, I am fine with the album, its musical content, its great artwork and the adequate production, but I would not call it outstanding. And if you ask for the best Summoning song ever, I still would answer “The Passing of the Grey Company”. But this one is from “Lugburz”…

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Review by Luka on August 26, 2001.

There is absolutely nothing better to listen to while reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s books than the soundtrack epics of Summoning. These songs will invoke the cold and distant feelings of a world far away from our own. Close your eyes and “Dol Guldur” will take you there for an hour. The lyrics are all based on old Tolkien legends and the very album name is that of a city in Middle-Earth.

Abigor’s Silenius is the mastermind behind this band. However, the rasping vocals are the only relevance to black metal. Silenius shows genuine creativity and dedication to his work and the result is a timeless euphony like no other. I’ll take this over the generic sound of Abigor any day. I am a personal fan of soundtrack music so I loved this album, even though it has a few weak tracks. If you’re looking for heavy metal of any type, you’re in the wrong place. The vast array of sounds and instruments fused here create a sound more emotional and complex than any distorted guitar could.

With most tracks clocking over ten minutes, it may be hard for some listeners to get into. It seems repetitive to those with short attention spans but it is actually quite progressive, even though the songs do have the fault of all being written by the same formula, more or less. The track-list itself is not completely functional either. While the first song is short and catchy and the second one really shows what their sound is like, they are little more than adequate songs compared to the rest. The middle of the burger is, indeed, the best part, as ‘Elfstone’, ‘Khazad Düm’, and ‘Kör’ really grace us with the most beautiful melodies and most creative arrangements.

All songs of “Dol Guldur”, weak or good, in the end achieve the primary goal: they create an atmosphere of music as grand and magnificent as the atmosphere of writing created by Tolkien in his books. The beginning to ‘Khazad Düm’ is the most glorious display of progressive music I have ever heard and ‘Kör’ is a timeless epic. The album is still, however, plagued by the all famous fault of having weak tracks.

Bottom Line: Amazing soundtrack music that creates feeling and atmosphere like no other. If you want something different and hard to get into, this is the one!

Rating: 8 out of 10