System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band formed in Glendale, California, in 1994. Since 1997, the band has consisted of founding members Serj Tankian ; Daron Malakian ; Shavo Odadjian ; along with John Dolmayan (drums), who replaced original drummer Andy Khachaturian in 1997.
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band hailing from Kolbotn, Akershus. Formed in 1986 as a death metal band named Black Death, in 1991, Darkthrone transitioned to a black metal style influenced by Bathory and Celtic Frost and emerged as one of the leading bands in the Norwegian black metal scene.
Summoning is an Austrian atmospheric black metal band based in Vienna. Since their formation in 1993, they have released eight full-length albums and two EPs via Napalm Records. Their lyrics make extensive use of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings and mythology. Since 1995, their lineup has had a consistent lineup of Richard Lederer as "Protector" and Michael Gregor as "Silenius". The band never played live performances and has consistently maintained that they have no interest in ever doing so. Their latest album With Doom We Come was released on 5 January 2018.
Abigor is an Austrian black metal band formed in 1993. They are named after an upper demon of war in Christian demonology.
Ildjarn was a Norwegian black metal project that formed in 1991. Ildjarn recorded music until 1997 but did not officially end until 2005. The man behind Ildjarn was Vidar Våer, although some releases were collaborations with a musician known as Nidhogg.
Underoath is an American rock band from Tampa, Florida. It was founded by lead vocalist Dallas Taylor and guitarist Luke Morton in 1997 in Ocala, Florida; subsequently, its additional members were from Tampa, including drummer, singer and last remaining original member Aaron Gillespie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, keyboardist Christopher Dudley, lead guitarist Timothy McTague, bassist Grant Brandell, and lead vocalist Spencer Chamberlain. Originally, the band identified as a Christian group; they have since distanced themselves from Christianity.
De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is the debut studio album by Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. Songwriting began in 1987, but due to the suicide of vocalist Per "Dead" Ohlin and the murder of guitarist Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth, the album's release was delayed until May 1994. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is widely regarded one of the most influential black metal albums of all time. It is the band's only studio album to feature Aarseth and Varg "Count Grishnackh" Vikernes.
Of Chaos and Eternal Night is the second EP by Swedish melodic death metal band Dark Tranquillity. It is the first studio recording by the band featuring Mikael Stanne as the lead vocalist, who switched from playing rhythm guitar to singing after the firing of original vocalist Anders Friden. Consequently, it is also the band’s first studio recording to feature Fredrik Johansson on rhythm guitar. The EP would be Dark Tranquillity’s final release with Spinefarm Records, whose contract with the band expired after its release. The album is made up of three newly-written songs, as well as a new version of the song “Alone” from their debut album Skydancer with re-recorded vocals by Stanne.
Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame is the fifth studio album by the Austrian black metal band Summoning. It was released on 31 October 2001, through Napalm Records. It is the first of their releases to feature male clean vocals, on the chorus of "Farewell". It is also their first album to make extensive use of audio samples, giving the album a slight dramaturgic bent. The cover art is based on Mark Harrison's painting, Draco Niger Grandis (1999), surrounded by a frame coming from Akseli Gallen-Kallela's The Aino Myth (1891).
Dol Guldur is the third studio album by the Austrian black metal band Summoning. It was released in 1997, through Napalm Records.
Die Verbannten Kinder Evas is an Austrian darkwave music project founded in 1993 by Richard Lederer and Michael Gregor, signed to Napalm Records.
Minas Morgul is the second full-length album by the Austrian black metal band Summoning. The band and many of their fans consider this album to be their debut album as it developed the "Summoning sound" and brought the band to a larger audience due to its lyrics involving J. R. R. Tolkien's themes.
Stronghold is the fourth full-length album by the Austrian black metal band Summoning. This album marked a change in the sound of Summoning as it was much more "guitar orientated with more compact keyboard-melodies". "Where Hope and Daylight Die" features Tania Borsky, Protector's ex-girlfriend and a former member of Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, on lead vocals. The album's cover was adapted from 'The Bard', an 1817 painting by John Martin.
Hortus Animae is a progressive black metal band from Northern and Central Italy. They formed in 1997 in the town of Rimini, Italy. After the release of their self-produced debut "The Melting Idols", they began an active live streak with bands like Lacuna Coil, Ancient, and Napalm Death. Upon opening for the Norwegian black metal band Ancient in Padova, Italy, the band developed a friendship with the drummer Grom, who soon after joined the band out of admiration for their work and made it his primary side-project. At this point, the band began the recording process of their second album and first official release, "Waltzing Mephisto", which had been years in the writing. The album was recorded at the Italian metal studio "Fear". Following the recording, the band signed a deal with Greek label Black Lotus Records in October 2002 and subsequently with Sleaszy Rider Records (EMI) for their 3rd album "The Blow Of Furious Winds" in May 2005.
Nightshade Forests is the first EP by the Austrian black metal band Summoning. It consists of three songs left over from the writing sessions for their 1996 album Dol Guldur, as well as the newly written song "Habbanan Beneath the Stars". It was released on 3 June 1997, through Napalm Records.
Richard Lederer, who often performs as Protector, is an Austrian metal musician most notable for being a member in the bands Summoning, Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, and Ice Ages. He also does the artwork for some of the albums that he plays music in.
Michael Gregor is an Austrian musician who is currently in the bands Amestigon as vocalist, Kreuzweg Ost as programmer, and Summoning as vocalist, keyboardist, and bassist; the two latter bands are bands that he is a founding member of. He supplied vocals for Abigor from 1994 to 1999 and appeared on seven of Abigor's releases. Silenius was vocalist and keyboardist for Pazuzu and played on the band's split album and debut album. Along with fellow Summoning bandmate Richard Lederer, Silenius also used to be a member of Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, serving as a vocalist and a keyboardist. Silenius has recorded music for a project called "Mirkwood", of which no material has yet been released.
Les Voyages de l'âme is the third studio album by French blackgaze band Alcest, released on January 6, 2012, by Prophecy Productions. An edited version of the song "Autre temps" was released as a single alongside an accompanying music video. The album was described as a musical synthesis of the previous two albums, blending shoegaze, post-rock, and black metal influences.
Old Mornings Dawn is the seventh full-length album by the Austrian atmospheric black metal band Summoning. The album was released on June 5, 2013, through Napalm Records. The cover art is based on George Hetzel's painting, Rocky Gorge. Silenius commented on the album's title: "Old Mornings Dawn is no concept album, but this time we mostly experienced the stories and legends of Eärendil the mariner: half man half eldar, ancestor of the kings of Númenor, with the Silmaril of his forehead he became an immortal star. 4 songs are dealing with this topic. The lyrics of another two songs come from the poems City of Present Sorrow and Town of Dreams, two very old poems by J. R. R. Tolkien written at a time when the first world war was raging. The rest of the lyrics came from unknown writers or are written by myself and as ever are closely woven to the Tolkien universe".
With Doom We Come is the eighth full-length album by the Austrian atmospheric black metal band Summoning. The album was released on 5 January 2018, through Napalm Records. The cover art is based on Georg Janny's painting, The Dragon's cave (1917). The songs are inspired by the literature of J. R. R. Tolkien, with the title of the album being spoken by Treebeard as the Ents march on Isengard in The Two Towers.
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