For those who've heard the entire album: What's the word on the use of film/media samples this time around? Are they still in abundance like they were on the last two albums or did they tone that shit down? Really hoping for the latter.

I heard the album last week and I can't remember any samples in detail. I believe there was one, though.

What's the word on the use of film/media samples this time around?

I think there's use of a typical Eagle screech in Flammifer. Like this: http://youtu.be/bexop7ZOPP8
Also the Old Mornings Dawn "poem" by the old man, I'm not sure if that's a sample from some audio book or anything...

not sure if the actual quote is from anywhere in particular though

Gah! That trailer voiceover stuff actually made it onto the album? What the hell.

Why the hell were people in the FFA talking the other day about Summoning not being metal?

Totally hooked on this after a couple of listens. "Caradhras" is definitely the best song and probably one of the best songs they've ever done. Sublime stuff, really.

I love that after 7 years they not only still have "it" but can still work with their tried and true style in new, refreshing ways. I need to buy this.

Beats the shit out of me. I might need to fire some mods.

While the law-abiding ( ) contingent of Summoning fans in the thread wait for Old Mornings Dawn to hit the shelves, I thought I'd bring up the Mirkwood side project from long ago for those who haven't heard it yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcYJRO3g8lI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5lpj1QYtrU

It's a damn good 4-track EP of adventurous synthscapes in the dungeon synth vein, though more texturally nuanced and compositionally diverse compared to what one might think of as "canonical" DS. Really great stuff, wonderfully whimsical and imagination-stirring, like the best dungeon synth tends to be. Interesting that it also sounds like its own distinct project, not just Summoning minus everything except keyboards. A lost gem! Plus you get to hear what the original version of "Arkenstone" off Lost Tales sounded like without the lame vocals muddling it up.

Y'all can grab it for free on the Summoning website.

MIRKWOOD!!!!!!!!

The band name sounds very familiar to me(perhaps I have listened to them before by now my mind is blank), its sounds very very interesting. Are they going to release a full album?

Because the newest thing I have seen in their web(which is a shit) is a raw song posted 6 months ago.

As someone who has zero integrity I already downloaded the album and unlike most of the people who did I think its extremely disappointing. Its not that its bad or anything its just doesn't hold my interest at all. Honestly its a pretty boring album.

You are confusing the US black metal band Mirkwood with the synth sideproject by Silenus from Summoning.
the US Mirkwood band is perhaps best known for their epic song "Journey's End" : http://youtu.be/YxY6vc5fT00

As someone who has zero integrity I already downloaded the album and unlike most of the people who did I think its extremely disappointing. Its not that its bad or anything its just doesn't hold my interest at all. Honestly its a pretty boring album.

The White Tower is just classic black metal in the vein of Filosofem with a great vocal performance from Protector.

Since someone put the leaked songs back onto Youtube, I'm going to give the album a proper illegitimate first listen from beginning to end. It works really well as a whole album.

You are confusing the US black metal band Mirkwood with the synth sideproject by Silenus from Summoning.
the US Mirkwood band is perhaps best known for their epic song "Journey's End" : http://youtu.be/YxY6vc5fT00

The U.S. Mirkwood kicks ass, I always thought of it as Summoning on speed. In case you guys were not aware A.K. Is working on the debut album which should be released this year which for me will round the year off nicely as far as this style of epic black metal goes. To be honest I have never checked out the Summoning side project with the same name.

You first.