What makes Nightshade Forests by Summoning notable?

Nightshade Forests is significant for its pioneering blend of black metal and atmospheric music, influencing many subsequent bands in the genre. It received positive critical reception upon release and has been cited as an essential listen for fans of atmospheric black metal, contributing to the broader development of subgenres that emphasize mood and setting over traditional aggression. Released in January 1997, Nightshade Forests marked Summoning's third studio album and solidified their place within the black metal genre. At this point in their career, they were establishing a distinctive sound that combined ambient elements with heavy metal, following their earlier works like Lugburz and Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame.

How many songs are on Nightshade Forests?

Nightshade Forests has 4 tracks, running approximately 33 minutes.

Nightshade Forests

Summoning · 1997

33 min · 4 tracks · black metal

Epic melodies intertwine with atmospheric soundscapes, creating a hauntingly immersive journey through fantasy realms.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Mirkwood — This track encapsulates the album's themes of nature and fantasy, featuring rich instrumentation that evokes a sense of vastness and adventure.
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Kortirion Among the Trees — With its lush melodies and evocative storytelling, this song showcases Summoning's ability to create vivid landscapes through sound.
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Flesh and Blood — This track stands out for its darker tones and powerful atmosphere, weaving together intense rhythms with haunting vocals to enhance the album's narrative depth.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album combines atmospheric elements with black metal, creating an immersive experience that rewards repeat listens.

What we noticed

Each track features extended instrumental passages that build gradually, creating a sense of epic scale and atmosphere.
The use of layered keyboards and synths provides a dense backdrop, while the guitar riffs are often melodic and repetitive.
Vocals are sparse and delivered in a harsh style, blending into the overall sound rather than dominating it.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Mirkwood 9:45
2 Kortirion Among the Trees 8:50
3 Flesh and Blood 7:54
4 Habbanan Beneath the Stars 7:13

What to play next

Listen next

Stronghold

1999

Go back to

Dol Guldur

1996

Full Summoning discography Artists like Summoning

black metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata