Saverio Giove is the guy behind Nartum Music Projects, which includes the different projects he is involved with. I knew Ymir and Valtyr, but apparently he is doing some other musical projects too, amongst which Emyn Muil. With Emyn Muil, Saverio aka Nartum released a full length on January 15th 2013 via his own label, which was entitled Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga. Since he signed to the grandiose label Northern Silence very recently, the re-issue with a more professional distribution is now a fact! Respect!
Some might have seen it in mean time. A project called Emyn Muil and an album entitled as Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga… It reeks of Tolkien-worship! And indeed it is. I am a devotee of (almost) all of Tolkien’s works, and those who are trusted with The Silmarillion or The Children Of Húrin, will understand this is not just another Lord Of The Ring-adaptation (nothing wrong at all with this trilogy either, of course, but seen the current hype…), but true and honest devotion to a masterly writer.
Anyway, in ‘our’ Musical Greatness there are hundreds of bands that take their inspiration out of Tolkien’s oeuvre. I can, but will not, sum up loads of acts, but at least one needs recognition: Summoning. They surely can be considered the originators of a specific aural tribute to Tolkien and his oeuvre. In mean time, there are really lots of bands and projects that are musically inspired by this Austrian duo; in case of the ‘heavily inspired way’, think Kinstrife & Blood, Rivendell or LVX, or, if you want to, partially inspired are the likes of, for example, Elffor, Valar, Caladan Brood, Finnugor, Elderwind, L’Ordre Du Temple, Za Frûmi, Ered Wethrin, Dagorlad, Rauhnåcht, Uruk-Hai, Lamia Culta, Tempestuous Fall and thousands of others, bands / projects that are at least influenced from time to time by Summoning. Which brings me to this review specifically, because Emyn Muil do certainly pay tribute.
Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga lasts for fifty minutes and as from the very first notes on opener Túrin Son Of Húrin, you will enjoy the purest Summoning-majesty. There might be some minor differences in between both projects; the vocals, for example, are less grim (yet at least as ‘distant’ and haunting), and the rhythm section is more pronounced. But in general the major part sounds pretty much alike: the drum patterns, the bombastic and / or symphonic and / or atmospheric and / or melancholic keyboards, the melodious guitar riffs, the grandiose constructional and epic composed structures (i.e. the epic parts, the eerie intros, the atmospheric intermezzos, the changes in melody and speed, and so on), and the lyrical approach, as well as the mystic sound (decent yet not clinically over-produced) are truly comparable. And you know; just like Kinstrife & Blood this is as convincing as the originators. Emyn Muil are not just a copycat either, but true devotees of Summoning’s unique greatness, and I do hope to hear new stuff soon. Right now I am waiting for a first record by LVX or a new Summoning-release, but at this moment, Emyn Muil will do for sure!