Year: 2020
Total Time: 39:10
Label: Metal Blade
The last time that CIRITH UNGOL released new material, the world we were living had almost nothing to do with today’s reality. It was the long past 1991 when the traditional Heavy Metal has almost ceased to exist, a fact that definitely played a huge role in the split up of this great band which fallen into oblivion and was forgotten from the majority of the music fans worldwide.
Before reaching the present, let’s give some history lessons, mostly for the younger audience, the band was first formed in the even longer past year of 1972, but managed to release their first, self-financed album in 1981 by their own label Liquid Flame Records under the title “Frost And Fire”. After two more album in the 80’s we reached as we said before 1991 and the 4th album “Paradise Lost” was their last appearance in the music industry since “Grunge” music that was becoming more and more popular back then swept them away together with most of the other bands of their kind.
But, as it seemed, the flame was still burning somewhere deep and finally we reached the recent 2015 when the traditional heavy metal sound revival was everywhere and together with the yearning of the die-hard fans made the dream come true for 4 out of 5 original members to decide that their sawn song was not sang yet and together with their longtime friend Jarvis Leatherby, bass player of NIGHT DEMON they starts selected appearances in music festivals of this kind, such as the German Keep It True and others, including our Up The Hammers here in Greece. The feedback they received was more than impressive since fans from all around the globe gathered to see them on stage and so we had the release of a 12” single in 2018 and a double live album with the distinctive title “I’m Alive” in 2019, preparing the path for the new album today, after 29 whole years. The release date was set for the April the 24th to co-inside with this year’s Keep It True Festival and another glorious double headline appearance, but unfortunately due the current pandemic, this plan never became a reality.
So, after a small intro to get in the mood, here comes the first and maybe best song, that I assume they will start their future gigs with, called “Legions Arise”, a NWOBHM/speedy tune dedicated to their fans that waited for them patiently all these years. The first thing we notice, smiling of course, is the almost untouched by time voice of Tim Baker who even at his 63rd year of age, he still competes equally (and beats!)many of his younger competitors. Next is “The Frost Monstreme” which brings to mind vividly the early days of the band with its hard rock influences and then comes one more top moment with the epic “The Fire Divine” before the great, also epic metal ballad called “Stormrider”, in the veins of the old, now classic “Chaos Rising”. Next is a rather average song for my taste, I could say “poser” influenced too with e latin title “Fractus Promissum” (excellent guitar lead work though) and then the rhythmic tune “Nightmare” that didn’t impress me either, however, fortunately for the end we have two last songs that are worth included in a CIRITH UNGOL album, called “Before Tomorrow” and “Forever Black” that will surely be included in both the bands and fans playlists everywhere.
The two guitar players Greg Lindstrom (founding member, played in the first album and then quit) and Jim Barraza (participating in the last “Paradise Lost” album of 1991) and the drummer Robert W. Garven Jr. (founding member too, always behind the kit) are tight and strong (Ok, I’d prefer more heavy drum sound even though that never was their strong element) and the production is very good and tight, as modern as it should be, I think this is the type of sound they wish they had in their past works too. Lyrically and thematically speaking now, as it is obvious they are still as metal and epic as they can, with some old school youth’s naivety too, but I don’t think this is a problem for anybody.
So, in order to conclude, CIRITH UNGOL’s return is quite successful I would say. This is an honest, well played album, faithful to the story and the legend the band has created over the decades. The older fans will probably be thrilled with it, many new ones who prefer the traditional 80’s metal will like it too, but I don’t think that this is enough to help them join the top list of bands in today’s metal world. On the other hand, this is something that I am ok with it and I am pretty sure they are ok too. Besides the short duration of it, around 40 minutes only, not much for today’s standards, is making quite clear what their intentions are. The sure thing is that “Forever Black” has a well reserved place in all traditional metal record collections and will be playbacked way to many times.
And as CIRITH UNGOL might have said connecting the past with the present … “So Come On, Join The Legion, Legions Arise”!
Rating: 7.5/10
Editor: Antonis Livanios
Related Link: CIRITH UNGOL – Facebook Page
