Year: 2021
Total Time: 21:47
Label: Metal Blade
Exactly one year after the very powerful comeback album “Forever Black”, after 30 years of absence from the music scene, the American fantasy metal and Tolkien enthusiasts CIRITH UNGOL return with an EP, which is “new” but includes older stuff, re-recorded in 2020, a year of total layoff and home imprisonment.
It contains 4 songs that they devoted fans may know already, I am saying this because they were not included in one of their classic albums, but in other more rare releases.
At first we have “Route666” a tune that starts with motors igniting and roaring, the most fitting intro possible (don’t ask me why) and then goes on as a heavy tune, not fast, exactly how it should sound in order to enjoy properly the ride. A classic CIRITH UNGOL anthem from the past, which makes sense since it first appeared in the first demo of the band in 1978, which is now known as the “Orange Album” (it included 11 songs and was available only on tape). Next we get “Shelob’s Lair” which, if I am not mistaken was not available before and is probably a left out from the “Forever Young” sessions. It is a nice groovy tune with continuous riffing, solos and of course influences from the golden past (70’s) and probably was worth a better treatment, but it’s never too late for that. Then comes “Brutish Manchild”, a track that was available as a bonus flexi 7” with issue 187 of the American magazine Decibel, known for its nice 7” flexi series. It’s one more classic CIRITH UNGOL but it doesn’t really impress me, that 7” was just fine for it I think. This release will come to its end with a 7 plus minute song that undoubtedly is the best one here. It is one more leftover from last year’s album, I don’t know why that happened, it is a top notch composition, an epic number with great atmosphere, nice rhythm guitars and strong vocals, well worthy of the history of the bans. Only for that self-titled song, the purchase of this EP is valuable.
So, “Half Past Human”, like most of this type of releases, is mostly interesting for the loyal fan base of the band, so the record label took care and is releasing it in a digipack CD and various colour 12” vinyl editions so that you will have something to hunt for in your free time. If you want to have a complete discography go ahead and grab it, otherwise be a little patience till the next album hits us, I don’t think it will take that long this time.
Rating: 6/10
Editor: Antonis Livanios
Related Link: CIRITH UNGOL – Facebook Page
