Cirith Ungol – Forever Black Track by Track
Ordinarily I shy away from reviewing recordings by close
personal friends or bandmates. It makes me look like a brown-noser. Which I
certainly am not! True, Greg Lindstrom and Rob Garven are old pals of my mine (Lindstrom is also my partner in Falcon crime),
but it won’t cloud my judgment on this massive album! On the other side of the
coin, sometimes I prefer not to look like a prick by giving a negative critique. Hell, I’m a pro muso myself. In any case, whenever I’m writing with such sincerity
and conviction I just have to say “screw it”! On rare occasions, if I prefer to
remain more of less anonymous, I publish pieces under my securely guarded
pseudonym.
Now, I’m not here to give you a history lesson on the oft-overlooked
cult/epic heavy metal juggernaut known as Cirith Ungol. No, rough ‘n’ ready
readers, this feature is going to be a celebration of a triumphant return, one
hell of a comeback album for Cirith Ungol, a slumbering beast that arose from
the grave in 2015, after a nearly 25-year hiatus. CU has, since reuniting played some of the
most heralded heavy metal festivals the world over, including the aptly named
Frost and Fire festival in their hot and sunny hometown of Ventura, California,
Germany’s Keep it True and Bang Your Head and Greece’s Up the Hammers. Yes,
folks, Cirith Ungol is back! Back with a vengeance! Kudos to Mr. Garven for
taking up the sticks again after he swore he’d never touch a drum kit ever
again. And to all the naysayers who said CU would never grace a stage or a
full-length recording again, Forever Black is a testament of blazing fire
divine! Cirith Ungol has arisen and succeeded where other current “reunion
bands” such as Pentagram have come up short, with milquetoast recordings and
gigs. Comparatively, they don’t hold a candle to the metal might of Ungol!
(Okay, mediocre Pentagram is still light-years ahead of most modern metal acts.)
L-R Leatherby, Barraza, Lindstrom, Garven & Baker |
Now, let’s jump right into the flames and explore Forever
Black track by track!
1. The Call
The album opens with an atmospheric instrumental prelude, complete with howling wind, timpani-style drums and what sounds akin to the bass-heavy horn blast of a warship. It seamlessly segues into the full-blown barrage of Track No 2.
The album opens with an atmospheric instrumental prelude, complete with howling wind, timpani-style drums and what sounds akin to the bass-heavy horn blast of a warship. It seamlessly segues into the full-blown barrage of Track No 2.
2. Legions Arise
Probably one of the fastest Ungol tunes to date, a galloping
gate as rhythmically rambunctious as any of Maiden’s early output. From lead
guitarist Jim Barraza’s Spanish-tinged melodies and sliding octave chords to
the inimitable and idiosyncratic vocals of Tim Baker, this one sounds as if it
could have been cut during the King of the Dead sessions back in 1984. A
battle cry for the hordes of Ungol to rise up and fight for the metal cause.
3. The Frost Monstreme.
The title is not the only thing that refers to CU’s early
eighties cult classic tunes (yeah, people I’m talking “Frost and Fire”, the
title cut to their debut disc). The first couple of riffs and melody fills expand
upon some of CU’s past riffage. Motifs from the 1970s oldy-but-goody “Route
666” (later recorded by axeman Greg Lindstrom’s post-CU band, Falcon) and the
aforementioned “Frost and Fire”. Without a doubt, this is sword & sorcery
metal at its finest. This sucker would be at home on the soundtrack to a film
adaptation of Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and Grey Mouser fantasy novel Swords and
Ice Magic. It boasts a Seventies-tinged bridge, rife with drummer Rob
Garven’s righteously cool cowbell. Garven also kicks some thunderous
double-bass during the lead break. If you close your eyes during the solo,
you’d think you were listening to fallen founding axeman Jerry Fogle.
4. The Fire Divine
The verse is a vivacious return to CU’s roots – the
influence of immortal rawkers Thin Lizzy. A little birdy told me that some of
Greg Lindstrom’s lyrics were originally meant for a Falcon tune. A Lizzy-esque
dual guitar harmony section spices things up even more.
5. Stormbringer
No, it’s not a cover of the Deep Purple track of the same
name. Here you’ll find a tune inspired by modern British fantasy author Michael
Moorcock’s Elric novels. Just as the other 4 CU studio albums, Forever Black
is adorned with one of Michael Whelan’s masterful Elric paintings. Stormbringer
is the name of Elric’s fabled sword, the evil artifact which slays all in its
path – that is until it becomes satiated. CU isn’t alone. Blue Oyster Cult’s
Eric Bloom and Moorcock penned a tune for their Cultosaurus Erectus LP
called “Black Blade”. A despondent clean-tone arpeggiated guitar intro ushers
us headlong into the meat-and-potatoes verse and melodic prelude solo courtesy
of Barraza. At first, Baker’s vocals are more emotive than his usual metallic
shriek. The tempo is doomy and the chorus boasts some vocal layering from the
rest of the Ungol camp – uttering “The Blade and I are one!”
6. Fractus Promissum
A super-sweet melodic intro gives way to another
Lizzy-tinged but nonetheless original number. Barraza’s wahed-out solos are
dead on the mark, as is the swinging, tremendous backbeat of Garven’s cannon-like
drums.
7. Nightmare
A boisterous Baker howl introduces the doom-laden and
diminished proceedings. Yes, a bit Sabbathy, yet still somehow CU’s own. Easily
could’ve been recorded during the One Foot in Hell sessions. Barraza delivers
yet another haunting Spanish/Middle Eastern half-step steeped solo. His outro
leadwork conjures up the ghost of the late Randy Rhoads.
8. Before Tomorrow
Oozing with catchiness, “Before Tomorrow” begins with an
infectious pedal-tone riff and a Jerry Fogle-ish solo. Classic pounding metal
musings and mayhem! Lyrically, this is very poignant, considering the global
Coronavirus pandemic. Greg Lindstrom’s warm and fuzzy guitar tone is soothing
and sweet yet rocks hard and sublimely.
9. Forever Black
The title track. It’s doomy as hell and boasts some grinding
bass interplay by Ungol newbie Jarvis Leatherby (also the band’s manager and
the impetus for the band’s resurrection).
While you're at it, don't forget to check out "Brutish Manchild", one of CU's forgotten gems originally written in the late seventies!
While you're at it, don't forget to check out "Brutish Manchild", one of CU's forgotten gems originally written in the late seventies!
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