Album review: CIRITH UNGOL – Forever Black

Metal Blade Records [Release date 24.04.20]

Cirith Ungol are a band I have been aware of for many years (with a name like that, they are hard to ignore!) however until now I have been oblivious to their history or their music. The band formed back in 1981 and had success throughout the 80’s releasing a number of albums and building up a big fan base worldwide. The guys split in 1992 when musical tastes took a Grungy turn and heavy metal fell out of favour.

It took until 2015 and continued fan pressure for the band to reform with four of the five original members and after a successful return to the live arena the band have made it back into the studio. This then is the fruits of their labour and the band’s first album in 29 years, so was it worth the wait?

After a quick intro piece the band launch into ‘Legions Arise’ and it’s a proper blast of old school metal. Fast guitars are accompanied with bombastic drumming and the screaming vocals of Tim Barker. Subtle it ain’t but it’s all the better for that.

‘The Frost Monstreme’ takes the pace down a bit but there is no let up in the guitar work with great slab-like riffs being churned out by Greg Lindstrom and Jim Barraza. The album is well paced and at times reminds me of Twisted Sister’s heavier moments, think ‘Destroyer’ with a more tortured vocal delivery.

‘The Fire Devine’ rocks hard and very heavy whilst ‘Stormbringer’ slows the pace with a more sedate vocal at the start from Barker. The highlight for me was ‘Nightmare’ which starts with a majestic guitar intro before it explodes with another massive riff and Barker screaming out ‘I’m evil’ in the chorus, he certainly sounds demonic here.

This album is a great return from a band who have stuck to their roots and are once again providing their fanbase with exactly what they had hoped for. As drummer Robert Garven puts it on the accompanying blurb ‘Cirith Ungol remain a churning maelstrom of metal chaos descending’, couldn’t put it better myself!

***1/2

Review by Dave Wilson

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 24 March 2025

HARRI LARKIN Too Close To The Sun (Robot Distro)
SANDNESS Not Your Dog (Rockshots Records)
DOCTOR BLACK Drag Me Down (indie)
COHEED AND CAMBRIA Goodbye Sunshine (Virgin Music Group)
LEONI JANE KENNEDY Closer (indie)
SMALL TOWN POLITICS Red Lights (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 24 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.