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Review: Cirith Ungol - Forever Black
Cirith Ungol
www.facebook.com/cirithungolofficial
Forever Black

Label: Metal Blade Records
Year released: 2020
Duration: 39:10
Tracks: 9
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
4.5/5


Review online: April 15, 2020
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4.45/5 (89.09%) (11 Votes)
Review

It hadn't quite dawned on me that Cirith Ungol first formed in 1972 and that their last studio album dates back to 1991 already. Time certainly does fly. So here we are, nearly 30 years later, with a shiny new album. It has a bit of a doomy vibe but really it's quite upbeat for the most part and it makes me think of the speediest, catchiest stuff of '70s heavy/doom if it were delivered with a modern sound and approach and that's one of the things I like the most on this album: Old school to the core, but it sounds fresh. Plenty of catchy, rocking moments to keep the troops entertained. The vocals are a major highlight—a powerful, soaring, grandiose style that takes centre stage and drives everything else, yet without overshadowing the music. It's those kinds of powerful vocals with catchy melodies that just beg for you to sing along with.

It has been a long time coming, but Cirith Ungol have delivered quite the little jewel with this one and it was well worth the wait. Forever Black shows that the band is still in top form and has stayed true to their '70s and '80s roots while modernizing their sound, achieving a delicate balance. Fans should not be disappointed.

More about Cirith Ungol...
Review: Dark Parade (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Dark Parade (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Half Past Human (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: I'm Alive (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: King Of The Dead (reviewed by Larry Griffin)
Review: King of the Dead (Ultimate Edition) (reviewed by Omni)
Review: One Foot in Hell (reviewed by MetalMike)
Review: Paradise Lost (reviewed by Omni)
Interview with Cirith Ungol on April 16, 2017 (Interviewed by Omni)
Interview with vocalist Tim Baker, drummer Robert Graven and bassist Jarvis Leatherby on December 1, 2019 (Interviewed by Luxi Lahtinen)
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