Ever since Deep Purple’s masterpiece Perfect Strangers (1984), the comeback album has been a fixture of metal. Most end up being pale imitations of what once was, but some manage to recapture past glory for just one more record. The 90s saw UFO’s classic lineup reconvene to Walk on Water (1995). The 2000s saw Celtic Frost embrace new levels of nihilism on Monotheist (2006). In the 2010s, NWOBHM legends Satan and Hell returned as if no time had past with Life Sentence (2013) and Human Remains (2011) respectively. Now, in metal’s fifth decade, the sleeping giant known as Cirith Ungol has awaken from its slumber with Forever Black.
When recording a comeback album, the biggest question is how can it be done without tainting a band’s legacy? In Cirith Ungol’s case, the stakes are even higher. Their initial output is widely regarded as one of the greatest in metal history. How can they release anything less than perfection? They can’t. Their integrity won’t allow them to. On Forever Black, Cirith Ungol bravely journeys into “the brave new world” with the same ethos that guided their classic works.
“The future’s here, or haven’t you heard?” – “Atom Smasher” (1984)
A distant war horn signals our heroes’ arrival. They charge into battle with “Legions Arise”. Cirith Ungol is back! Just typing these words gives me goosebumps, but nowhere near the goosebumps I have from the music itself. Victorious riffs, lethal guitar solos, and arcane atmosphere serve as the backdrop for the banshee shrieks of Tim Baker. 40 years later and he’s as bloodthirsty now as he was then. Each word he emits is a medieval spear that impales the false and spineless.
The next two tracks are a throwback to CU’s classic debut, Frost and Fire (1981). CU was still finding their sound on this album. Among their embryonic brand of epic metal was touches of 70s prog and hard rock in the vein of Rush. The appropriately titled “The Frost Monstreme” and “The Fire Divine” include these touches as well. “The Frost Monstreme” reprises the “Frost and Fire” riff before segueing into a jam that sounds like Alex Lifeson soloing over Tony Iommi. Meanwhile, “The Fire Divine” carries on the unorthodox 70s metal sound and features the chorus, “And the blind will lead the blind, straight into the fire divine.” This is bound to become a singalong at festivals the world over.
An unexpected ballad in the form of “Stormbringer” is my favorite song. I hate to admit this, as it’s very unwarriorlike, but I found myself tearing up. There’s something epic and beautiful about “Stormbringer” that can’t be explained by words alone. The way it’s structured reminds me of Bathory’s viking era. Then I asked myself, “Where do you think Quorthon got it from?”. Real knows real. “Stormbringer” has easily earned a position among my top 10 favorite CU songs of all time. I don’t say that lightly.
The remainder of Forever Black is dark, doomy, and wouldn’t sound out of place on King of the Dead (1984). “Fractus Promissum” and “Before Tomorrow” showcase emotive guitar solos while the ultra heavy “Nightmare” is led by a trudging Sabbathian riff. It all ends with the colossal title track. On an album of epic hymns, CU has saved the most epic for last. The chorus will resound for eternities: “Look into my soul…forever black.”
Our heroes’ journey presumably concludes atop of Mount Olympus. The members of Cirith Ungol survey the land: sword in one hand, the head of their enemy in the other. Baker unleashes a final shriek of primal splendor. His bandmates join him. Victory is theirs. It always was. It always will be.
10 out of 10
Label: Metal Blade Records
Genre: Epic Heavy Metal
For fans of: Manilla Road, Black Sabbath, Brocas Helm