If someone told me in 2015 that Cirith Ungol would return, stronger than they have ever been, I think I would have laughed in their face. Truth be told this is one of the bands that I figured would never make a return. However, in 2016, they reunited for the first Frost and Fire fest. Next they slowly were headlining fests all around the world, released a new strong single and finally, after 29 years, we have "Forever Black". With this album, the almighty Ungol brings back their weird yet unique style of proto epic doom and it is glorious.
Opening with the quick "The Call" the band launches into the barnstorming "Legions Arise" which just begs to be played live. Tim Baker shows that he is one of the most underrated vocalists in Heavy metal period. His screeching banshee howl is here in spades and shows literally no age. This is one of the best openers I have heard this year as well. The production on the album really fits in their discography especially with how much the bass cuts through. The only minor complain I have is the drums feel a bit too soft but it hardly deters the album for me. Up next is my favorite track: the trudging "Frost Monstreme" which has so many great riffs and has a bit of that early prog/doom mash up feeling on their first album but fully realized here. "The Fire Divine" also calls back to early songs on their debut with a more up beat hard rock feel to it which I dig. One worry I had was this album becoming "King of the Dead II" and that it is not. They effectively take a lot of bits and pieces from their discography and make an album that is just fucking worthy of being one of the best discs they have released. "Stormbringer" opens with some soft interludes and nice clean vocals before going into a full crushing onslaught. Up next is "Fractus Promissum" which hangs on that really vintage 70s proto metal kind of vibe. It has some of the best groove based riffs on the album by far. "Nightmare" has a lot of really good melody along with the mid paced "Before Tomorrow" which could have totally been on Paradise Lost which is my favorite release from the band. Finally we have the title track and it is a really strong way to go out with a nice fist pumping rhythm and crushing riffs. This is definitely the most doom track on the album with the chorus being so insanely heavy and dark. Honestly a perfect album to come out into the world now.
The band has done the impossible with this record. They managed to not only recreate their sound near perfectly in the modern age, but to create new fresh songs with vibes from their previously releases. However these feel like new songs and not just rehashed ideas which creates an album that definitely sits high in their discography which I haven't felt since Diamond Head's come back in 2016. This is Cirith Ungol fully reborn now ready to face a whole new generation of rock and music fans in general. So come on and Join the Legion and become forever black because the kings of the dead are fucking back.
9.5/10
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