CIRITH UNGOL
CIRITH UNGOL “Dark Parade”
By Lord Randall
Along with MANILLA ROAD, MANOWAR and BROCAS HELM, Ventura, California’s CIRITH UNGOL is one of the first bands that comes up (or should) in any discussion of American power/epic/heavy metal. With the passing of Mark Shelton of MANILLA ROAD any album released by the above becomes more important as not a teary-eyed trip through the “glory days”, but as confirmation of metal’s warrior spirit.
After a triumphant return to record in 2020’s “Forever Black”, we join “Dark Parade”, the band’s sixth studio album. “Velocity (S.E.P.)” bursts from shattered gates, a twin guitar attack and vocalist Tim Baker’s “Stretch your soul upon the rack!” proving instantly that not a shred of his original power has been surrendered to time and – if anything – has strengthened. This, friends is Power Metal the way it must be done in order to be worthy of the name. Slowing down to a smoldering, low-tuned gristmill of riff ‘n’ rhythm, “Relentless” is hypnotic in its repetition, yet never becomes placid or lackluster.
Being a confirmed sucker for almost anything nautical-related, “Sailor On The Seas Of Fate” adds our first touch of the epic elements CIRITH UNGOL can employ when they wish, eight minutes of sheer majesty, guitars wailing all over the tune, and that strident, solid rhythm section not giving up one iota of the mix in this immaculately produced album. Subject matter? Oh, well, the album is called “Dark Parade”, so ending “Sailor…” with “All we have is chaos and our rune encrusted blade” seems fitting, right?