ALBUM REVIEW: All the Shadows – Cirith Ungol
With albums like Paradise Lost and King of The Dead, CIRITH UNGOL cultivated a cult like following. NWOBHM inspired, with a touch of burgeoning doom and apocalyptic themes saw them surge out of the 1970s California scene and onto something more. Yet they never quite cracked the global stage and despite having widespread influence and an epic sound, what persisted was the cult following among fans and after disbanding in 1991 they were to reunite in 2015. Further releases and tours culminated in the proposal of calling it a day once again. Yet it seems the pull is too strong they remain as strong as ever and All The Shadows is proof of their staying power.
With a sound that harkens back to the heady days of torn denim and air guitars aloft in glory, CIRITH UNGOL waste no time kicking things off with the title track. Driving riffs, head down no-nonsense rhythm section, soaring vocals. This is a band with one foot planted in their formative years yet still looking forward. Coalescing the many elements that propelled their style, while remaining invigorating, big vocal harmonies and rapid via guitar lead lines inject the adrenaline, and yet it doesn’t sound like a regurgitated nostalgia grab from early albums. It’s powerful and hungry.
The majesty of Turning Blind is enough on its own to cement the cult acclaim that CIRITH UNGOL have garnered over the years. Packed full of hooks right from the off, it charges along powered by a traditional heavy metal formula. It gradually moves up the gears, before a tempo shift that enables the melodic guitar lines to really fly. The anthemic qualities aptly employed in here are littered throughout this record. Empty Tomb surges with power and aggression and once again infuses all the elements that the band have displayed over the years and projects the very best of themselves to front.
There’s barely a dull moment throughout All The Shadows. Acoustic guitars are deftly deployed to allow for brief respite with On Broken Wings. Yet the four piece seemingly gleefully slide the pieces together to once again take the listener on another neck aching trip. Searing guitars and bellowed vocals are backed up by the insistent wall of sound driven by the rhythm section. CIRITH UNGOL have released an album with all the stylistic elements that one would expect within heavy metal. While formulaic it doesn’t feel predictable or basic. They’re far enough along now that they’ve established who they are and what they seem to be intent on is delivering the best at what they do.
With a career spanning several decades, reliant predominantly on an underground following and now a recent resurgence following an extended hiatus, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster for CIRITH UNGOL. However, with the release of All The Shadows, the quartet have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with. Triumphant in their current staying power, this latest release is testament to seeing things through and they should be riding this high for some time to come.
Rating: 8/10
All The Shadows is set for release on October 30th via No Remorse Records.
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