Throughout the 1970s, the band generally played a style of heavy metal heavily rooted in hard and progressive rock. The band's first studio album, Frost and Fire (1981), featured a heavier sound, generally regarded as an early example of American power metal. By the band's second studio album, King of the Dead (1984), the band had solidified their power metal style of playing while gravitating toward a much 'darker' sound, with many considering the album among the first doom metal releases. The band took their name from the mountain pass Cirith Ungol in J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. The name is Elvish and means "Pass of the Spider." While the place in Tolkien's book is pronounced "kirith ungol," the band pronounced it "sirith ungol. Each studio album's cover art is taken from the cover of a DAW Books edition of a book in Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné saga; the art is by Michael Whelan.
Greg Lindstrom, Robert Garven, Jerry Fogle and Pat Galligan (later a guitarist in Angry Samoans) played in Titanic, their first band in junior high school. With a desire to play heavier music similar to that of Mountain and Grand Funk Railroad, the rest of the band parted with Galligan and founded Cirith Ungol in late 1971. After forming in late 1971, the band played their first gig on January 1, 1972 at an anti-Vietnam war peace rally.
In 1980, they were signed by Liquid Flames Records, and released their first album, Frost and Fire, with Tim Baker on vocals and songs written by bassist and guitarist Greg Lindstrom. Their second album, King of the Dead was released in on July 2, 1984 and contained lyrics primarily written by vocalist Tim Baker and drummer Robert Garven. The album was then followed by One Foot in Hell on August 12, 1986, and Paradise Lost on August 23, 1991.
They played their last live show on December 13, 1991 and disbanded in 1992, following frustration with their record label.
In 2001, Metal Blade Records released in Germany Servants of Chaos, a compilation album of unreleased demos and live songs. With old tapes and assistance from Lindstrom and Garven, it was an attempt to give fans a wealth of archival and previously unheard material before the tapes deteriorated beyond retrieval. This double-CD was later re-released worldwide, with a rare 1984 live DVD recorded at Wolf & Rissmiller's Country Club in California. Founding guitarist Jerry Fogle died from liver failure on August 20, 1998.
The band was reformed by members Tim Baker, Robert Garven, Jim Barraza, and Greg Lindstrom on October 8, 2016 at the 2nd annual Frost and Fire Festival in Ventura, California. Throughout 2017, the band had set out to headline and co-headline several European and US festivals, including Keep It True (Germany), Up The Hammers (Greece), Defenders Of The Old (US), Chaos Descends (Germany), Psycho Las Vegas (US), Days Of Darkness (US) and Hammer of Doom (Germany). In April 2018, Cirith Ungol performed at the Hell's Heroes Festival in Houston, Texas and at the NYDM Spring Bash in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In August 2018, Cirith Ungol released the single "Witch's Game". Their latest record Forever Black was released on April 24, 2020.
Cirith Ungol
Cirith Ungol Lyrics
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If you don't you'll surely die
Screaming in terror there you'll lie
In Cirith Ungol, Tower of Fire
Gorgons are shrieking their bestial cries
Their piercing cry burns you inside
Screaming in anguish, there you'll lie
Demons circle the smoky skies
Your fate hangs before you, on a wheel of fire
As you stand revealed to Satan's eye
In Cirith Ungol, Tower of Fire
The lyrics to Cirith Ungol's song "Cirith Ungol" depict a scene of horror and imminent death for the subject in the Tower of Fire. The song begins with a warning to "try to run, try to hide", or else face certain death. Those who do not listen will be "screaming in terror" and lying in agony in Cirith Ungol, or Tower of Fire. The lyrics go on to describe the shrieking cries of gorgons, whose piercing cries burn inside the listener. As they scream in anguish, they are trapped in the Tower of Fire.
The final verse amps up the horror even further, as the demons circle the "smoky skies" and the subject's fate is revealed before Satan's eye. This image suggests that Cirith Ungol could be interpreted as a representation of hell or some other kind of underworld. The song's haunting lyrics are matched by the heavy, ominous music, creating a deeply unsettling listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to run, try to hide
If you attempt to escape Cirith Ungol, you won't survive.
If you don't you'll surely die
Failure to flee will result in your death.
Screaming in terror there you'll lie
Once caught, you'll be screaming in fear.
In Cirith Ungol, Tower of Fire
This all occurs within the Tower of Fire, or Cirith Ungol.
Gorgons are shrieking their bestial cries
The gorgons are creating a deafening noise as they approach.
Their piercing cry burns you inside
The sound of the gorgons causes a painful sensation.
Screaming in anguish, there you'll lie
You will be lying in pain due to the gorgons' cry.
In Cirith Ungol, Tower of Fire
Again, this is all occurring within the Tower of Fire.
Demons circle the smoky skies
Visible demonic creatures are flying overhead.
Your fate hangs before you, on a wheel of fire
The outcome of your encounter is uncertain and terrifying.
As you stand revealed to Satan's eye
It is known that Satan is watching these events unfold.
In Cirith Ungol, Tower of Fire
Once again, this all takes place within the Tower of Fire.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FLINT, G. LONDSTROM, J. FOGLE, R. GARVEN, T. BAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind