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.
Edge of a Knife
Cirith Ungol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I should be satisfied
But as long as I'm frustrated
I know I'm still alive
I've got twenty-twenty hindsight
But I won't live in the past
I like to look up at the sky
When I'm flat on my ass
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
I've got my rock 'n roll haircut
I've got my rock 'n roll jeans
Just to make me feel like
Someone I'd rather not be
I don't care if you laugh at me
It's better than being ignored
Anyway, I'm used to it
That's what fools are for
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Maybe I gotta get hurt
Maybe that's what I need
'Cause I got music in my bloodstream
Sometimes I just can't seem to bleed
I don't care if you laugh at me
It's better than being ignored
Anyway, I'm used to it
That's what fools are for
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
The lyrics of Cirith Ungol's song "Edge of a Knife" highlight the struggles of an individual who feels unsatisfied and frustrated with their life. The persona feels like they should be happy and content, but for some reason, they can't seem to shake off the feeling of dissatisfaction. They acknowledge that this feeling of unfulfillment may be the source of their energy, proof that they are still alive. The catchy chorus suggests that the edge of a knife could be a metaphor for the precariousness of life and that this feeling of uncertainty and danger is what makes life "real."
The verses of the song showcase the persona's love for rock 'n roll and their need to feel alive. The mention of having a rock 'n roll haircut and jeans is an indication that the persona subscribes to a particular aesthetic that makes them feel like someone they would otherwise not be. They don't care if people mock or laugh at them, as they are comfortable with being the target of ridicule. The last verse suggests that the persona needs to get hurt to feel the music's full effect and to let out all their emotions. Overall, the song is a reflection of someone who is unsure of their life choices and existence but takes comfort in the fact that this uncertainty is what makes life real.
Line by Line Meaning
It feels like I'm frustrated
I have a sense of dissatisfaction
When I should be satisfied
When everything should make me happy
But as long as I'm frustrated
As long as I feel dissatisfied
I know I'm still alive
I know I am still living
I've got twenty-twenty hindsight
I clearly understand things in the past
But I won't live in the past
I choose not to dwell on past mistakes or events
I like to look up at the sky
I find comfort in viewing the sky
When I'm flat on my ass
When I'm feeling down and out
Edge of a knife, edge of a knife
A metaphor for living life on the edge
Maybe that's what they mean by real life
The thought that this is what people mean when they say 'real life'
I've got my rock 'n roll haircut
I have a hairstyle associated with rock music
I've got my rock 'n roll jeans
I have clothes associated with rock music
Just to make me feel like
Just to give me a sense of
Someone I'd rather not be
Someone I wouldn't choose to be
I don't care if you laugh at me
I am not concerned if people make fun of me
It's better than being ignored
I'd rather be made fun of than ignored
Anyway, I'm used to it
In any case, I'm accustomed to it
That's what fools are for
Being the target of ridicule is what fools are known for
Maybe I gotta get hurt
Maybe I need a painful experience
Maybe that's what I need
Perhaps that's what I require
'Cause I got music in my bloodstream
Because music is such a big part of my life
Sometimes I just can't seem to bleed
Sometimes I can't seem to express myself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GREG LINDSTROM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Thomas
The first time I heard these guys l was 19 it was the king of the dead album. I was blown away by that album more than any other.Now that I'm 53 I still listen to it cuz I'm still cool.And so is cirith ungol.
Scot Prather
51 still love it you're damn cool in my book
Jamie Warrior Warlord McCallum
i fucking love this underrated american metal band the great cirith ungol. shame they only had a few albums and that was it. love the vocals of the lead singer.
Roshan Gupta
Four albums is worth so much when each one is so solid. Quality over quantity my friend!
Jamie Warrior Warlord McCallum
@Paul Robichaud oh yeah so true.
Paul Robichaud
Thanks for the post Best guitar riffs you will always find them in Metal !
Jamie Warrior Warlord McCallum
@Paul Robichaud damm right it is great
Paul Robichaud
This is good metal I Just hope there's going to Be a new generation of MetalHeads Metal will ALWAYS!
Have a place in my heart!
Paratoumpa Radio
Best song ever written
Imptheshrimp
Got my rock and roll haircut, got my rock and roll jeans. Fuck yes.