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.
King of the Dead
Cirith Ungol Lyrics
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The time has come, to pay for all your sins
Silence shattered by his gasping cries
His savage touch will end your world of lies
Who has dared to desecrate his crypt
Shall soon be hanging lifeless in his grip
Who has dared to stalk him in the gloom
Crown upon his head
King of the Dead
The sword descends, the blood shall fall like rain
Its rising tide will cleanse your world of pain
His grip will rob the living of their breath
For as he ruled in life, he rules in death
The lyrics of Cirith Ungol's "King of the Dead" are a powerful depiction of a legendary, almost mythological figure who has returned to life to exact vengeance on those who have wronged him. The lyrics are full of vivid and dark imagery, invoking a sense of fear and awe in the listener. The opening line, "Thunder howls, The King will rise again," sets the tone for the rest of the song, signaling the imminent return of a powerful and terrifying force. The next line, "The time has come, to pay for all your sins," suggests that the King of the Dead has been wronged in some way, and that his return will bring punishment to those who have crossed him.
The rest of the lyrics paint a picture of violence and destruction, as the King of the Dead seeks revenge on those who have dared to desecrate his crypt and stalk him in the gloom. The imagery of the sword descending and blood falling like rain is particularly striking, evoking the idea of a deadly storm sweeping across a landscape. The final lines of the song, "His grip will rob the living of their breath/For as he ruled in life, he rules in death," drive home the idea that the King of the Dead is a force to be reckoned with, both in life and in death.
Overall, "King of the Dead" is a masterful piece of lyricism that invokes the darkest fantasies of metal fans everywhere. The vivid imagery, powerful storytelling, and evocative music combine to create a sense of awe and terror that is truly unforgettable.
Line by Line Meaning
Thunder howls, The King will rise again
The powerful roar of thunder announces the resurrection of the dead King
The time has come, to pay for all your sins
The time has arrived for the sinners to face the reckoning of their misdeeds
Silence shattered by his gasping cries
The King returns to life, gasping for breath, and breaking the silence of death
His savage touch will end your world of lies
The touch of the King will destroy the deceitful world of the living
Who has dared to desecrate his crypt
Whoever has dared to violate the King's tomb
Shall soon be hanging lifeless in his grip
Will soon meet their death in the hands of the King
Who has dared to stalk him in the gloom
Whomsoever has dared to follow the King in the darkness
For he has freshly risen from the tomb
As he has just now risen from the grave
Crown upon his head
With his head adorned by the majestic crown
King of the Dead
Being the Ruler of the Dead
The sword descends, the blood shall fall like rain
The sword of the King falls, and the blood of the living shall pour out like rain
Its rising tide will cleanse your world of pain
The growing wave of death will purify the world of the living from its agony
His grip will rob the living of their breath
The King's grasp will take away the breath of the living
For as he ruled in life, he rules in death
As he was the ruler in his lifetime, he is so even after death
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JERRY FOGLE, MIKE VUJEA, ROBERT W. GARVEN JR., TIM BAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind