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.
The Fire Divine
Cirith Ungol Lyrics
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Won't you ever learn?
Piety and virtue
Won't help you as you burn
Your heaven's just a nightmare
When waking turns to hell
There is no God to silence
The braying of death's knell
And the blind will lead the blind
Straight into the fire divine
Are you blind to what you see?
The pain, the fear, the misery?
Every night you kneel and pray
And do as is God's will
Yet God in all his mercy
Bids you burn in hell
Your heaven's just a fantasy
To turn to in your fear
A feeble straw to clutch at
When you know that death is near
And the blind will lead the blind
Straight into the fire divine
Are you blind to what you see?
The pain, the fear, the misery?
And the blind will lead the blind
Straight into the fire divine
Are you blind to what you see?
The pain, the fear, the misery?
The blind will lead the blind
The blind will lead the blind
In the song "The Fire Divine" by Cirith Ungol, the lyrics paint a vivid picture of disillusionment and criticism towards blind faith and adherence to religious beliefs. The opening lines, with the stranger exclaiming "Fools! Won't you ever learn?", set the tone for a scathing commentary on the perceived ineffectiveness of piety and virtue in the face of impending doom. The stranger challenges the idea that one's devotion to religion will protect them from the harsh realities of life and death.
As the lyrics progress, the imagery of a distorted heaven and a merciless God is expressed. The notion that one's prayers and obedience to God's will are ultimately futile in avoiding damnation is a central theme. The idea of a heaven that is nothing more than a false comfort, a mere illusion to cling to in moments of fear and uncertainty, is presented as a harsh truth that believers must confront.
The repeated refrain of "the blind will lead the blind straight into the fire divine" serves as a powerful metaphor for the blind following of doctrine without questioning or critical thinking. The imagery of being led unknowingly into a consuming and transformative fire represents the destructive consequences of blindly following beliefs without seeking understanding or insight.
In the final lines, the repetition of "The blind will lead the blind" reinforces the idea that without introspection and individual thought, people will continue to be led astray by others who themselves lack true understanding. The lyrics of "The Fire Divine" ultimately serve as a warning against complacency and blind adherence to religious doctrine, urging listeners to seek a deeper understanding of their beliefs and the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
"Fools!" cried the stranger
A wise outsider shouts out in frustration, hoping for a change in perception
Won't you ever learn?
Why do you continue to repeat the same mistakes without gaining knowledge?
Piety and virtue
Acting religious and morally upright
Won't help you as you burn
But these actions won't save you from the consequences you face
Your heaven's just a nightmare
The afterlife you long for is nothing but dreadful
When waking turns to hell
Reality becomes a horrifying experience
There is no God to silence
No divine being to quiet
The braying of death's knell
The sounds of impending death
Are you blind to what you see?
Do you fail to see the harsh truth in front of you?
Every night you kneel and pray
Nightly acts of devotion and pleas
And do as is God's will
Following the supposed plan of a higher power
Yet God in all his mercy
However, this merciful god
Bids you burn in hell
Decrees that you suffer in the afterlife
Your heaven's just a fantasy
The paradise you imagine is merely an illusion
To turn to in your fear
To seek solace in during times of fright
A feeble straw to clutch at
A weak attempt at finding comfort
When you know that death is near
Despite the looming presence of death
The blind will lead the blind
Those lacking insight will guide others with the same lack
Straight into the fire divine
Directly into a heavenly blaze
Are you blind to what you see?
Do you fail to perceive the harsh realities around you?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gregory G Lindstrom, James Gilbert Barraza, Jeffrey Hershey, Robert W Jr Garven, Timothy Allen Baker
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind