Rebel Extravaganza

Heavy Metal And Other Occasional Musics And Cultures

cirith ungol

Album Review: Cirith Ungol – Dark Parade

Along with MANILLA ROAD, MANOWAR and BROCAS HELM, Ventura, California’s CIRITH UNGOL is one of the first bands that comes up (or should) in any discussion of American power/epic/heavy metal. With the passing of Mark Shelton of MANILLA ROAD any album released by the above becomes more important as not a teary-eyed trip through the “glory days”, but as confirmation of metal’s warrior spirit. After a triumphant return to record in 2020’s Forever Black, we join Dark Parade, the band’s sixth studio album. ‘Velocity (S.E.P.)’ bursts from shattered gates, a twin guitar attack and vocalist Tim Baker’s “Stretch your soul […]

CIRITH UNGOL: Cult Heavy Metal Icons Unveil ‘Looking Glass’ Single; Dark Parade Full-Length Nears Release On Metal Blade Records

Cult heavy metal icons CIRITH UNGOL today unveil their latest single, ‘Looking Glass’, with an accompanying lyric video. The monolithic new track comes by way of the band’s impending sixth full-length, Dark Parade, set for release on October 20th via Metal Blade Records. Few bands in the history of the heavy metal underground have a story as remarkable, improbable, or uplifting as that of CIRITH UNGOL. Formed in Ventura, California in the early 1970s, rather than passively channeling their influences, the band was driven to forge an altogether heavier, darker, more apocalyptic sound the world had never experienced before. It […]

Cirith Ungol reveals details for new EP, Half Past Human; launches new single, ‘Brutish Manchild’

On May 28th, CIRITH UNGOL will release their new EP, Half Past Human, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview, the new single, ‘Brutish Manchild’, can be heard at THIS LOCATION, where the EP can also be pre-ordered in the following formats: digipak-CD 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive) sheer violet marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 500 copies) orange aurora vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies) yellow marbled vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies) picture disc (EU exclusive – limited to 500 copies) dark red marbled vinyl (US exclusive) The globe was ravaged by […]

Cirith Ungol launches live video for ‘Join The Legion’ from upcoming live album/DVD, I’m Alive

On October 25th, CIRITH UNGOL will release their new live album/DVD, I’m Alive, via Metal Blade Records. Capturing CIRITH UNGOL at the peak of their darkened, mystical powers before a rapturous crowd at the Up the Hammers festival in Athens, Greece, this recording showcases the magic and might of the band onstage. It’s accompanied by additional performances recorded at the Hammer Of Doom (2017) and Rock Hard Festivals (2018) in Germany. For this monumental release, a special in-depth documentary spanning 2 hours in length was recorded, which includes exclusive interviews about the history and legacy of the band, as told […]