The original mega-kvlt and trve metal act, Cirith Ungol are a lot like the evil demigod, Sauron. They both had mysterious beginnings before erupting onto the scene to create a lasting legacy. And both simply refuse to die and stay dead. After 3 iconic albums in the 80s, these mystical heavy metal maestros took a long hiatus, only to reappear 5 years later with fourth album, Paradise Lost. That would spell the end of the original run, with them soon breaking up, seemingly for good. But as Sauron’s eye rose to the sky 3000 years after his “death,” Cirith Ungol exploded from the void 19 years after disbanding with 2020s Forever Black. And what a welcome return it was, with their sound and style largely intact and the material heavy and maurading. 2023’s Dark Parade kept the war party in the field with another high-quality outing that proved Cirith Ungol was still a potent beast on a second career tear. Sadly, in 2024 the band announced they would be performing their final shows and calling it a day. It seemed the standard bearers of trve metal had finally come full circle and all their tales were told. 2 years on, however, Cirith Ungol come back from the grave once again with All the Shadows, albeit without either founding axe Gregory G. Lindstrom or longtime guitarist Jimmy Barraza. Why won’t these grizzled vets stay dead? We have no answers. Will you be glad to have them back? That we can address.
As a major Ungol head since my teams, I rejoiced muchly when word reached me that we were getting another album. The opening title track gave me even more reason ot celebrate, as it’s 100% pure Ungolcore as heavy and mighty as anything they ever conjured. One-of-a-kind frontman Tim Baker still sounds unbelievably powerful, his odd but awesome vocals still oozing with grit, grease, and pork byproduct. This is exactly the kind of classic metal war march I crave from these guys and it hits like a runaway siege engine full of dragonfire. “Shallow Reflection” goes back to Ungol’s doomy roots and borrows more than a little from classic Black Sabbath to craft a brooding slab of trve doom fury. Baker’s insane bellowing here is worth the price of the album, and this is the big dose of classic metal glory that all posers need in their feeble lives. “Empty Tomb” is even more like vintage Ungol. This one could have appeared on their legendary King of the Dead opus and fit in like a dagger through the ribs. It’s a thing of ugly beauty. Also of note is the 7-plus-minute “On Broken Wings,” which is like an old school trve doom ballad that finds Tim Baker singing cleanly and softly in a way he rarely does. Soon it’s back to his signature “pig monster in pain” bellowing, and the transition from soft to oink makes his excessive over-the-topness feel even more impactful.
Unfortunately, there are some bumpy moments scattered across All the Shadows. While “This Mortal Stain” is solid with cool moments and contains some of Baker’s most insane vocals ever, the song never fully gets on track. “Turning Blind” is heavy but clunky and awkward and feels half-baked. At just under 41 minutes, it feels like the band struggled somewhat to piece together an album as massive as their last few. I’m happy to get the good stuff, but there’s more chaff with the wheat this time.
The core of the Cirith Ungol sound has always been the oddball vocal attack from Tim Baker. Despite being 70 years of age, the man still sounds like the real monster lurking behind the Minotaur in the maze. His massive, raspy bellows are the stuff of legend, and his kinda-sorta pig squeal is as freaky as it was in the early 80s. He brings life to the best stuff here and keeps the lesser bits from completely face-planting. He’s a special talent. The absence of both Gregory G. Lindstrom and Jimmy Barraza definitely took a toll on the writing and, to an extent, the classic sound palette of Cirith Ungol. While it’s clear the band took pains to get new slinger Armand Anthony (Night Demon, ex-Gygax) to fit his playing into the classic Ungol style, there are moments where things feel more like a copy than the real Magilla.
I’ll be a die-hard Cirith Trooper until the end of time and I still spin their classic albums regularly. There was never a band quite like them, and that always made them feel extra special. I want to like All the Shadows more than I do, but shortcomings aside, it’s still a solid addition to their mighty catalog with some potent Ungol chunks amid the Cirith slurry. If you’re new to the band, this might not be the best place to start, but fans should find plenty to love. May Cirith Ungol live forever. The world needs them.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: No Remorse
Websites: cirithungolofficial.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/cirithungolofficial | instagram.com/cirithungolband
Releases Worldwide: October 30th, 2026
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