Review by Sonny for Cirith Ungol - Forever Black (2020)

After a short intro track, Cirith Ungol's comeback after nineteen years since Paradise Lost was released, kicks off with a bang and a slice of hi-octane speed metal, Legions Arise, which acts like a slap in the face to make sure they have our attention before we get into the meat of the album. The rest of the album is of a slower tempo, more in keeping with the trad metal / doom sound the band were once well-known for. Tim Baker's vocals are still the main sticking point for me, but are probably less of a problem on this album than any of their previous releases.
Overall an enjoyably epic, lovingly ridiculous album of good old traditional metal that doesn't sully the band's legacy at all, unlike so many who return after a lengthy gap between releases. Great to have a new Elric album cover too!