This band and album drew my attention around 2 years ago because of their name (It is translated as ''Pass of the Spider'' in Tolkien's Elvish language and of course refers to Shelob's lair from the Lord of the Rings books)and the awesome artwork that depicts the albino prince Elric from Michael Moorcock's eponymous books fighting the King of the Dead.So I decided to listen to this album and let me tell you it was really worth it!In fact I consider it to be one of the best heavy metal albums of all time.First of all the production isn't anything special but it is by all means good enough for you to feel the epicness of the album flowing through you.The guitar work is also really awesome with doomy riffs and really catchy melodic solos that send chills down your spine.The acoustic pieces in some songs like ''Finger of Scorn'' fit really well and help to create an amazing atmosphere.The vocalist sounds exactly like a banshee crying under a full moon mourning the death of a brave warrior.Not everyone likes his singing style but I couldn't help but love it.The lyrics are exactly what you'd expect from a band named ''Cirith Ungol''.That's right, their lyrics are mostly influenced by J.R.R Tolkien's books but they are also gloomy and dark,drawing inspiration from the work of Black Sabbath,making them one of the pioneering bands of doom metal.
So in conclusion I believe that Cirith Ungol's King of the Dead is a true landmark in the history of heavy metal though it didn't get all the recognition it deserved.I think all fans of traditional heavy metal should check them out.
Και παλι ευγε παιδι μου Γιωργους
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