Like the barbarian warrior who ventures into the otherworldly realms of demons and wizards, “Dark Parade” supremely reigns in the hallmarks of sword and sorcery in such a unique way. And by pushing the wheel of intensity, which has been the core of the band. Five decades have passed, and Cirith Ungol illustrates its trademark in the NWOBHM, along with other cult bands such as Manilla Road, Manowar, and Saxon, who have had an endless pursuit of glory. The album’s epic atmosphere conjures an absolute slab of heavy metal. The album opens with storming riff gallops and mauling drums on “Velocity (S.E.P.)”. The unwavering power of the unparalleled riff prowess unleashes a mid-stomper driven by crushing metallic drums.

Once again, Cirith Ungol embraces the art of imaginative fiction that reflects the epic nature of the lyrical themes and songs that meld these elements and provide a timeless quality to the second track, “Relentless”. The song builds unsettling grandeur before the exultant vocal rasps bring the touch of a mystical element to the pompous riffing. Cirith Ungol binds the listener to enter the esoteric realm of ancient fantasy lore. These veterans have finely honed their craft, with the towering lead guitars giving glimpses of Middle-Eastern hooks that conceivably channel the style of Mercyful Fate-styled classic riffs.

The epic creativity of the guitar hooks paints the traditional heavy metal aspect of their sonic work. With guitarists Jimmy Barraza and Greg Lindstrom combining their skills to a sharp-edged riffing, the melodies dance off the buzzing tone of Jarvis Leatherby’s bass guitar and having each riff and charming melody thrown in a well-constructed manner. The enchanting acoustic intro of “Sailors on the Seas of Fate”, which has similar vibes to the song “Stormbringer”, instantly transports the listener into a mystic realm with the guitars infusing rhythmic patterns to the composition. And the faint effect of arpeggio played like something out of a dream and graced with majestic, unearthly vocals.

The stomping drum beats hold the cadence of the tempo but sound all mighty. The riffs strike like a lightning bolt wielding colossal power and while the songwriting is flawless, Cirith Ungol delivers a crushing performance and triumphs by unraveling some of its best memorable set of songs like “Sacrifice”. The riffs on “Dark Parade” are mainly inspired by bands like Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. With the heavy chugging overpowered by proverbial hooks combining classic Middle-Eastern melodies before guitarist Greg Lindstrom launches into a menacing guitar riff accentuated by the grim vocals and employing haunting catchy hooks.

Cirith Ungol intrepidly shows that they have a knack for honing raw intensity. The crunchy guitar tone dominates the eight tracks that range from mid-tempo majestic heavy metal to slow-crushing doom epics woven with powerful drums that present the artistic tradition of classic metal. Cirith Ungol’s sixth album is packed with a fistful of thundering metal, the vocals of Tim Baker are even more compelling than ever and show how he can steer the pacing of the song into a memorable chorus. Once you hear the track “Looking Glass”, you will grasp the power of these menacing plodding riffs that are overcharged with immense dynamics and scorching virtuosic guitar solos firing intensive blasts before returning to the aggressive and relentless nature of the riffing.

The awe-striking pace of the album’s title track “Dark Parade” is laden with classic 80s heavy/doom and storming drum gallops and dynamic riffing sounding dark. There are some slow doomy passages that evoke the horror fantasy fiction, though there is an element of doom and gloom to create otherworldly soundscapes.

The fundamental style of Cirith Ungol is clearly defined in the mid-tempo sections that feature awe-inspiring catchy riffs. As we get treated with some remarkable lead guitar work, solos, and galloping drums and bass guitar offering memorable hooks in the track “Distant Shadows”. While the album’s closer “Down Below” is deeply rooted in the fantasy realm, Cirith Ungol offers one of its best songs ever. The chilling intro of the acoustic guitars beautifully contrasts with the mesmerizing female vocals before the guitars conjure images of ancient kingdoms.

Doom-laden riffs flow endlessly from the well of the band’s sonic creativity and entice us into the ancient heavy/doom fashion. The effect of the clean guitars and the towering guitar solos emphasizing glorious melodies that give the album a whole refined sound.

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