Metalcatto
If you’re an old Cirith Ungol fan, chances are you need a knee replacement. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I can tell you that maybe only Satan has made a more dramatic comeback from what looked like certain death. The last two albums have been a blast, but can the band top the fun of the classic ones with All The Shadows? Let’s see.
Yay, dragons and ferries. All The Shadows sells fantasy really well. It’s Metal where you can have fun but also appreciate some serious riffs. Cirith Ungol isn’t retro because these guys are the real deal. I might not be the biggest fan of classic Heavy Metal, but I respect the OGs. So expect heroic scenarios and over-the-top deliveries, because in that sense, the album is loyal to the past. The vocals are theatrical, the guitars are soaring, and the whole thing feels like a battle cry from a forgotten age.
As usual with a Cirith Ungol album, it’s all about the guitar work and how everyone else supports that performance. At first, I wasn’t too convinced, but the album’s second half definitely plays more around with its songwriting and pace. And to me, that’s more interesting than just sounding fun. Also, the production is neither too clean nor too dirty. It really adapts to the needs of the band. Now, the bad part.
Don’t expect much new. All The Shadows is great at showing what makes this band cool, but it won’t change the band’s game. On a more skeptical note, the first half of the album is rather static for me. It’s too much of what I’d expect from a band this age. Still, I’d invite the youth to give it a try to such entertaining grandpa Metal. Kids could learn a thing or two. It’s just that I’m an old fart now. The album doesn’t push any boundaries, but it doesn’t need to. It knows what it is, and it’s comfortable with that.
Consistency is a virtue, and All The Shadows shows that Cirith Ungol has that. It might not blow your mind, but it’s certainly loyal to what the band has always tried to do: fast, catchy, and wild Heavy Metal that defies the standards of our grim and cynical times. So if you want to swing a plastic sword in the dark, this is an awesome soundtrack for that.
Label: No Remorse Records
Release date: October 30th, 2026
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cirithungolofficial
Country: USA
Score: 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 