Four decades after their last show at The Roxy, Cirith Ungol returns with a fiery live album. Drummer Rob Garven reflects on legacy, resurgence, and the enduring power of true metal.
1.
Returning to The Roxy after 40 years must have been an incredible experience.
What was it like to stand on that stage again and relive that history?
Rob: There
was a strong sense of déjà vu. Not much had changed over the years, and it was
quite a flashback of memories.
2. You
performed Dark Parade in full, along with a set of classic tracks. What made
this the perfect moment to showcase the album in its entirety?
Rob: Since
the band has so many classic songs, we do not get to play many of the new songs
off our albums live, because the audience wants to hear classics like
"Frost & Fire" & "King of the Dead" etc. This show
was our “Dark Parade” album release party, so we got the chance to play the
whole new album live for once!
3.
Capturing the raw energy of a live show on an album is no easy task. How did
you ensure Live At The Roxy truly reflects the intensity of that night?
Rob: I
think the videographers did an excellent job capturing the energy that night. I
was actually feeling pretty bad with flu symptoms, so I was pretty much on
autopilot. I feel I played well, but not sure I looked that good!
4.
"Down Below" is a deeply emotional track, shaped by the struggles of
the pandemic era. Can you talk about what this song means to you and how it
resonated with the audience?
Rob: It is
one of my favorite songs on the album, and one that has made it onto our
current live setlist. To me it is a very powerful and heavy song, with lyrics
to match. It is no surprise that most of our songs recently have leant to the
doomier side of our character, and since there is so much pain and suffering
going on around the world, this is reflected in our music, and this song.
5.
Cirith Ungol has maintained a unique sound and vision for decades. How do you
feel your approach to songwriting and performance has evolved over the years?
Rob: I
think it has gotten heavier! We are still just a group of guys from Southern
California that love to write and play heavy metal! “Dark Parade” was a natural evolution in our
long line of studio albums, and I think our best album to date. We are still
using our secret "Cirith Ungol" song writing recipe. We forge a song,
the same way a ancient blacksmith created a heroic battle sword, adding the
correct alloys, to make it strong and true, then hammering these elements of
molten metal, to add strength and character, finally quenching it in the blood
of the unavenged! By the time it is completed, we all have blood on our hands,
our hearts are blackened, and our souls are scorched!
6. The
Roxy is an iconic venue with a rich history. Did revisiting this stage bring
back any specific memories from the band’s early years?
Rob: Yes of
course, we played all the major clubs on the Sunset Strip over the years, and
being back there for the live album was really special. When Metal Blade
Records rereleased our 1984 album "King of the Dead" they added a video of the band playing our
last time at the Roxy, January 19, 1983.
7.
You’ve cited legendary live albums like Live At Leeds and Uriah Heep Live as
influences. What, in your opinion, makes a truly great live album?
Rob: What
truly makes a great live album is when the performance and recording captures
something magical that adds to our appreciation of the band’s history or
music. It is a hard job to do
successfully, and I am proud of this second live album from the band! time I think “Live at the Roxy” captures a
snapshot of where our band was, at this moment in time.
8.
Cirith Ungol has one of the most dedicated fanbases in heavy metal. What does
it mean to you to see both longtime fans and a new generation embracing your
music today?
Rob: It is
incredible. We just came back from South America and many people came up to me
and said they had waited their entire life to see the band. That is pretty
extraordinary. Of course, I responded that I had waited my whole life to be
there to meet them. Metal music is truly generational and that is one of the
reasons I love it so much. We the elder statesman of metal, and our love of
true metal stretches back to many that came before us. We are standing on their
shoulders, as will others stand on ours, and the beacon of true metal is passed
from one generation to the next!
9. With
multiple vinyl color variants and physical formats for Live At The Roxy, how
important is the physical medium to you in an era dominated by digital music?
Rob: It is
pretty amazing. When our first album came out in 1981, I remember holding it in
my hands thinking wow. When album started disappearing it was sad as I always
loved not only the vinyl but the large format for graphics. The fact that vinyl
has made such a huge comeback is not surprising, as humans we like to hold
things in our hands, going back millennia!
10.
Metal Blade Records played a key role in making this release possible. What has
your collaboration with them meant for the band’s resurgence in recent years?
Rob: Metal
Blade Records has been one of the bands constant supporters over the years, and
we owe a debt of gratitude to them for keeping the flame alive! When the band
was slumbering, they kept many of our albums in print for a new generation of
metal aficionados to discover.
This album
is also our eighth project which features our dear friend and legendary artist
Michael Whelan’s vision of Elric of Meliniboné on the cover. There is a
backstory to his painting “Demonslayer” featured on the cover. Around 1984 when
our album "King of the Dead" had been released, Michael and his wife
were attending a convention in Los Angeles showcasing his art. They came up to
visit us and brought this masterpiece with them for us to see. I remember that
vividly, and we sat it on my parents staircase, which led up to our band room
and went out to dinner. Fast forward 40 years and that creation graces our
latest album!
Ever since
we forged a relationship with Michael Whelan with our first album, "Frost
& Fire", our dream was to use his series of Elrić of Melnibone covers
from the 1980’s DAW Book editions, for all our future covers. Of course, back
then we were a young band and had no idea what the future held for us, or how
many albums we would ever produce. Once again, we are honored and privileged,
to have this renowned artist’s work again gracing our latest album, and hope to
continue to work with him on any future projects! He has been one of the bands
best and most constant friends through the years, even coming out to see the
band play in Brooklyn, New York!
11.
After this monumental live release, do you see yourselves focusing on new
studio material, or is live performance the primary focus for Cirith Ungol
right now?
Rob: It is
no secret that these last shows were supposed to be the bands final tour. My
goal has been to encourage the band to continue as long as we have something to
offer, and I hope that that is another studio album! The whole final tour came
about as the band was at a crossroads, and it looked like there was no way
forward, however a path opened up, and we still have the fire burning inside
us. Anyone that has experienced one of our recent shows, like the video from
the Roxy, can see that flame has not been extinguished! There are many places
that we have never played before, and songs never sung. I’m hoping that we can
reach some more locations that we never had the opportunity to play before!
12. For
those who are experiencing Cirith Ungol for the first time through Live At The
Roxy, what do you hope they take away from it?
Rob: I hope
they realize that for decades "Cirith Ungol" has played our unique
style of heavy metal raised high for all to see. I hope they enjoy our music
and listen to our previous recordings, to get a better understanding about the
most misunderstood band in metal!
"A Churning Maelstrom of Metal Chaos Descending!"
Thank you for your thoughtful questions, and interest in the band, and our new live album "Cirith Ungol – Live at the Roxy”!
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