15 years ago today: The Priest’s Command was released πŸ’ΏοΈ
Record King of the Dead • Band Cirith Ungol Format Album • Published Mon 02 Jul 1984

Credits

Credits

 

SPECIAL THANKS

Very Special Thanks: Debbie Davis, Donna Granata, Michael Moorcock, Elric, Corum, Hawkmoon, Dante, Greg Lindstrom, Dan, Rick, Kevin, J. Raper, Neil, Dan and Frank, Ken, Jeff, Scott Campbell, Brent, Brad, Sherm, Jason, Andy and Lance, Bob Spittle, Robert Antonini, Neal Henderson, Mark, Nate, Heather and Bob, Eli Davis, KPFT Houston, Doug McGrew, Mitch Mitchell, Carl Carlsson, Dave Everage, David Bay, Lary Olszewski, Lakers, Mack Bolan, Possession, Prophecy, Dio, Lemmy, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Hellhammer, Aggressor, Sportsman, Living Sin, “E”, All guitars No Bars, No Hands On!

HOLLAND β€’ Charles Hunfeld (A.R.P.), Hans “Hangman” Kuurstra, Sjaak “Axe” Van Gool, “Mercyful” Kees Beukelman, Rene “Metal Cardinal” Willebrand, Maarten Van De Wal, Robert Heeg, S. Rooyackers

MEXICO β€’ Efrain “Flashman” Bernal, Juan Luis Camarillo, Ricardo Aguirres, Radio D

BELGIUM β€’ Yues Luyckx, Tony Peelman, Sloofie, Luc Verwimp, Peter Wrathchild, Jan Wallays

FRANCE β€’ Clement Steeg, Jean Francois Jimenez, Eric Galinsky

ITALY β€’ Beppe Riva, Tiziana Tempo, Tiziano Bergonzi, John Mario Aiello

W. GERMANY β€’ Frank Meinel, Uwe Kumpel, Walter Broschak, Stefan Kuecken, Hans-Georg Bier, Dieter Schuster

ENGLAND β€’ Nathan and Damon Maddison, Paul Miller, Geoff Gillespe, “J” Miles, Billy Cairns

SWEDEN β€’ Chris Ring, Per Falkelind, Nils-Goran Ohlsson

NORWAY β€’ Hallgeir Fisketjon, Jon Kristiansen

C.S.S.R. β€’ Michal Kanuch, Anna Fialova

POLAND β€’ Zibigniew Smiecinski

AUSTRALIA β€’ Martin Jones, Paul Kennedy, John and Mike Weldan

CANADA β€’ Doug Goodard, Jamie Fulton, Dennis La Fond, Teryl Fullerton, Dan Shory, Scott Bate

MAGAZINES β€’ Aardshock, Rockarilla, Sucks, Forearm Smash, Shock Power, Orkaan, Enfer, Conecte, Witching Hour, Megaton, Hit Parader, Creem, Kerrang, Chain Saw, Live Wire, If you’ve read this far, place your name here________________________________________________________________

All songs published 1984 by Amgine Music/Molten Metal Music/Bug Music. BMI.
Administered by Bug Music.
Recorded at Goldmine Studios, Ventura
Engineered by Adm. Tim Nelson
All songs written and arranged by Cirith Ungol except “Finger of Scorn” written by Greg Lindstrom “Atom Smasher” & “Cirith Ungol” written by
Cirith Ungol & Greg Lindstrom. “Toccata in DM” written by J.S. Bach

Cirith Ungol is a registered trademark of Tolkien Enterprises and is used here with permission

Cover Masterpiece Β© 1977 by Michael Whelan
Photography by Greg Hazard
Art direction by Robert W. Garven Jr.
Layout by Karl-Heinz Schuster
Personal Management: Jarvis Leatherby for Iron Grip (2017)

Made to be played at Maximum Volume!

1999 bonus track is live at The Country Club on November 9, 1984
Contact: Cirith Ungol (805) 643-6003

All songs remastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony in February 2017.
This version reflects the original sound of the “1” vinyl pressing, released on Enigma in 1984.
Special thanks to Marcus Mossmann at Phonographic Artifacts.

Special Thanks to: Jarvis Leatherby and Oliver Weinsheimer for reuniting the band and so much more, Jeff Cowan at Goldmine Studios, Brian Slagel and everyone at Metal Blade Records, Armin Steiner, Bart Grasseck, Andreas Reissnau- er, Tracy Vera, Mike Faley, Michael Whelan for the master- piece cover, Greg Hazard for all the great photos, Manolis Karazeris and Dexter Ward, Bart Gabriel, Patrick W. Engel, Michael Schneider, Robert Antonini, Night Demon, Randall Amplifiers, and all our fans and friends around the world that made the re-release of this classic album possible!

Rob would like to thank: My beautiful wife, Rose, for always supporting me and knowing I would play again. Bill & Mary Eanes Garven who financed the original recording: Heather and Bob Sanders: Paiste Cymbals: Kelly, Andrew, and Ryan: DW Drums for the awesome custom built Ferrarired oak kit, and Dusty Squires for letting me play his drums while mine were getting built; Casa de Soria: Diablo; and everyone at “Keep it True Festival” and in Dittigheim, Germany, for your warm welcome!

Tim would like to thank: Mi Familia- Annette, Adam, Miranda, Leila and Leilani :) For putting up with me all these years. A special thanks to Matthew Baker, for all his hard work, dedication, and excellent bass-slapping practice time with the band couldn’t have made it work without you!! Of course, I would like to thank all of our fans around the world, who never gave up hope that Ungol would one day live again!

Tracklist

CD / LP

title

vote

version

time

recorded / venue

written / music by

year

original band

original year, release

earliest live

earliest cover

earliest various

event/record/etc.

01 / A01

 

04:08

Lindstrom

1983 or earlier

Cirith Ungol

Jul/Aug 1978, "The Orange Tape"

Live 1983 

1991, Mausoleum (unreleased)
  
2003, Faustcoven

02 / A02

 

04:13

Goldmine Studios

Garven

19 Jan 1983 or earlier

Cirith Ungol

Live 19 Jan 1983

03 / A03

 

07:07

Goldmine Studios

Garven

1983 or earlier

Cirith Ungol

Live 1983

04 / A04

 

06:47

Goldmine Studios

Garven

1983 or earlier

Cirith Ungol

Live 1983

2009, HC Minds (unreleased)

The same title of 1977 painting.

05 / B01

 

03:52

Goldmine Studios

Lindstrom / Garven

19 Jan 1983 or earlier

Cirith Ungol

1977/78

Live 19 Jan 1983

06 / B02

 

08:30

Goldmine Studios

Lindstrom

19 Jan 1983 or earlier

Cirith Ungol

1979?

Live 19 Jan 1983

Finger of Scorn (tribute band)
 
Finger of Scorn - Fan Portal (website)

07 / B03

 

04:34

Goldmine Studios

Bach

1983 or earlier

Bach

Ca. 1700-1750

 

08 / B04

 

06:18

Goldmine Studios

Lindstrom / Garven (?)

1983?

Cirith Ungol

1977

Live 1983

Cirith Ungol Music Studio (same as CU?) 

Total

Additional tracks

09 (re-release 1999)

 

Live

09 Nov 1984

09 (re-release 2017)

1982 version

Goldmine Studios

10

Live

8 Oct 2016

11

Live

12

Live

DVD

Live

19 Jan 1983

01

02

 

Live

03

Live

04

Live

05

Live

06

Live

07

Live

08

Live

Streaming

Editions

(self-packaging)

ID: 29919
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/making-cover-kotd/
title: making cover KotD

Release label: (self-packaging)

See more of the edition and pictures

(master test)

ID: 25549
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/master-test-disc/
title: Master Test Disc

Release label: (master test)

See more of the edition and pictures

Rainbo Records

ID: 25548
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/test-pressing/
title: Test Pressing

Release label: Rainbo Records
Release number: E1081

See more of the edition and pictures

Mon 02 Jul 1984 Roadrunner Records, EU

ID: 17094
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-eu-roadrunner-records-rr-9832/
title: LP: EU (Roadrunner Records – RR 9832)

Release label: Roadrunner Records
Release number: RR 9832
Release date: Mon 02 Jul 1984
Country: EU

See more of the edition and pictures

Mon 02 Jul 1984 Roadrunner Records, Netherlands

ID: 17101
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-nl-roadrunner-records-rr-9832/
title: LP: NL (Roadrunner Records – RR 9832)

Release label: Roadrunner Records
Release number: RR 9832
Release date: Mon 02 Jul 1984
Country: Netherlands

See more of the edition and pictures

Mon 02 Jul 1984 Enigma Records, USA

ID: 146
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-1984-us-enigma-records-e-1089/
title: LP: US (Enigma Records; E 1089)

Release label: Enigma Records
Release number: E 1089
Release date: Mon 02 Jul 1984
Country: USA

See more of the edition and pictures

Mon 02 Jul 1984 Enigma Records

ID: 17069
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mc-enigma-records-ec-1089-transparent/
title: MC: Enigma Records – EC-1089 (transparent)

Release label: Enigma Records
Release number: EC-1089
Release date: Mon 02 Jul 1984

See more of the edition and pictures

Mon 02 Jul 1984 Enigma Records

ID: 148
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mc-enigma-records-ec-1089-white/
title: MC: Enigma Records – EC-1089 (white)

Release label: Enigma Records
Release number: EC-1089
Release date: Mon 02 Jul 1984

See more of the edition and pictures

1985 Young RGE Records, Brazil

ID: 149
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-br-young-rge-records-308-7093/
title: LP: BR (Young RGE Records – 308.7093)

Release label: Young RGE Records
Release number: 308.7093
Release date: 1985
Country: Brazil

See more of the edition and pictures

Tue 05 Oct 1999 Metal Blade Records, EU

ID: 150
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-eu-mbr-3984-14253-2/
title: CD: EU (MBR 3984-14253-2)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14253-2
Release date: Tue 05 Oct 1999
Country: EU

See more of the edition and pictures

Tue 05 Oct 1999 Metal Blade Records, USA

ID: 17074
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-us-metal-blade-records-3984-14253-2/
title: CD: US Metal Blade Records – 3984-14253-2

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14253-2
Release date: Tue 05 Oct 1999
Country: USA

See more of the edition and pictures

2005 Metal Blade Records, EU, Limited 500 copies

ID: 151
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-eu-mbr-3984-14253-1pd/
title: LP: EU (MBR; 3984-14253-1PD)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14253-1PD
Release date: 2005
Country: EU
Limited: 500

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 12 Jun 2015 Metal Blade Records/High Roller Records, Germany, Limited 200 copies

ID: 316
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-de-mbr-clear-blue-splattered-vinyl/
title: LP: DE (MBR Clear/Blue Splattered Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records/High Roller Records
Release number: 3984-25020-1
Release date: Fri 12 Jun 2015
Country: Germany
Limited: 200

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 12 Jun 2015 Metal Blade Records, Limited 500 copies

ID: 314
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-eu-mbr-180-gram-black-vinyl/
title: LP: EU (MBR 180 Gram Black Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-25020-1
Release date: Fri 12 Jun 2015
Limited: 500

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 12 Jun 2015 Metal Blade Records, EU, Limited 300 copies

ID: 315
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-eu-mbr-violet-marbled-vinyl/
title: LP: EU (MBR Violet Marbled Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-25020-1
Release date: Fri 12 Jun 2015
Country: EU
Limited: 300

See more of the edition and pictures

2016 Hellion Records / Nomade Records, Brazil

ID: 17003
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-hellion-records-nomade-records-nrcd0001/
title: CD: Hellion Records / Nomade Records – NRCD0001

Release label: Hellion Records / Nomade Records
Release number: NRCD0001
Release date: 2016
Country: Brazil

See more of the edition and pictures

2016 Hellion Records / Nomade Records, Brazil

ID: 17090
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-hellion-nomade-nrcd002/
title: CD: Hellion Records / Nomade Records – NRCD002

Release label: Hellion Records / Nomade Records
Release number: HEL 1369 / NRCD002
Release date: 2016
Country: Brazil

See more of the edition and pictures

Thu 23 Mar 2017 Metal Blade Records

ID: 5379
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-dvd-de-mbr-ultimate-edition/
title: CD/DVD: DE (MBR Ultimate Edition!)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-15513-0
Release date: Thu 23 Mar 2017
Format: CD and DVD/Blu-ray/4K UHD

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 28 Apr 2017 Metal Blade Records, EU, Limited 300 copies

ID: 5381
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-eu-mbr-clear-ice-blue-vinyl/
title: LP: EU (MBR Clear Ice Blue Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-15513-1
Release date: Fri 28 Apr 2017
Country: EU
Limited: 300

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 28 Apr 2017 Metal Blade Records, EU, Limited 200 copies

ID: 5386
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-eu-turquoise-green-black-marbled-vinyl/
title: LP: EU (Turquoise Green/Black Marbled Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-15513-1
Release date: Fri 28 Apr 2017
Country: EU
Limited: 200

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 28 Apr 2017 Metal Blade Records

ID: 5367
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-mbr-180-gram-black-vinyl/
title: LP: MBR (180 Gram Black Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-15513-1
Release date: Fri 28 Apr 2017

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 28 Apr 2017 Metal Blade Records, USA

ID: 5373
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-us-mbr-blood-red-vinyl/
title: LP: US (MBR Blood Red Vinyl)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-15513-1
Release date: Fri 28 Apr 2017
Country: USA

See more of the edition and pictures

2020 Hellion Record, Brazil

ID: 25099
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-hellion-records-nomade-records-hel-1370/
title: CD: Hellion Records / Nomade Records – HEL 1370

Release label: Hellion Record
Release number: HEL 1370
Release date: 2020
Country: Brazil

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 17 Dec 2021 Metal Blade Records, EU, Limited 300 copies

ID: 24654
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/40th-anniversary-2lp-silver-vinyl/
title: 40th Anniversary 2LP – Silver Vinyl

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14252-2
Release date: Fri 17 Dec 2021
Country: EU
Limited: 300

See more of the edition and pictures

Fri 17 Dec 2021 Metal Blade Records/High Roller Records, Germany, Limited 200 copies

ID: 24663
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/40th-anniversary-2lp-golden-yellow-marbled-vinyl/
title: 40th Anniversary 2LP – Golden Yellow Marbled Vinyl

Release label: Metal Blade Records/High Roller Records
Release number: 3984-14252-2
Release date: Fri 17 Dec 2021
Country: Germany
Limited: 200

See more of the edition and pictures

Wed 19 Jan 2022 DIW on METAL, Japan

ID: 25933
permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/kotd-diw-on-metal-japan/
title: KotD DIW on METAL Japan

Release label: DIW on METAL
Release number: DYMC-6063
Release date: Wed 19 Jan 2022
Country: Japan

See more of the edition and pictures
HERALDING IN A NEW
AGE OF TRUE METAL,
THEIR CRUSHING SECOND
LP HAS BEEN UNLEASHED.
A CHURNING MAELSTROM
OF CHAOS DESCENDING!

King of the Dead is the second Cirith Ungol LP. It was produced by Cirith Ungol and released July 1984 on Enigma Records. It was re-released September 1999 on Metal Blade Records. It is the only album without any “Fire”-song. The other three albums have Frost and Fire, A Little Fire, The Fire and Fire. The cover was painted by Michael Whelan and is like the album, entitled “King of the Dead”. The sound is a dozen of pounds heavier than the debut album. It is also their most epic, progressive and conceptual album. The DVD is Live at The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA on January 19th, 1983. “The album will be released in summer 1983 and no expense is being spared in creating the heaviest record obtainable!!” on one of the letters. Recorded at Goldmine Studios, Ventura, CA between Oct 1983 and Mar 1984.

I find more darkness and Β΄dreadΒ΄ in a Cirith Ungol LP like KING OF THE DEAD than any Obituary or Cannibal Corpse record ever offered me.

King Fowley, Apr 2004

The cover

The cover was painted by Michael Whelan in 1977 and is entitled King of the Dead.

It was used for the DAW edition of Michael Moorcock‘s book The Bane of the Black Sword (The Elric Saga #5). The book was published in October 1977. There are various editions of the book, and not all editions has the same cover.

See more here:

Michael Whelan

Michael Moorcock – Elric 5. The Bane of the Black Sword

 

Bootleg and magazine:

 

In the band’s own words

It’s going to be a million times more radical. People aren’t going to know it’s the same band. The lyrics are much more intense and the music is heavy.

Tim Baker, Heavy Metal Times 1983 (the year before release)

 

Frost And Fire and King Of The Dead are my favorites. KOTD is CU’s classic. The production is 100% heavier than on Frost And Fire.

Greg Lindstrom

 

King of the Dead was our best album, the reason was that we had total control over it. Every album could have been this good if we could have exercised complete control over its production and other things. This is the album which I feel is our best effort. The reason the long wait between albums is because when you are financing them yourselves, you have to come up with the money to pay for things like studio time. Plus being on all these independent labels their time tables are slower. I also did all the layout and design of the first three covers, all this while we were all working full time trying to sponsor the dream.

Robert Garven

 

Cirith Ungols Best Album

As co-founder and drummer of Cirith Ungol for 22 years I feel I can say without a doubt that this was our best effort. A previous reviewer mentioned that “Frost & Fire” sounded thrown together. The real truth is that we had been in the band for 9 years already and “Frost & Fire” was our attempt to get airplay and find success with what we conpagered some of our more accessable music. When the local LA station KLOS played it once and conpagered it too heavy, we decided to go for broke with our second album. I disagree and think Tim singing is not only excellent and that “Frost & Fire” has some of his best vocals. “‘Im Alive” was one of our all time best songs, which we started almost every set with. The LA Times said that Pearl Jams “Alive” was a blatant rip off of our song, which is debatable. Conpagering we produced, self recorded and paid for the entire project and that we were one of if not the first independent band to put out their own album during the wave of indie productions during that time, I think F&F and KOTD is a mandatory listen.

That said “King of the Dead” is my favorite and the last album which we had total control over. I am proud that we are mentioned in the same breath as bands that were epic and hope you all appreciate what we were trying to acomplish at a time when only big label bands had any chance of distribution or airplay.

Rob Garven
May 2007

(Rating: 5 out of 5 stars)

Review at Amazon

 

laweekly King of the Dead | Cirith Ungol Online

King of the Dead included in β€œTop 20 L.A. Metal Albums: The Complete List”, Tue 16 Oct 2012.

Cirith Ungol had been kicking around since 1972, but it wasn’t until the early 1980s that they hit their stride. The group took the swords-and-sorcery themes ’70s prog rock was known for and brought them into a wickedly ambitious metal framework. King of the Dead is the best showcase for the band’s Black Sabbath-meets-Rush brew, with songs like β€œAtom Smasher” and β€œFinger of Scorn” telling tales of both ancient and post-apocalyptic destruction.

Source:Β error now / new link here

Thanks to Jason Roche for this (Good morning. My name is Jason Roche and I write about heavy metal for LA Weekly and LAWeekly.com. This morning we posted an article that was a writers’ poll of the Top 20 L.A. Metal Albums of All Time. Cirith Ungol’s “King of the Dead” was included in the list alongside acts such as Slayer, Megadeth, and Dark Angel. I saw you are maintaining the “Cirith Ungol Webpit,” so I figured I would share the link with you if you would like to check out our writeup.

I hope the week is treating you well. Thanks for maintaining the Webpit and spreading the word on this awesome band.)

 

CU@FB

Support the artists, improve your metal collection, buy records or merchandise of Cirith Ungol King of the Dead πŸ›’


King of the DeadThese links are automatic generated links and may not always give the best search result. Sometimes you might need to refine the search after having tried any of these links. Some are affiliates and some are not. If you know about any good deal for King of the Dead, don't hesitate to add a link in the comment field or in the forum.
Categories:

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
8 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dani
Dani
Admin
1 month ago

Unfortunately they still are there on 2024:

 
Tim Baker
Tim Baker
Guest
13 years ago

pretty sure this is just the twinpak cd.if I remember ,it’s f+f and kotd packaged together,nothing new.. [FB]

 
Dani
Dani
Admin
13 years ago

King of the Dead – 2 Disc Boxset
At least four different sellers at eBay, Moviemars and perhaps from others places, are selling a new CD titled King of the Dead 2 disc/box set. I tried to contact all four of them to ask about the item. None of them was able to help! So at the cheap price, I ordered one and found out it is just King of the Dead, no extras at all.
Oddbanana: http://cgi.ebay.com/King-Dead-Cirith-Ungol-CD-Oct-1999-2-Di-/380287072215?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item588ae037d7
Redtagmarket: http://cgi.ebay.com/CIRITH-UNGOL-KING-DEAD-NEW-CD-BOXSET-/130452374313?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item1e5f914329
Get_importcds: http://cgi.ebay.com/King-Dead-Cirith-Ungol-CD-Oct-1999-2-Di-/140475598322?pt=Music_CDs&hash=item20b4ff85f2
Moviemars: http://www.moviemars.com/i/039841425321_King_of_the_Dead.htm

comment image
sent https://www.ebay.com/itm/380287072215?ViewItem=&item=380287072215 https://www.ebay.com/itm/380287072215?ViewItem=&item=380287072215 (error now)

 
Last edited 1 year ago by Dani
Dani
Dani
Admin
13 years ago

Yes, supposed to. hostip.info wasn’t doing it’s job, so I just updated their database.

 
Perry
Perry
Guest
13 years ago

Uh… Dani, does this site automatically give you a flag based on your IP addy? If so, where’s the bloody Southern Cross! πŸ˜›

 
doom
doom
Guest
13 years ago

You can’t expect too much from a guy who wrote a book about Metallica!

 
Dani
Dani
Admin
13 years ago

As it is said, journalists didn’t know what to make of the uniqueness of Ungol, and what to compare them to. Guess it’s the same story for Manilla Road. They had really bad reviews when their 80’s album were new, but now over 20 years later they all are praised and considered classics. Frost and King are indeed landmark HM albums.
Btw, what’s that flag you got?

 
Perry
Perry
Guest
13 years ago

That review is way too harsh. πŸ™
Pretty Spinal Tap, actually. Xavier should’ve said “Shit sandwich.” It would’ve made him that much more credible.
Different strokes for different folks, but I think Frost and Fire and King of the Dead are landmark heavy metal albums!

 



8
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x