Cirith Ungol, the Ventura, California-based epic heavy/doom metal band, released a live video for “Down Below” today, giving fans a taste of their upcoming album Live At The Roxy. The full record drops April 25 via Metal Blade Records, capturing their 2024 album release show for 2023’s Dark Parade at the iconic Roxy Theatre on L.A.’s Sunset Strip.
The one-night-only gig saw the band—vocalist Tim Baker, guitarists Greg Lindstrom and Armand John Anthony, bassist Jarvis Leatherby, and drummer Robert Garven—at their peak, playing Dark Parade in full alongside classics like “Join The Legion,” “Frost And Fire,” “Black Machine,” and “Atom Smasher.” The 20-track set, clocking in at 100 minutes, will be available digitally, as a 2xCD/DVD set, or 2xLP/DVD set in variants like Green Black Marbled (US, Ltd. 500), Demon Blood Splatter (EU, Ltd. 300), and White/Blue Splatter (Band Exclusive, Ltd. 200). Deaf Forever praised the album for its “complete showcase” of the band’s work, noting the “beautifully captured” audience energy.
The Roxy, owned by Hollywood legend Lou Adler and next to the Rainbow Bar And Grill, was a fitting choice for this recording. Garven called it a “landmark Hollywood club,” reflecting on its history alongside venues like the Whisky and the now-defunct Starwood. He added that playing these historic spots always felt special, especially with fans from around the world in attendance. Leatherby, who pushed for the event, noted its significance as a 40-year follow-up to a famous 1984 bootleg from the same venue, saying Metal Blade Records, The Adlers, Nanotear, and Goldenvoice made it possible.
Garven compared Live At The Roxy to iconic live albums like The Who’s Live At Leeds, Mountain’s catalog, and Uriah Heep’s 1993 live record, arguing it captures the raw feeling of a concert just as well. On “Down Below,” he highlighted his drumming and Jimmy Barraza’s solo, calling the track a “churning maelstrom of metal chaos” that channels the band’s pandemic-era struggles—canceled shows, isolation, and loss.
This release comes after Cirith Ungol announced their retirement from live performances at the end of 2024, following a 35-year hiatus and a triumphant return starting in 2016. You can pre-order the album here or stream “Down Below” now to see if it lives up to the hype.