The title track is the consummate closer--sullen, emotional and crowned with the sort of climactic finish that conjures visions of King Diamond's "Black Horseman." The song opens with a beautifully dark and reflective acoustic lick that the bass quickly picks up on and dances around perfectly, and then the 40-second mark launches into one of the most wonderfully haunting guitar melodies since "Melissa" was first gifted to our ears. From there, "Half Past Human" just soars, folding in multiple leads, a superbly doomy strut, a touch of eccentricity by virtue of Garven's pattering drums, and the perfect pinch of keyboard atmospherics that culminates in precisely the sort of way every closer should: by leaving the listener very much hoping for more. So, yeah, that opening bit about showing some level of discretion when it comes to hoarding music? Maybe it's best to save that for bands with a little less fire left in the kiln. Or, at the least, wait until after May 28th to begin. Clearly, the Cirith Ungol rejuvenation still has an abundance of vigor pumping at its crux, and not even tromping out a handful of 40+ year-old songs penned during a period before the band established their footing can stand in the way of these guys delivering a victory that's every bit as worthy of your attention as the gems that landed before 2021.