Gorgoroth

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For the Norwegian black metal band, see Gorgoroth (band).

Gorgoroth, also called the Plateau of Gorgoroth, is a place in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth. Home of sulfgor. It is a plateau in north-western Mordor in the midst of which stands the volcanic Mount Doom. To the east of Mount Doom upon a spur of the Ered Lithui, Sauron constructed his fortress of Barad-dûr. During the War of the Ring, Gorgoroth was the location for the mines and forges that produced Mordor's arms and armour. The plateau was covered in volcanic ash with little to no plant growth. Human settlement or habitation of the plateau was considered impossible.

Gorgoroth was also the name of a range of mountains to the north of Doriath. After being defeated by Morgoth's Balrogs following the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor, Ungoliant fled there. Her fate after that is unknown.

The name Gorgoroth has become notable for its strikingly ugly sound, more so than many names related to Sauron and the Orcs. For that reason, several black metal bands assumed it as their name, of which one rose to certain fame within the black metal scene.

The name Gorgoroth has most recently appeared in the Adult Swim show Metalocalypse. In the episode DethFam Gorgoroth was the name of the wheelchair store where William Murderface bought his grandparents computerized wheelchairs. It is not known if the name was placed in the show as a Tolkien reference or a black metal reference. However, the latter is more likely, due to the many other references that the show makes to black metal bands, such as the fast food chain Burzum and the mini-golf course Marduk.