Angband

A mighty fortress constructed by Melkor under the Iron Mountains in the earliest years of the world, Angband was made as an outlying citadel to the northern stronghold of Utumno. The Valar had destroyed Utumno and imprisoned Melkor for three ages. But when he returned to Middle Earth, he used Angband as his new capital and also built the towers of Thangorodrim on the top of the gates. Angband was destroyed by the armies of the Valar at the end of the War of Wrath in the First Age [1].​

Originally, Angband was built by Melkor during the Years of the Trees to protect its northern citadel at Utumno from the attack from Valar. It was under the supervision of Sauron, the head of the servants. Angband was constructed at the coast of the Great Sea as a tool of defense against an attack on the Melkor from the Valar. However, when the War of Powers began, the attack of the Valar got over Angband easily and Melkor was forced to escape to the stronghold of Utumno. Angband was destroyed to a great extent and remained ruined for ages though some of the hidden chambers were intact under the ruins.

A number of Melkor’s servants went into hibernation in these ruined chambers. Sauron was among them and the Balrogs also hid with him in the deepest vaults of Angband. Slowly, the Orcs increased in number in these ruins and got ready to threaten the Dwarves and Thingol’s rule, entering into Beleriand. Melkor was released after three ages, the Two Trees of Valinor were destroyed and the Silmarils were stolen. He was renamed Morgoth by the enemies, returned to Middle Earth, and chose the ruined fortress as his capital. He built the volcanic peaks of Thangorodrim over Angband’s gates. The peaks were made of ash and slag as a result of the resurgence of the fortress and this is why the renovated Angband extended far greater underground than before.

Melkor made it a base for the dark realm he wanted for Middle Earth. As the Noldor returned from the West, Morgoth declared a war against him and the Free Peoples in Beleriand supporting him. He also came out to be victorious. The biggest of the battles, War of Wrath had significant effects on Angband. Until then, Melkor had sent Orcs to take Noldor who chased and slew them. This war not only destroyed Angband terribly but broke so much of Middle Earth that it got under the ocean.​

Angband was mostly set in the underground, greatly after the first destruction in the Years of the Trees by the Valar. Just like Utumno, it had several underground ruined chambers deeper into the earth. Above the ground were its peaks of Thangorodrim, the giant towers made of slag and ash. These peaks were hollow and contained chimneys and channels running into the deepest parts of the fortress. This allowed Melkor to make toxic vapors and clouds that he sent to Noldor during the initial days after his return.​