In terms of 80's doom metal, or as we call it now, stoner rock, Saint Vitus were the shit alongside Trouble, Pentagram, and the Obsessed. These guys combined the brutal, tortured riffage of early Black Sabbath with the metal/punk attitude of Motorhead for a style that was fairly unique at the time, and has influenced a generation of bands like Down, Corrosion of Conformity, Cathedral, Eyehategod, Electric Wizard,Crowbar, and many others. Looking back on the music of Saint Vitus, it's easy to say now that they lacked polish, plodded along at times aimlessly, and were never talented enough to ever rise above cult status. All this might be true, but there's no denying the raw power that this band could create, and the reissue of 1991's Live captures many of the band's signature songs at their blistering best, in a live atmosphere.
You can just hear the feedback and doomy sludge dripping all over songs like "Dying Inside" and "Born Too Late", while "War is Our Destiny" sees the band speed things up a bit with reckless abandon. Dave Chandler's guitar work is fun to listen to-his riffs are slow and huge, and when he decides to rip into a solo the wah-wah kicks in and he shoots for the stars. Bassist Mark Adams creates a surging bottom end with his rumbling bass, and his mate on the drums Armando Acosta pounds away furiously. Vocalist Scott "Wino" Weinrich has a raspy, Lemmy-like tone, used to perfect effect on the evil, death march of 'Mystic Lady", a song also fueled by some dark, behemoth guitar riffs.
This isn't pretty, it's not perfect, but it's not meant to be. If you are itching for some classic doom, start here and get it straight from one of the masters of the genre. A must listen!
Track Listing
1. Living Backwards
2. Born Too Late
3. War Starter
4. Mind - Food
5. Looking Glass
6. White Stallions
7. Look Behind You
8. Dying Inside
9. War Is Our Destiny
10. Mystic Lady
11. Clear Windowpane
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