Search - Saint Vitus :: Mournful Cries

Most folks will find this a downer and thats the point

peter prentice | cedar rapids, iowa United States | 07/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems odd writing a review for something I first heard so many years ago, on a modern medium for a band that came across as neo Ludite, but this band is responsible for so many bands in the stoner/doom metal scene today, and obviously remain one of my favorites.Six more doomed numbers of alienation,addiction and loss-very fuzzy, very loud, very slow, very limited appeal(I wonder how many, if any, will even read this-)This stuff sounds like Dosteuvsky-not sure of spelling-Notes From Undergroung put to Sabb-like metal.This one and Born Too Late have been known to be just to depressing to listen to, and in fact, St. Vitus was considered a joke back in the day, an easy target in a time of fast metal, black metal(which they opposed-Praryer For The Masses and H.ell A.in't A. G.ame) hair-do metal and the punk scene.Kindred spirits are attracted to this right off, most don't get it and don't care to. Vitus had this weird sort of hippie meets metal vibe that was out of place, a sound, a feel and a look that metal was trying desparately to distance itself from in the 80's-and still is, which is why there is this backlash, or resurgence of what is being called stoner/doom metal.Early metal pioneers Blue Cheer and Sabb. showed that this was music that dealt with the dark undercurrents. That it had to do with hard feelings and emotions and finding the right notes to express them,Vitus embodied that at a time when metal wanted to gain repect through technical musicianship, guitar workshop heros with huge egos and no desire to write songs that dealt with a humanity that they themselves-and their times-were not in touch with.Vitus lamented this, the title of this album says its so."you know whats right and you know that kindness can, it's a mental fight and the winner is a man" -from Looking Glass"

The Second Best Album Of All Time! Pure Doom!

Sol Leistner | Easton, MA | 04/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If Saint Vitus' "Born Too Late" LP is the best album of all time, then their "Mournful Cries" LP is the second best. Here are six tracks, just as with the "Born Too Late" LP(although the CD version of "B.T.L." has 3 extra tracks that originally constituted the "Thirsty and Miserable" EP) of pure doom metal. The opener "The Creeps" starts with a descending-chord riff that sounds more like an old punk style riff than lumbering doom, then settles into a mid-paced tempo. Note the maracas(!) in the background. The song then leads right into the lumbering "Dragon Time", a tale about the most popular of mythical medieval creatures, the Dragon. Check out guitarist Dave Chandler's "When A Dragon Is This Old...It knows only pain" spoken word in the intro and his "It's Dragon Time!" on the outro.His growls lend the song a weird authenticity. "Shooting Gallery" seems to be about the tragedy of heroin use, with a truly haunting slow riff that breaks into a great "wall of guitar" midway through. "Bitter Truth", written by vocalist/second guitarist Scott "Wino" Weinrich, is the standout track of the LP, with it's beautiful acoustic guitar intro(A Vitus first!) "The Troll", a tale of one man's despair against what mankind has become and a desire to stay cut off from it, is lyrically dynamic, and features a great feedback-solo from Dave. The album closer, "Looking Glass", leaves the listener with the immrotally uplifting words, "Cold gray haze will never stay/Don't ever let 'em take your strength away." Words to live by. The only problem with the LP is it's production sound, which makes the guitars seem very compressed and the drums hollow. It make have something to do with the fact that the album was recorded in 3 days, but the production here seems much thinner than on "Born Too Late". And the digital sound on the CD version only accentuates the thinness of the mix. Also, the CD is only 33 minutes long. While I understand the time limitations of the LP format, SST Records could have added some extra material(if there was any) to the Cassette and CD. Regardless, a true slab of Doom that will not be bettered by any other band! DOOM OUT!!"

Doom forever!

M.U. Yasar | Holland | 02/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Saint Vitus have never delivered a bad album. This album is also f..cking briliant! Those who disagree don't know doom and what it's about. Saint Vitus is the best doom band ever since the almighty Black Sabbath! What's special about Mournful Cries is the intense music and depression you can't feel listening to any stupid pop album!"