Lillie: F-65

After years of being out of step with the music culture around it, Saint Vitus’ brand of doom metal finally came into vogue in the \'00s. In turn, the seminal Southern California quartet reformed for 2012’s *Lillie: F-65*. For the first time since 1990, legendary singer Scott “Wino” Weinrich resumed the vocalist chair, while new drummer Henry Vasquez brought a hard-hitting, trenchant force to the rhythm section. The resulting *Lillie: F-65* feels like the work of a young, hungry band. (Its title refers to the type of Quaaludes that guitarist Dave Chandler favored in the \'70s—a subtle nod to the group’s first-wave authenticity.) Fueled by Chandler’s experiences as a New Orleans resident and Wino’s taste for Southern rock, a feel for vintage blues fuels “The Bleeding Ground” and “Let Them Fall,” the latter of which features an awe-inspiring solo from Chandler that comes off like a tornado in slow motion. Memories of the old Saint Vitus come alive on the churning “Blessed Night” and the trudging “Dependence,” two songs showing that younger bands can\'t compete with Vitus for majestic, time-altering doom rock.

Saint Vitus' first album in 17 years, the first to feature original vocalist Scott "Wino" Weinrich in 22 years, finds the hugely influential Los Angeles doom band flush with renewed energy.

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You can imagine the doomers have been chanting "at last?at last?" amongst themselves since late May when SAINT VITUS returned to the scene they all but created alongside CATHEDRAL, PENTAGRAM, CANDLEMASS and of course, the mighty BLACK SABBATH beforehand. One can almost picture sludge monger Dave Cha...

A review of Lillie: F-65, the long awaited new album by Saint Vitus, available in Europe April 27th and in the US on May 22nd via Season of Mist.