Saint Vitus

At a time when the Southern California underground scene was overrun with hardcore punk bands, the Lomita-based quartet Saint Vitus submitted a musical statement that was diametrically opposed to prevailing trends. Though it represented everything punk rockers hated, the band’s shockingly slow take on Black Sabbath\'s blues-metal proved to be the beginning of a whole new genre: doom metal. “Zombie Hunger” and “The Psychopath” upended not just the tenets of punk rock but also the lightning tempos and theatricality of \'80s heavy metal. Meanwhile, songs like “Burial at Sea” made even Sabbath look swishy by comparison. At its heart, Saint Vitus’ eponymous debut belongs to the tradition of the American garage band. There\'s no pretense to the playing, no added effects, no attempt to embody the image of rock gods. In what it refused to do, the young band was bold. Where other garage bands found inspiration in the teenage energy of the \'60s, Saint Vitus dedicated its art to the near-comatose alienation of every small-town malcontented stoner.

Seven years after their epic comeback album, 'Lillie: F-65' (2012), legendary doom metal trailblazers SAINT VITUS return with their eponymous new album. The band sees the return of their original vocalist, Scott Reagers, as well as the addition of new bassist Pat Bruders (DOWN, ex-CROWBAR), who join long-time drummer Henry Vasquez and founder/guitarist Dave Chandler. As if in a time machine, the seasoned quartet pick up where their 1985 classic 'Hallows Victim' left off. Saint Vitus delivers nothing less than the truest and most enduring representation of original and fundamental doom metal.

Any fan of Saint Vitus's pre-Wino era material has good reason to be excited for the band's first album to feature original vocalist Scott R...

Given the dogmatic way of things, this review should probably be full of dramatic statements about Scott Reagers being the original and therefore the ultimate frontman for SAINT VITUS, undisputed lords of American doom. But let's face it, arguing about whether Reagers or Scott "Wino" Weinrich deserv...

A review of Saint Vitus by Saint Vitus, available worldwide May 17th via Season of Mist.