05-12-2009, 04:08 PM
Not unlike Metallica, St. Vitus are yet another anomaly from the 80's L.A. underground. With Dave Chandlers Iommi-esque riffage, & Scott Reagers' Ozzy-ish vocals the band would reign as a U.S. Doom factory for most of the 80's. Taking nothing away from their like minded rivals Pentegram, and Trouble, Vitus to me always stood out for some reason.
They seemed to capture the ominous vibe of that first Sabbath album just a little better then the rest. The first album St. Vitus and especially the excellent Hallows Victim album perfectly wore their influences on their shoulder. While at the same time showed they had their own unique sound to deliver as well. Reagers could have that Osbourne esque psychopathic maniacal quality. But he also had a really great rough voice to punctuate his phrases as well. And being equally influenced by Punk Icons Black Flag Vitus had a strange sort of hardcore undercurrent thanks to Mark Adams & Armando Acosta's concrete like rhythm section.
I was not too into the Wino era of the band. He seemed to take them further into the blusier stoner rock thing. While the Reagers era tapped more into the oppressive doom riffs.
Wino has reignited the band and they're playing some festivals at various spots around the world.
I'd say even with Wino check them out if you get the chance.
Great band!
They seemed to capture the ominous vibe of that first Sabbath album just a little better then the rest. The first album St. Vitus and especially the excellent Hallows Victim album perfectly wore their influences on their shoulder. While at the same time showed they had their own unique sound to deliver as well. Reagers could have that Osbourne esque psychopathic maniacal quality. But he also had a really great rough voice to punctuate his phrases as well. And being equally influenced by Punk Icons Black Flag Vitus had a strange sort of hardcore undercurrent thanks to Mark Adams & Armando Acosta's concrete like rhythm section.
I was not too into the Wino era of the band. He seemed to take them further into the blusier stoner rock thing. While the Reagers era tapped more into the oppressive doom riffs.
Wino has reignited the band and they're playing some festivals at various spots around the world.
I'd say even with Wino check them out if you get the chance.
Great band!
I have only heard St. Vitus's s-t disc, in full. The Hallows Victim album is something that was unavailable when I most wanted to buy it. And then I sort of forgot about it. Warlock, now that you reminded me of this here on this thread, I'm gonna ask one of my doom-metal-mad cousins to promplty drop the disc off at my house. 
(the 'hardcore undercurrent' reference to their sound you make here, sure makes me sniff goodness I must revisit. 
)
Wish I could have seen this stuff, up close and personal, back in the day.