Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Second Best Album Of All Time! Pure Doom!, April 25, 2002
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!!
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Doom forever!, February 23, 2000
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!
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Do not listen this guy!, December 7, 1999
St. Vitus (for those who don't know) is one legendary band for those who have a liking for Doom Metal. Yes, Doom Metal with it's ultra slow riffing, it's savage sabbath-esque leads and it's swinging and crawling vocals. We are talking about a tradition that started with the great Black Sabbath and then continiued with St. Vitus (the first ones to follow their footsteps), Cathedral, Orange Goblin, The Obsessed and so many more. While this is not the best recording this cult band has ever commited on CD (I think "V" deserves this honour), "M.C." is a small gem in it's field. Scott Wino's vocals sounds like a combination of Robert Plant and Lemmy(!), Chandler's guitar has the most dirty sound you will probably ever hear while the rythm section carries the living-dead pace... No trends here! Just pure Stoner Rock. A must for the fans of the genre. This guy from Belgium probably had no idea where he was getting into... Next time try Ricky Martin (and learn better english)...
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