Saint Vitus – Born Too Late LP

Saint Vitus – Born Too Late LP

"'Born Too Late' is arguably Saint Vitus' best offering, and one of the very best doom metal records you can possibly find. This was the band's first record without original front-man Scott Reagers and the first record featuring Wino operating as Reagers' replacement. At the time Wino joined Saint Vitus, guitarist Dave Chandler didn't really trust him with the pen and paper, nor the riffing, so a lot of the music present on 'Born Too Late' had already been written by Chandler alone, when Reagers was still in the band. Later on, however, Wino would write songs as well as craft riffs alongside Chandler (see later albums with Wino i.e. 'Mournful Cries', 'V' and more recently 'Lillie: F-65'). The fact that a lot of the music present on this album had already been written prior to Wino joining, is certainly not a bad thing. Wino would prove to be a very worthy replacement for Reagers and made the songs his own with his husky baritone-vocals.

'Born Too Late's title-track starts the album with doomy greatness. A song about being different, being alienated from the modern society and refusing to give in and become one of the rest. Dave Chandler's riffs are slow, dirty and fuzzy as usual and sound as if they're being played through a cheap, old amp that's on its last days. Chandler's leads and solos are also as crazy and wild as always. The mixture of Hendrix and Iommi spiced with some less-virtuoso-esque hardcore punk makes Saint Vitus' guitar-tone and style very unique and instantly recognizable.

But Dave Chandler isn't the only instrumentalist that stands out, as "Clear Windowpane" starts. This song is very percussion-driven. Armando Acosta plays some very tribal-esque drums while using a fair amount of cymbals. Chandler's riffs are simple and a bit more punk-influenced (faster) than on "Born Too Late" with some wah-soaked Hendrix-esque leads thrown here and there. This of course compliments the oddness of the song's lyrics that are an obvious nod at drugs. "Purple dragons smoke with me.... I have friends only I can see...." and so on...

Mark Adams' bass also has its moments. "The Lost Feeling" is all about depression and suicide by alcohol and pills. The music, though, is very pleasant despite being dark. It's got a dark atmosphere, but it's somewhat warm, too, because it's got a somewhat relaxed vibe to it. This comes down to the slow and warm bassline that starts the song and Wino's whispered vocals. In between come the "louder" bits. The guitars come booming in and Wino sings in his usual-louder, whiskey-soaked voice. I usually compare "The Lost Feeling" to Black Sabbath's "Hand of Doom", because it's got a similar vibe: warm, relaxing and atmospheric, but with lyrics covering some darker and more sinister shit.

This album has got everything you want from a great doom metal record. The production is a bit better than on previous records, that is a bit clearer, but it's by no means crystal clear and crisp. The music is great. The guitars are heavy, dirty, at times loose and wild, and have a good amount of psychedelia to create a weird, dark and twisted atmosphere. The bass isn't flashy, but in a song like "The Lost Feeling", it shines. The drum-work is sort of like the bass; nothing too flashy, but stands out in "Clear Windowpane". Wino's vocals are an acquired taste. But once there, they're highly enjoyable. His old-man voice is perfect for the rambling madness, that is the lyrics about drugs and alcohol, and I don't think that Reagers' crazed-wizard vocals would be as fitting to the lyrical topics here as Wino's are.

'Born Too Late' is also fairly accessible, but not as accessible as, for example 'V'. But it's arguably Saint Vitus' strongest release along with their self-titled debut album and 'Die Healing'. Definitely the best Wino-era Vitus release, though the later albums with Wino are also most excellent.

Album highlights would have to be the opener "Born Too Late" with its insanely memorable riff and lyrics, "Dying Inside" with its infectious and melodic main-riff and "The Lost Feeling" for it's "warm darkness", if that makes sense." - Doominance / Metal-Archives