Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 (2012)



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... Limited Edition Digipak with Bonus DVD features live material and Interviews ...

Saint Vitus had successfully returned in 2003 after an 8 year absence, touring around
the world, but had yet to release any new material until, finally, after
a 17 year gap, the band released Lillie: F-65. Named after a drug, the
record is as doomy and dark as Saint Vitus can get. A great return to
the music scene, each song on the record is heavier, more pessimist and
bleaker than the previous, making this a must have for 2012.
One of the most anticipated doom metal albums is about to be released in a few weeks.
Of course I am talking about 'Lillie: F-65' by doom legends Saint Vitus.
A lot was riding on this album for me personally. I am a huge fan of
the band and some of their albums rank as my favorite doom albums of all
time so for this album to come close to those would always be a
challenge. I will get my main gripe out-of-the-way first and I am sure
you will read this from many other writers over the coming months as
well. This album is way too short, the total playing time is a pathetic
34:29 and in this day and age, that is just not enough music. I am sure
they are trying to keep this new album in line with the classic vinyl of
the past in terms of its length but I find it very disappointing that
after all these years; all they can muster up is 34 minutes of new
music. Also take into account that one song, 'Blessed Night' has been a
live staple already for a long time so take that out of the equation and
you get less than 30 minutes worth of new tunes.

Now with that out-of-the-way, it has to be noted that 'Lillie: F-65' is a
no-nonsense Saint Vitus album and they deliver exactly what the Vitus
fan wants to hear from them. There is no bending of their sound, not
much experimentation but fans wouldn't want it any other way. Dave
Chandler's guitar sound is intact still after all these years; he still
has that abrasive, nasty sound and Wino's vocals are as expressive and
as down to earth as ever. Scott “Wino” Weinrich is one of the most
charismatic artists to emerge from the doom scene and the vocals on this
album drive that point home even further. As well as some of the best
vocals that Wino has ever delivered, lyrically this has the best lyrics
ever put down onto a Saint Vitus album. Songs like 'The Bleeding Ground'
where Wino tells stories about secret Government drug testing is just
one example of the totally captivating lyrical approach that album has
to offer.

The album starts off in typical Saint Vitus doomed dirge style with 'Let
Them Fall' Vocals follow the riffs or is it the other way around,
either way it is simple, straight-forward stuff but that is what you
want to hear, right? The riffing is depressing and kind of morose and
the vocal style is one of pure pain but the song itself seems a bit
underdone at just four minutes. It is hardly a dud track but it is still
a rather under-whelming opening track. 'The Bleeding Ground' follows
and there is a rise in songwriting quality. Musically, it is Vitus at
their best and features easily the best lyrics on the album. It has a
classic start-stop arrangement which is something they nailed so well
back on the 'Born Too Late' album in 1986. The guitar work is also some
of Chandler's finest; even finding time to add some rare melodic touches
to the track. 'The Bleeding Ground' is a major highlight and will be
for many people, the best track on 'Lillie: F-65.'

Just 10 minutes into the album and they go into a short instrumental
titled 'Vertigo' and it is again surprisingly melodic but it acts as the
perfect lead in to the next track 'Blessed Night.' Seeing as this track
has been played live for at least a year already, the track already
seems like an old friend. The track highlights how well drummer Henry
Vasquez has fitted into the band. The Blood Of The Sun drummer is of
course a very skilled drummer capable of dynamic drum rolls and classic
70's styled drumming perfection but he can also do the basic, stripped
down doom approach with ease too and his drumming shines on 'Lillie
F-65.' Now as much as this album is a morose dark affair, it is not till
you get to 'The Waste of Time' that the album goes full-tilt doom. This
track is about as 'bleak' as Saint Vitus gets and it signals a shift
into darker, more depressing realms of doom metal for the rest of the
album. The album's second half in my opinion is far stronger than the
first and far more atmospheric and it also supplies the best two tracks
of 'Lillie: F-65' starting with 'The Waste of Time.'

'The Waste Of Time' bleeds into 'Dependence' and it has taken a while
but finally the band is running at the peak of its powers. 'Dependence'
is a complete Vitus track with all the elements that make Saint Vitus
such a much-loved band including a sabbathian passage towards the end of
the track. It has the screeching guitar work of Chandler and the
downtrodden but down to earth vibe and is classic Vitus material and a
great way to end the album. I say end because there is one more track
but I honestly find it close to un-listenable. It is basically Dave
Chandler trying to destroy the eardrums of listeners and doing a pretty
good job of it but it is also mundane to listen to. I dig Dave's guitar
work as much as any dedicated Saint Vitus listener but this instrumental
outro piece just seems pointless and self-indulgent; especially when
the album is already too short as it is. Wasting 3 minutes of playing
time on a track of a guitarist getting his rocks off might be
interesting for one or two spins but after that, it becomes pure "skip"
material.

The production on 'Lillie F-65' by T. Dallas Reed is great and while it
lacks the charm of Born Too Late or Die Healing; it is technically the
best mix the band has ever had on an album. The first half of the album
is half great, half ordinary but even the ordinary passages are still
better than most other bands. The second half of the album is where the
release really shines apart from the time-wasting noise-fest that closes
the album. 'Lillie F-65' is good but underdone, way too short and has a
couple of less than spectacular tracks so it is far from perfect. For
Saint Vitus fans like myself, it is still highly recommended but for
other people not sold on Saint Vitus, this won't go changing your mind
on the band. I rate the quality of this album in the middle of their
catalog of recordings. It is far from the worse but not close to the
best but it will end up near the top of 2012 album list regardless.

~ www.doommantia.com
Tracklist :

1. Let Them Fall - 3:53
2. The Bleeding Ground - 6:07
3. Vertigo - 2:37
4. Blessed Night - 3:59
5. The Waste of Time - 5:39
6. Dependence - 7:36
7. Withdrawal - 3:26

DVD - Live At Hamburg at Markthalle 2010: 

1. Saint Vitus
2. The Troll
3. White Stallione
4. Mystic Lady
5. Born Too Late
6. Dying Inside

• Scott "Wino" Weinrich - Vocals
• Dave Chandler - Guitars
• Mark Adams - Bass
• Henry Vasquez - Drums

All songs arranged by Saint Vitus except rack 3 - S.Weinrich/T.Reed, track 7 - D.Chandler/T.Reed
Produced by Tony Reed and Saint Vitus
Recorded by Tony Reed at Temple Sound Port Orchard, WA
Mixed and mastered by Tony Reed at HeavyHead Sound

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