Saint Vitus

by Ed Rivadavia
One of the leading American doom metal acts of the 80s (along with Trouble and the Obsessed), Saint Vitus was cursed with public indifference throughout their decade-plus career, which both started and ended in frustrating obscurity. Originally formed as Tyrant in 1979 by vocalist Scott Reagers, guitarist Dave Chandler, bassist Mark Adams, and drummer Armando Acosta, Los Angeles Saint Vitus was named after a medieval boy saint whose beheading and violent death-throes gave rise to the gruesome expression (Saint Vitus Dance, also the name of a Black Sabbath song from the Vol. 4 album). Though they couldnt help but be slightly influenced by the SoCal hardcore scene thriving all around them (especially on their early releases), the quartet was a card-carrying disciple of Sabbaths dreary doom metal commandments, specializing in amazingly slow, ponderous power chords and a highly unfashionable biker image. Their eponymous 1984 debut was released by Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginns SST Records, and was followed in quick succession by the Walking Dead EP and Hallows Victim album the very next year.
Progress was slow, but the band continued to improve despite the departure of vocalist Reagars, thanks to the arrival of former Obsessed frontman and sometime-guitarist Scott Wino Weinrich for 1986s Born Too Late — generally regarded as their best effort. The following years Thirsty and Miserable EP and 1988s Mournful Cries found greater acclaim in Europe than America and marked the end of the groups relationship with SST. New label Hellhound Records released 1989s V as well as a career-spanning live album recorded in Germany a year later. But despite all this hard work, the band seemed incapable of breaking new ground or achieving anything even resembling commercial success. As their disillusionment grew and Wino quit the group to reform the Obsessed, the release of an SST greatest hits set called Heavier Than Thou seemed like the final chapter for Saint Vitus. New singer Christian Lindersson appeared on 1992s half-heartedly recorded C.O.D., and though the original lineup would briefly reconvene for a last hurrah with 1995s Die Healing, no more has been heard of Saint Vitus since.