Saint Vitus - V (1989)

Pretty much panned in the '80s as being a Black Sabbath imitation, I was always very fond of these sweaty rockers and their brand of rock 'n' roll doom. I think Saint Vitus actually have their own sound despite the natural Sabbath influence, but they were very unfashionable during a time when metal was either glammed up or cheesy.
Lyrically, the album is pretty much attempting Sabbath, but the sound is more of a slow buzz to make the walls vibrate, the distortion on here is unreal as Scott Weinrich wallows in his own pity and mourning, hoping to bring the rains down.
The music tends to plunder, there aren't any thrills, it's basic, elephantine boulder breaking doom, personal favourites being the tormented 'I Bleed Black', the subtle 'When Emotion Dies' and muddy 'Jack Frost'.
Played loud, 'V' is a thunderous, booming record that may leave you thirst for more Sabbath, but in the long run you'll see that Saint Vitus have their place too, because they are traditional doomy rock and they exist to shake your foundations.
7/10