S/T - re-release cd-version with 4 bonus tracks
November 2010
Firebox Records
SPIRITUS MORTIS - S/T, Metal Hammer
Released by much-missed Brit imprint Rage of Achilles back in 2004, the debut by these Finnish doom metal die-hards is one of the most authentic and convincing albums of its kind from the past decade. Although clearly in thrall to usual suspects - Saint Vitus, Trouble, Candlemass et al- Spiritus Mortis had more than enough character of their own to dispel the notion that this was in any way by-the-book. Songs like Vow To The Sun and Rise From Hell boast smartly crafted melodies delivered with soulful aplomb by powerhouse vocalist Vesa Lampi, and there are bowel-blitzing riffs in plentiful supply too. The real treats on this reissue, however, are the four bonus tracks, which include Albert, a gloriously turgid tribute to Reverend Bizarre.
(7) Dom Lawson
SPIRITUS MORTIS - S/T, DoomMetal.com
The self-titled album of the Finnish band Spiritus Mortis has already been reviewed on doom-metal; this 2010 edition, however, is slightly more substantial as it features 4 extra tracks, making the album clock at 50 minutes. That’s a big hearty dish that you are served with. Spiritus Mortis play a rich, fat, energizing kind of Heavy Doom Metal; diverse, fluent and quite digestible on top of it all.
So, I won’t repeat what has already been described here. The fact is, the music on display is really catchy, tracing its course between melancholic odes, eerie, almost oriental moods (like in ‘Beyond’), bold Rock-ish attitude, epic chants and more soft, despondent moments. The band knows how to sustain the listener’s attention: they don’t seem to follow any premeditated patterns, it’s all twists and turns for our delight. Headbang, fist in the sky, you won’t escape their irresistible potency.
The four extra songs are along the same lines:
‘Dead, Dying Or Alive’ is made of really big crunchy riffs, loose and greasy bass chords plodding along (the bass is a major element of Spiritus Mortis’s music). The mood is really doomy; the song progresses quite slowly, drenched in distress. The voice of Vesa Lampi sounds a bit affected at times (he’s a great singer; it’s a voice that has ‘seen a lot’, if I may say. He can modulate his warm and powerful vocal lines in always convincing ways)
‘Bigger Than God’ has been given more rhythm, the music is vivid, it rocks and rolls. To be honest, this isn’t a very memorable song.
‘Mystic Morning’ showcases some more nice bass lines, galloping riffs, a sensual soft female choir and a heroic and warm ode to the steel. The song has a progressive and epic scope, it has a virile and Rock-ish atmosphere, alternating between those mournful and despondent moments and a bright vitality.
‘Albert’ is a friendly homage to Albert Witchfinder from Reverend Bizarre (he took part to the song ‘Rise from Hell’ as guest vocalist on this album and is now the official singer of Spiritus Mortis). It’s yet another slow- tempo track, the riffs are monotonously trudging, repeating the same motive like a evil mantra. The voice once again brings a lot of emotion into the mix. That’s a nice song.
This re-release is a welcome initiative. Whilst the first edition was already mandatory for all Heavy Doom lovers, this one brings even more dark, brooding, heroic and cunning music. You know what you have to do.
Bertrand Marchal
SPIRITUS MORTIS - S/T, Imperiumi.net
Levy on vuonna 2004 julkaistun debyytin uudelleenjulkaisu, joka on remasteroitu ja varustettu bonusbiisein. Bonukset eivät kuitenkaan ole ne viisi kappaletta jotka olivat tuplavinyyliversiolla, vaan kyseessä on neljä aiemmin julkaisematonta kappaletta. Lisäksi albumitaiteet on pistetty täysin uusiksi, joiden saralla on otettu aimo askeleita parempaan suuntaan.
Alkuperäinen arvioni vuodelta 2004 kannattanee lukea tässä välissä.
Nyttemmin olisin taipuvainen nostamaan alkuperäisen debyytin arvosanaani pienellä pykälällä ylöspäin, vaikken vieläkään pidä Manowar-tyyppisestä hevistelystä lainkaan. Vesa Lammen vokaalit toimivat edelleen hyvin, joskin uudempi Spiritus Mortis nokillaan Magister Albert vie selkeästi voiton.
Neljästä uudesta biisistä pitää sanoa että soundit tuntuvat olevan hieman tukevammat, vaikken osaa varmasti sanoakaan onko kyseessä fakta vai omat fiilistelyt. Soundit ovat kuitenkin hyvin samanlaiset läpi koko levyn, joten siinä mielessä ei juuri lisättävää löydy, alkuperäiseen verrattuna mukana on ripaus lisättyä ryhtiä ja tasapainoisempi kokonaissoundi. Misty Morning naiskuoroineen toimii erityisen hienosti, samaten Albert-kappaleen riisuttu hidastelu.
Kuunnellessani "uusia" bonusbiisejä olin useampaan kertaan sitä mieltä, että olen ne aiemmin kuullut, liekö sitten livenä kuultuja vai omaa hourailua, jää mysteeriksi.
Kokonaisuutena levy on kuitenkin hyvä muistutus mistä Spiritus Mortiksessa on aina ollut kyse. Uudelleen meikattuna paketti toimii entistä paremmin, joten jos bändin uran alkupää on vielä hämärän peitossa, tästä on hyvä aloittaa tutustuminen.
(7 1/2) Jukka Kolehmainen