Origin: Sweden
Year: 2000
Subgenre: Stoner Rock
Rating: 10
The Players:
Spice Vocals, Bass Guitar
Michael Amott Guitars
Per Wilberg Keyboards, Vocals
Ludwig Witt Drums, Percussion
Having been a fan of this Swedish band for some time now, I modestly looked forward to the release of the critically acclaimed album Ad Astra. Spiritual Beggars has always been, in my humble opinion, in the top flite of the entire Stoner Rock movement. Not only is the band heavy as an overgrown anvil, but the songwriting is always superb. Ad Astra doth not disappoint; on the contrary, this is the band's masterpiece. I was simply blown away upon hearing it for the first time. This album is so close to heavy rock perfection, it's scary. Every track exudes a freshness and brightness that hasn't been consistently heard in heavy music since the early 1970's. Of course, it also helps that the Beggars fully embrace that retro lo-fi sound that is the foundation of all Stoner music; the altars of Blue Cheer, Sabbath, and Purple have had their burnt offerings this time around, that's for sure. The album starts off appropriately with frenetic riff-rocker Left Brain Ambassadors, a Purple-like classic complete with moog organ solo. Right off the bat, we're off to the races. Wonderful World intersperses a doomy riff with an infectious melody that reminds one how great life really is. Immediately, Sedated jerks the listener back into reality with a deliciously fuzzed-out intro riff that launches into a rollicking main verse. Angel Of Betrayal is easily the most hummable track on the album; this could have been a major hit with the right marketing (of course, that won't happen). Other highlights include the perky Per Aspera Ad Astra, and the wicked Until The Morning, which successfully melds Sabbath, Alice In Chains, and Uriah Heep into a maelstrom of fire. On Dark Rivers rocks along nicely, while The Goddess delivers infectious riff-mania with as much subtlety as an atomic bomb. There really isn't a weak or mediocre track on this entire album. The closer, Mantra, starts off as a ballad that allows the listener to relax into a keyboard-laden pool, broken only by some great electric blues guitar playing. Of course, the band can't hold back for very long; the track ends with a heavy riff that would make any Trouble fan proud. As a matter of fact, I would have to say that Ad Astra as a whole reminds me of the aura surrounding Trouble's masterpiece Manic Frustration; the songwriting is of superior quality, the riffs are just as infectious, and the bright optimism that both albums share is striking. If you are a fan of 1970's style heavy rock
with a bountiful supply of some of the heaviest riffs alive, than this album is a keeper! Unfortunately, the lead vocalist and bassist for the band, Spice, would leave after this album to make The Mushroom River Band a full-time gig. Although, the band would release more albums after Ad Astra, this album symbolized Spiritual Beggars at its peak. This might be one of the finest heavy rock albums of the new millennium. Strong words, you say?
Tracks:
Left Brain Ambassadors
Wonderful World
Sedated
Angel Of Betrayal
Blessed
Per Aspera Ad Astra
Save Your Soul
Until The Morning
Escaping The Fools
On Dark Rivers
The Goddess
Mantra
No comments:
Post a Comment