What makes Mournful Cries by Saint Vitus notable?

Mournful Cries is notable for its critical reception within the underground metal scene, reinforcing Saint Vitus's reputation as pioneers of doom metal. The album is often cited for its influence on later bands within the genre, contributing to the development of stoner and sludge metal movements in the years that followed. Released in 1988, Mournful Cries is Saint Vitus' fourth studio album, following their 1986 release, Born Too Late. At this point, the band had solidified their position in the doom metal genre, continuing to build on their distinctive sound characterized by slow tempos and dark themes.

Who is Mournful Cries for?

Mournful Cries works well if you're into steady pacing for deep focus, brooding soundscapes for introspection and haunting melodies in solitude.

How many songs are on Mournful Cries?

Mournful Cries has 6 tracks, running approximately 33 minutes.

Mournful Cries

Saint Vitus · 1988

33 min · 6 tracks · doom metal

Heavy, brooding riffs intertwine with haunting melodies, crafting a dense atmosphere of despair and introspection.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Creeps — Opening with a relentless energy, this track encapsulates the band's signature sound with its powerful riffs and thematic exploration of fear and anxiety.
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Dragon Time — A standout for its intricate guitar work and atmospheric buildup, this track showcases the band's ability to blend heaviness with moments of ethereal beauty.
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Bitter Truth — This song features compelling lyrical content that tackles themes of disillusionment and personal struggle, making it resonate deeply with listeners.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Mournful Cries showcases strong songwriting and production, solidifying its place in doom metal's evolution.

What we noticed

The album features heavy, downtuned guitar riffs that dominate the mix, creating a dense and oppressive sound throughout.
Vocals are delivered in a low, haunting style that complements the brooding instrumentals, often layered with echo effects.
Each track typically follows a slow to mid-tempo pace, with extended instrumental sections that emphasize atmosphere over speed.
The final track includes a gradual fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of melancholy as it concludes.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing for deep focus
brooding soundscapes for introspection
haunting melodies in solitude
relentless riffs for catharsis

Maybe skip if you

prefer upbeat, fast-paced tracks
seek lighthearted, playful energy

Where this album fits

Career context: Released in 1988, Mournful Cries is Saint Vitus' fourth studio album, following their 1986 release, Born Too Late. At this point, the band had solidified their position in the doom metal genre, continuing to build on their distinctive sound characterized by slow tempos and dark themes.
Stylistic neighbors: Candlemass· Electric Wizard· My Dying Bride

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 The Creeps 2:47
2 Dragon Time 7:27
3 Shooting Gallery 6:45
4 Bitter Truth 4:14
5 The Troll 6:57
6 Looking Glass 4:50

What to play next

Listen next

V

1990

Go back to

Born Too Late

1986

Full Saint Vitus discography Artists like Saint Vitus

doom metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata