spiritual beggars

(8/10) You might not heard of this band before and therefor we need to have a look into who these guys are. Actually we are talking about well-known names in rock and metal. We Sell The Dead is no less than Niclas Engeling (In Flames), Gas Lipstick (ex-HIM), Jonas Slättung (Drömrikets) and Apollo Papathanasio (Spiritual Beggars, Firewind).

The overarching question that led to this outfit was: What, if Jack the Ripper would have been part of a band? In a metal band? This was the starting point for We Sell The Dead and their debut "Heaven Doesn't Want You and Heaven is Full".

The album sounds very interesting, which is meant in a positive way. I have to admit that I had a bit of problems to find my way into We Sell The Dead's sound. The first time I listened to it wasn't a thrilling exercise. However, there are records that need to grow and this one belongs into this category. 

Contemporary heavy metal is what you can expect of the nine songs that made it on the tracklist. These tracks are linked to each other with a common theme being the bridge. "Heaven Doesn't Want You and Heaven is Full" takes you back to the 19^th century when the mentioned Jack the Ripper was up to mischief. This theme leads to morbid and dark expression on the album, starting with the creepy intro "The Body Market".

"Heaven Doesn't Want You and Heaven is Full" is an unusual album that doesn't remind of 'home-base' bands like In Flames and Spiritual Beggars. We Sell The Dead created their own sound and signature, built on their individual path through rock and metal. 

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. The Body Market
2. Echoes of an Ugly Past
3. Leave Me Alone
4. Imagine
5. Turn it Over
6. Too Cold to Touch
7. Trust
8. Pale and Perfect
9. Silent Scream

Label: earMUISC

Genre: Modern Metal

Release Date EU: February 23^rd, 2018

(8/10) Since 1992 the classic rock outlet of Arch Enemy guitar player Michael Amott is called Spiritual Beggars. Without having reached the same status as Arch Enemy, this quintet isn't a bunch of rookies starting up something.

Next to Amott also guys like Ludwig Witt (Grand Magus) and Per Wiberg (Kamchatka) are part of the band since many years, a team that got completed by Sharlee D'Angelo on bass and singer Apollo Papathanasio.

As we speak the guys release the curiously awaited new longplayer "Sunrise to Sundown" which is already the eighth chapter in the story of Spiritual Beggars.

In case you liked the former releases of the Swedes you will also appreciate what the guys burnt on this new disc. It's a logical continuation of Spiritual Beggars classic rock, enriched by some stoner rock as in songs like "Lonely Freedom". The whole album is rockin' pretty well and it comes with a cool vibe, something that just gives you a good time.

Connected to all this is the hammond organ that provides a warm and organic sound foundation. "Diamond Under Pressure" is a vintage style rocker that feels like a journey back to the 70's, almost a tribute to the legendary Jon Lord. But the song has more to offer. Apollo Papathanasio does a an excellent job behind the microphone and "Diamond Under Pressure" states pretty well what he can do with his voice.

A song you should have heard is "No Man's Land". It's a bluesy hardrocker that combines the bigger moments of Whitesnake with some Rainbow allusions. But what really stands out is the center part. Spiritual Beggars unveils the piano and together with the singing guitar the whole things reminds of Queen in their later days.

These more bombastic tunes need a counterpart and the puristic "You've Been Fooled" is one of those. The band exclude all decoration, something that results in a dirty classic rock track that is highly entertaining.

Spiritual Beggars used the time between 'sunrise and sundown' to create an album that combines musical craftmenship skill with passion and rock'n'roll. Thumbs up.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Sunrise to Sundown
2. Diamond Under Pressure
3. What Doesn't Kill You
4. Hard Road
5. Still Hunter
6. No Man's Land
7. I Turn to Stone
8. Dark Light Child
9. Lonely Freedom
10. You've Been Fooled
11. Southern Star

Label: InsideOut Music

Genre: Classic Rock

Release Date EU: March 18th, 2016

Swedish vintage style hard rock pioneers SPIRITUAL BEGGARS return with their 9th studio album entitled “Sunrise To Sundown”, which will be released on March 18th, 2016 in Europe as well as March 25th, 2016 in North America via InsideOutMusic.
The album’s fantastic cover artwork (which can be now seen above!) has been created by Costin Chioreanu / Twilight13Media (At The Gates, Grave, Arcturus, etc.) and here is the album’s tracklisting:

1. Sunrise To Sundown
2. Diamond Under Pressure
3. What Doesn’t Kill You
4. Hard Road
5. Still Hunter
6. No Man’s Land
7. I Turn To Stone
8. Dark Light Child
9. Lonely Freedom
10. You’ve Been Fooled
11. Southern Star

Tourdates:

27.03.2016 Schijndel (The Netherlands) - Paaspop *
28.03.2016 Köln (Germany) - Club Bahnhof Ehrenfeld
29.03.2016 Aschaffenburg (Germany) - Colos-Saal
31.03.2016 Leipzig (Germany) - Hellraiser
01.04.2016 Hamburg (Germany) - Logo
02.04.2016 Essen (Germany) - Turock
04.04.2016 Pratteln (Switzerland) - Z7
06.04.2016 Kortrijk (Belgium) - De Kreun
07.04.2016 Rouen (France) - Le 106
08.04.2016 Brest (France) - Sale Odissey / Plougarock Festival Warm Up *
09.04.2016 Nantes (France) Le Ferrailleur *
10.04.2016 Paris (France) - Backstage By The Mill
12.04.2016 Munich (Germany) - Strom
14.04.2016 Karlsruhe (Germany) - Substage
28.04.2016 Berlin (Germany) - Desert Fest
08.07.2016 Oulu (Finland) - Jalometalli Festival
09.07.2016 Ballenstedt (Germany) - Rock Harz Festival