Search - Spiritual Beggars :: Ad Astra (Digipak)

Michael Amott. Arch Enemy?No...Spiritual Beggars

Pablosa | Buenos Aires, Capital Federal Argentina | 03/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As an Arch Enemy fan I am I was wandering what kind of stuff was Michael Amott doing in S.Beggars.He is so talented that it seems that everywhere he goes finds success (Carcass, Carnage, Arch Enemy). You'll find here a Michael Amott leaving his death-metal roots and playing stoner-rock, very well executed, of course. Stoner-rock fulfills the atmosphere of this CD(see the cover) with cool songs and background keyboards.I'm not into Stoner-rock, but I like this album (listen to the guitars and tell me who is playing). It sounds really heavy. If you're an Arch Enemy fan take a look at this album. It'll rock your world!"

Woefully underappreciated

Joey M. Hunter | Seattle, WA | 01/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Heavy, groove oriented Hard Rock.After listening to Spiritual Beggars you become painfully aware of what is wrong with American radio. Here is a band that should be getting Heavy rotation and filling arenas but instead they get no stateside airplay[...] 'Angel of Betrayal' has single written all over it. They have recently parted ways with their bassist/singer Spice, adding in his stead the singer from an obscure band named Grand Magus."

Solid Groove Based Rock, GREAT ALBUM from a GREAT BAND

08/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a VERY big fan of the Spiritual Beggars. This album I would have to say is the most consistent of the band's releases. That does not mean it's their best. It's tough to say really, I LOVE the last 3 full releases (S/T, Another Way..., Mantra III), but at times some of the later songs on the albums seem to drag. Ad Astra more or less keeps the same feel through the whole album. A bit more produced and more keyboards are evident on Ad Astra (they do have a full time keyboard player now). But I don't mean to sound like I'm ragging on them, I LOVE THEM!!! I mean Michael Amott can write some of the best riffs I've ever heard for this music style (BIG, IN YOUR FACE, ATTITUDE ROCK), Spice is my personal favorite of ALL the "Stoner Rock" bands on vocals (killer bass too!), and Ludwig Witt is so rock solid yet still able to present his own personal stamp on EVERY SONG with his unique playing. Other bands like Astroqueen, Kyuss, Mushroom River Band (Spice's other band) and Celestial Season are some bands that can be put into the same category as Spiritual Beggars. But believe me, PICK UP AD ASTRA!!! (And all the other albums buy Spiritual Beggars), and you can hear for yourself just how great these guys are! P.S. - The 2 bonus songs on the Japan Import are well worth the extra money!"