Saint Vitus is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1979. … Read Full Bio ↴Saint Vitus is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1979. They are one of the first doom metal bands, alongside Pentagram, Witchfinder General, Trouble and Pagan Altar. Having released nine studio albums to date, Saint Vitus never achieved a popular breakthrough, but have exerted great influence on the development of doom metal, sludge metal, and stoner rock.

The original line-up consisted of Dave Chandler (guitar), Mark Adams (bass), Armando Acosta (drums) and Scott Reagers (vocals). They recorded their first two albums before Scott Weinrich replaced Reagers in 1986. The line-up of Chandler, Adams, Acosta and Weinrich is the longest-lasting. The third album Born Too Late (1986) is generally acknowledged as their best release.[3]

After breaking up in 1996 and briefly reforming in 2003, Saint Vitus reunited again in 2008 with the band's "classic" line-up, featuring Weinrich, Chandler, Adams and Acosta, and embarked on a successful tour. However, after 30 years in the band, Acosta left Saint Vitus in 2009 due to worsening health, and was replaced by Henry Vasquez. By 2016, both Weinrich and Adams had left Saint Vitus and were replaced by Reagers and Patrick Bruders respectively, leaving Chandler as the only constant member of the band and reuniting two-fourths of the original lineup.

Sloth
Saint Vitus Lyrics

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Can you feel the evil
Can you hear the wail
The sound of destiny
Sharpening its nails
The scent of corruption
From a race called man
The beast now declares
It's time to bloody the land

Beware The Sloth
Beware Here comes The Sloth

Can you hear the war
Can you feel the plague
As it slowly moves
Along the path you've made
Now it's right behind you
You can run no more
It's time to pay the piper
Time to settle the score

Beware The Sloth
Beware Here comes The Sloth

Realize you're the mother
Of this demon you face
You have given birth
To the end of our race
You look for someone to blame
But only dead are around
The beast knows you by name
In his wrath, you go down

Beware The Sloth
Beware Here comes The Sloth

Beware The Sloth
Beware Here comes The Sloth

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Saint Vitus’s “Sloth” depict the inevitability of destruction for humanity, as a beastly force known as “The Sloth” creates chaos and devastation. The first stanza mentions “the sound of destiny sharpening its nails,” suggesting that the destruction that’s about to ensue is predetermined and inescapable. The “race called man” has a “scent of corruption,” which adds to the overall gloominess of the song. The chorus in both stanzas repeats the warning “Beware The Sloth” to emphasize the danger that humanity is facing.

The second stanza makes references to “war” and “plague,” both of which have been destructive forces throughout history. The lyrics suggest that these destructive forces are now “right behind you,” and there’s no escape from their wrath. The tone of the song becomes more personal in the third stanza, as it describes how humanity is responsible for creating the “demon” that it now faces. The powerful imagery of “giving birth to the end of our race” adds a layer of hopelessness and futility to the song. The final lines of the song once again warn of the approaching danger by repeating “Beware The Sloth.”

Line by Line Meaning

Can you feel the evil
Do you feel the wickedness surrounding you?

Can you hear the wail
Can you hear the sorrowful cry?

The sound of destiny
The noise of fate approaching

Sharpening its nails
Preparing to strike with deadly force

The scent of corruption
The smell of immorality emanating from humanity

From a race called man
Originating from the human race

The beast now declares
The creature announces its intentions

It's time to bloody the land
It's time to bring destruction and carnage

Beware The Sloth
Be careful, for The Sloth is here

Beware Here comes The Sloth
Be wary, for The Sloth is approaching

Can you hear the war
Do you hear the sounds of battle?