The band’s acclaimed and hard-to-find debut album, the self-titled Spiritual Beggars from 1994 is re-issued with over 70 minutes of unreleased bonus material as 2 CD of 3 album via Century Media Records. Spiritual Beggars is the blueprint for Spiritual Beggars’ future albums for years to come although it does not reach the perfection of some of those (Ad Astra is my fave), but still this is a worthwhile re-issue of a near-perfect slice of stoner rock debut by a young fresh band, composed of very talented players (Spice, Ludwig Witt and of course master mind Michael Amott), and for whom the best was yet to come.
The second bonus CD is a great value as it includes 15 tracks from period 95-99. Included are their most noteworthy songs ever “Angel of betrayal” and “Monster astronauts” which were huge retro stoner tracks for the 90s. Less popular, but just as good are: “Save your soul”, “The Goddess”, “Inside charmer” that are Deep Purple/Rainbow - fuelled numbers, and the Trouble-inspired “Blessed” and “Trouble in my head” are amongst the most doomy stuff main composer Michael Amott & Co have ever written. Yeah, you'll find Purple in these grooves, as well as Ufo, Uriah Heep, Warhorse, Black Sabbath and shades of Santana as well as 70s psych and funk.
All in all, this is a superb double cd re-reissue that brilliantly encapsulates the 70s influenced stoner rock scene. Everyone would be amazed by the raw power, emotion and catchiness of this great piece of musicianship, from the beginning to the very end.