The history of Songs From Black Spirit started in 2016. Crazy metal-head, Vitalis ‘Don Vito’ Kairiūkštis, the musician from Vilnius, Lithuania and Spicy Bits Of Scandal front-man, decided to create his first solo album called I Am Who I Am. And things worked out very well working with his friends, many world-known musicians from around the world. The new double CD album is compiled of 19 songs (15 brand new) and as always will be a surprise for listeners and fans alike. Also included are four new, updated versions of older songs by the artist.
The tracks themselves are an atomic cocktail of black and white, love and hate, good and evil. And all this is enhanced by the magic of music. In addition to traditional rock music, the album also features specific folk instruments with modern sound.
Track Listing:
CD 1:
01. Saecula Obscura
02. Love Is Blind
03. Avalon
04. Memories
05. Time
06. The Wolfman
07. My Devotion
08. Attack!!!
09. Fire And Water
10. Only Ashes
CD 2:
01. My Way Home
02. Please Come Back
03. World Is Turning
04. Naked In The Rain
05. Paranoia
06. Whore Of Babylon
07. Chasing Starlight
08. My life My My Destiny
09. Queen Of The Lies
Guest musicians featured are:
Additional Lead and backing vocals – Marina Ammouri, Thomas Vikström, Ieva Vaiciukevičienė, Rimtautas Piskarskas, Amelija Jakutytė
Lead & Rhythm guitars – Giedrius “Jumbo” Balčiūnas, Sergej Mavrin, Kostas Balčiūnas, Barish Kepic, Robertas Semeniukas, Enrikas Slavinskis, Tomas Varnagiris
Bass – Dino Fiorenza, Darotas Beržinis, Gintautas Litinskas, Leonid Shinkarenko, Andriejus Daugirdas, Mads Mølbæk, Martynas „Meška“ Garbačas, Bernt Jansen, Giovanni Sena
Keyboards – Maestro Mistheria, Gabriele Gabriels Crisafulli, Joakim “Mohican Joe” Roberg, Rodrigo Boechat, Aistė Trakšelytė, Robertas Slavėnas, Jorris Guilbaud, Bob Katsionis, Lauri Muttilainen, Jari Pailamo
Drums – Mark Cross, Šarūnas Venckus, Fausta Šukytė, Ilja Molodcov, Salvatore Giordano, Lars Borup, Aleksandr Dvorakovskij
Bagpipe – Laimonas Staškūnas
Horn-pipe – Artūras “Shilas” Šileikis
Kanklės – Irma Asinavičienė & Lijana Venslovienė
Duduk & Special effects – Ramūnas Jasutis
Produced by Vitalis “Don Vito” Kairiūkštis and Giedrius “Jumbo” Balčiūnas
All lyrics and 100% ideas of music by Vitalis “Don Vito” Kairiūkštis
I Am Who I Am | Released May 26th, 2020 on Sliptrick Records
Influences:
DIO | Uriah Heep | Rainbow | Black Sabbath
ONLINE
LINEUP
Current line-up:
Vitalis “Don Vito” Kairiūkštis – All Lead and Backing Vocals
Guest musicians:
Marina Ammouri, Thomas Vikström, Ieva Vaiciukevičienė, Rimtautas Piskarskas, Amelija Jakutytė – Additional Lead and Backing Vocals
Giedrius “Jumbo” Balčiūnas, Sergej Mavrin, Kostas Balčiūnas, Barish Kepic, Robertas Semeniukas, Enrikas Slavinskis, Tomas Varnagiris – Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Dino Fiorenza, Darotas Beržinis, Gintautas Litinskas, Leonid Shinkarenko, Andriejus Daugirdas, Mads Mølbæk, Martynas „Meška“ Garbačas, Bernt Jansen, Giovanni Sena – Bass
Maestro Mistheria, Gabriele Gabriels Crisafulli, Joakim “Mohican Joe” Roberg, Rodrigo Boechat, Aistė Trakšelytė, Robertas Slavėnas, Jorris Guilbaud, Bob Katsionis, Lauri Muttilainen, Jari Pailamo – Keyboards
Mark Cross, Šarūnas Venckus, Fausta Šukytė, Ilja Molodcov, Salvatore Giordano, Lars Borup, Aleksandr Dvorakovskij – Drums
Laimonas Staškūnas – Bagpipe
Artūras “Shilas” Šileikis – Horn-Pipe
Irma Asinavičienė & Lijana Venslovienė – Kanklės
Ramūnas Jasutis – Duduk & Special effects
BIOGRAPHY/LOGO
SPICY BITS OF SCANDAL, also known as SBS, history begins in the year 1979, when two guys from Vilnius decided to form a rock'n'roll band.
In the year 1988 SBS was famous enough to play not only on the Lithuania’s stages but also abroad: in the international festivals in Latvia and after a year in Poland and etc.
1991 was a significant year for the band: virtuoso guitarist Tomas Varnagiris, and the best Lithuanian hard rock vocalist Vitalis Kairiūkštis joined, and the band was on stage again having gigs in the main Lithuania’s cities.
In 1996 SBS released an MC - „Mėnulio Šviesa“.The recording, containing 9 songs.
Although after this record the activity of the band was slower because of the economic situation in Lithuania, the band in year 1999 had a big gig in Vilnius “Karolina” club to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SBS.
After a five years pause, in 2005 the band was ready to rock again. This time – specially for the international Lithuanian festival - „Rock Nights – 2005“.The show of SBS was so successful that after the festival the band was choosen to open for ROYAL HUNT in their concert in Vilnius (October 21th 2005), sadly the show was canceled.
But this year was lucky enough: heavy metal monsters JUDAS PRIEST choosed SBS to open for them in their concert in Vilnius (December 3rd 2005.). This show was recorded and in the begining of 2006, released as a double CD „Gimęs laimėti (Born to win)“, including five brand new songs (one of them - „Žaidėjas“ (The Gambler) became a mega-hit) and the concert from „Rock Nights – 2005“ festival in DVD, which was filmed by Lithuania’s National TV. In “Rock Nights – 2006” festival almost everyone waited for SBS and the show sharing the stage with John Lawton (ex vocalist of Uriah Heep and Lucifer’s friend) was a success again.
In April 2007 SBS released their next album „Tik mėnulio šviesa... (Only moonlight...)“, which was well evaluated by the biggest German webzine „HardHarderHeavy“. The new release got 6 out of 7 and in the REVIEW TOP 15 with 342 votes stood in the second place, after MANOWAR, but was outrunned by PINK CREAM 69 and SAXON.
In 2008 SBS presented their 3rd album “The Gambler”. This album was highly rated by the international media. “Metal to infinity” gave 84 out of 100, “HardHarderHeavy” – 6,5 out of 7 and hailed the band with the phrase “SBS, Europe awaits you !!!”.., “Metal Express Radio” – 8,5 out of 10, “Metal Observer” - 8,5 out of 10 points. Webzine “Progressive rock and progressive metal” nominated “The Gambler” to a “album of the month” award.
At the moment the band ended their 4th album “Heaven can wait...” and is seeking for promotion and concerts worldwide. As the mastermind of SBS Vitalis Kairiūkštis proudly announces, this new album is „international“ – musicians from Italy – the Virtuoso keyboardist Maestro Mistheria (http://www.mistheria.com/home.cfm) - and Germany – Ferdy Doernberg (Axel Rudi Pell, Rough Silk and many many more, (http://www.ferdydoernberg.de/) did the great job with the keyboards. New album is compiled of 15 brand new songs.
“Heaven can wait...” was highly rated by international metal zines. Stormbringer gave 4,5 out of 5 (with musical redactor remark that he hasn’t heard anything better at the moment), Metal To Infinity - 83 out of 100, Metal Temple - 8out of 10, HardHarderHeavy - 6,5 out of 7.
One of the biggest SBS projects will be „Diagnosis: SBS“, a rock mystery with a symphonic orchestra that might become a big suprise to the music industry and all SBS fans worldwide.
DISCOGRAPHY
Spicy Bits Of Scandal (group):
Gimęs Laimėti - 2006
Tik mėnulio šviesa… - 2007
The Gambler - 2008
Heaven can wait… - 2013
Songs From Black Spirit (project):
I Am Who I Am - 2020
GENRE/COUNTRY
Progressive Melodic Metal
Lithuania