Tag: black sabbath (Page 2 of 3)

There’s a reason that these early Sabbath records are rightfully called classics boys and girls, because not only are they genre defining, they were genre inventing. Sure, we can argue about who first coined the term “heavy metal” and who had louder guitars, blah blah blah, but all the metal bands around today would not be anything if it wasn’t for Sabbath.

This was Black Sabbath’s fifth album, and we are only at 1973. They crammed so much into a short space of time, it’s insane to think of that happening today. If this album only had Symptom Of The Universe it would still be a classic. Such a killer riff and groove, Ozzy’s deranged wailing vocal, plus the crazy instrumental, and then the trippy outro, make this high on the list of everyone’s favourite rock and metal tunes.

Megalomania has to be one of the longest songs the band did. It goes from tripped out hippy psych fest, to killer max riffing Sabbath classic. This album doesn’t seem to high up on peoples’ fave Sabbath albums, but I really like it as there is so much going on outside of the usual Sabbath heavy riffing.

Of course, I’m going with Symptom Of The Universe as my favourite track because that riff is undeniable, but I could easily have gone for Thrill Of It All.

9.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Dio was only with Sabbath for two studio albums as Black Sabbath, but what an impact those two albums had. Yup, there was Heaven and Hell, but it’s the first two that everyone holds up as classics. The riffs are still there but it’s a very different vibe to Sabbath of old.

An injection of melody mixed with the heavy worked brilliantly, but as usual when a lead singer is swapped, the whole feel of the band changes. Except for The Sign Of The Southern Cross, where Iommi gets to bring the evil riff and we get a real look at what Sabbath with Ronnie should sound like. Where on Mob Rules, which is a killer track, it feels as though the band are playing around Ronnie as the focus.

Slipping Away sounds like a Zeppelin song complete with a Bonham drum groove. Falling Off The Edge Of The World is the other tune on the album which feels like Sabbath with Ronnie singing his ass off. My favourite track though is Voodoo, a great vocal from Ronnie and superb riff from Tony. A good kick ass album!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

After being as low as a band could go, after the sacking of Ozzie, and being in the grip of chemical abuse, the band managed to resurrect their careers thanks to Ronnie James Dio. Now, when Dio left to pursue his solo career, everyone was wondering where the band would go from here. Well to some, the appointment of Ian Gillan was a bit of an odd choice as the style and vibe did not match. I thought it was a great choice and was eager to see how it would work.

Opening track, Trashed, was what I thought it would be, a cross between Deep Purple and Sabbath and a nod to the direction they were going in with Dio. After the weird instrumental piece, Stonehenge, Disturbing The Priest sounds dark and very Sabbath of old musically, but the vocals with all of Gillan’s trademark screams sounds anything but Sabbath. I think this is where Sabbath fans of old felt Gillan was not right for the band. After another weird bass instrumental piece, we have this line up’s finest moment in Zero The Hero. A very dark doomy intro, and that beast of a riff, make this one of Sabbath’s finest tracks.

Side 2 kicks off with Digital Bitch with a very NWOBHM style riff – it reminds me of a Gillan solo track complete with suspect lyrics. The title track, Born Again, is next and most bands would call this a power ballad, and that’s just what it is – even if the lyrics are dark and weird. What the hell does “the grey and plastic retards all floating in circles” mean? Never been a fan of Iommi’s solo style, but the solo at the end of this track is nice. Hot Line is next up and a very Blackmore style riff – basically a straight up rock song and it’s quite a commercial tune. Final track, Keep It Warm, has a slow plod riff and groove, and not the finest lyrics ever written, but it’s and ok tune.

Ultimately, we all know this did not work out, and quite a few years in the wilderness were to come before the inevitable reunion with Ozbert Of Oz. It’s an ok album that was lifted by Zero The Hero.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.