OK, this is clearly not for the faint-hearted or the prudish types. If you don't already stock stuff like Scorpions and Guns N Roses in your collection, this won't work for you. On the other hand, if you are a metalhead, this 1973 classic is a must-listen. The 70s was a glorious era for rock, where bands of lanky, hairy adolescents from Britain made music that ruthlessly dragged listeners wailing and screaming to hard reality, seeking to dismiss the supposed airy-fairyness of pop. Black Sabbath is one such band and this album was one brilliant potrait of all-round gloom. Down to the individual tracks now:
1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath:In this album, the band forsaked their shoddy, bluesy sound for a more polished feel with melodious (yes!) portions providing a break from the relentless march to darkness. The opening riff of this track sets the tone for the album and the bands works with variations of the same theme, moving gradually from heavy-metal to progressive rock. Lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne is in fine form throughout the album and he hypnotises you into the Sabbath world with a typically brilliant if eccentric performance. But the clincher is the lyrics:
The race is run the book is read,
The end begins to show,
The truth is out, the lies are old,
But you don't want to know.
Nobody will ever let you know,
When you ask the reasons why,
They just tell you that you're on your own,
Fill your head all full of lies.
Tony Iommi is better off creating catchy riffs and making eerie sounds rather than producing long solos and he sticks to that here, thus producing good effect without great virtuosity.
2. A National Acrobat: The second track develops the opening riff of the title track further and is slower in tempo. This is sort of the early beginnings of prog-metal in a way as different variations with the same guitar theme are played in systematic progression (Critics would baulk at the mentioning of systematic and Sabbath in the same sentence!). Again, the lyrics, dealing with the purpose, if any, of life are hard-hitting:
Just remember love is life
And hate is lving death
Treat its life for what it's worth
And live for every breath.
I could quote further but there's more in the other tracks!
3.Fluff: This is the track on which listeners' opinions are divided. It's a slow, acoustic instrumental and true to its title is very gentle and soothing. The problem is, people have come to expect something from Sabbath and when something else is delivered, they react in confusion and slam it, which has been the fate of this track. But to purely review the music, this is an outstanding track which will move you to tears and comfort you when you are down. Certainly one of Iommi's more cherished performances.
4.Sabra Cadabra:Another hot favourite for Sabbath fans. This is vibrant rock-and-roll crossed with meaty metal riffs. A love song from Sabbath is a real surprise. I have to conclude that it was crazy Ozzy teasing pop bands, especially the way he goes, "No more, no more....", imitating a typical pop chorus section.
5.Killing yourself to live: I am hard-pressed to choose betweent his song ans the title track when I plug in my discman. This is gloomier than the title track, if that's any consolation. While the title track paints the grim picture of unemployment, this track makes those trooping to work daily look even more miserable. Ozzy is simply superb in this song and makes you feel he was born to sing to the accompaniment of growling riffs. The thing that always fascinates me about 70's British rock is that while still delivering a solid punch, it has those lovely old-fashioned unmistakably British chords, which have their own charm for rock fans. I would love to quote the whole song line by line, but here are a few lines:
Just take a look around you what do you see
Pain, suffering and misery,
It's not the way that the world was meant
It's a pity you don't understand
6.Who are you: Rick Wakeman, ex-YES keyboard player, played for the band in this album and this is his most prominent contribution, hi synthesizer theme predating Rush's Camera Eye by a whole eight years. Synthesizers don't gel too well with the Sabbath sound, but the slow tempo and progression of the tune make up for it. This song's possibly the most dark examination of God and his role in the world you can get. I warned you: this is not for the prudish types!
You think all the people
Who worship you are blind
You're just like big brother
Giving us your trust
And when you have played enough
You'll just cast our souls
Into the dust
Into the dust
7.Looking for today: Oh, you're still around, eh? Want some more? All yours! Anyway, this is the closest Sabbath can come to popish rock. Of course, the rhythm section is always around to give that edge to this polished, up-tempo number. Ozzy Osbourne adapts effortlessly to the change of genre. This is a brilliant take on the commercialisation of music, which propels Mr.Nobody to the front-page before unceremoniously dumping him for the next 'sound of the season'. One of the reasons why you still have to award full marks to the song despite it being uncharacteristic of Sabbath:
Don't delay you're in today
But tomorrow's another day
Sunday's star is Monday's scar
Out of date before you're even seen
Indeed, the more things change, the more they remain the same. These line smight well have been written today!
8.Spiral Architect:Again, a song which divides fans, though not as sharply as Fluff. This is full-fledged prog-rock, with a pop finish. The band relents and ends on a positive note: No matter how terrible life gets, you can look inside yourself and be thankful for the good things you got out life. The world ain't gonna change, change the way you look at it. I'm not quoting; the whole song is well-written, go check out the lyrics on the web.
It's your take at the end of the day whether or not to go for the album. If, after having read the review, you are enthused by the theme of the album, do go for it. It's a 'bloody' good work of music.
