Label: Vertigo
Release date: April 25, 1980
Production: Martin Birch
Album length: 40:04 min.
Genre: Heavy Metal
Rating: 10 / 10
Black Sabbath… a musical institution. A cult in the truest sense of the word. The first real heavy metal band (at least that’s the generally accepted view, so let’s set the sea of influences aside for a moment). Their first record, Black Sabbath, is considered one of the biggest milestones in rock music. On February 13, 1970, it changed music history. Who doesn’t know the dark, doomy riffs of the brilliant guitarist Tony Iommi and the distinctive, one-of-a-kind voice of the godfather of heavy metal, Ozzy “Madman” Osbourne? Rhetorical question or not, there probably aren’t many.
So, almost 40 years ago, Black Sabbath with Ozzy up front started writing history. Right up to the 1975 release Sabotage they were at their peak, without a single bad record. But a five-year slump followed, which led to Ozzy leaving the band.
Many saw Ozzy’s departure as the death of Black Sabbath, but Iommi found one hell of a replacement. Ozzy’s spot was more than successfully filled by ex-Rainbow frontman Ronnie James Dio (“the little king of rock and roll”), who is still considered one of the best vocalists in hard rock/heavy metal. Dio breathed new life into the band. True, the doomy sound that defined the band’s early work, and which Ozzy contributed to so strongly, is gone, but Dio adds a whole new dimension to the band. Heaven and Hell is a real heavy metal wrecking ball! On Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath truly ditched the blues roots that dominated the Ozzy era for the first time in their career. Okay, I’m lying, but more on that later. Basically, with Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath dove into the waters of pure heavy metal, and in places even progressive rock. The biggest factor in that was the fantastic, operatic style of Dio’s singing. Still, the playing style of Iommi, Butler and Ward didn’t change drastically. Even though Iommi probably squeezed out the best riffs and solos of his career on this very record, the guitar, bass and drums still have that unmistakable sound. But the band hadn’t sounded this fresh and unified since Children of the Grave! Dio surely had a hand in that, giving the band a fresh dose of inspiration and a new direction in the search for life after Sabotage.
Dio blew a fresh wind through more than just the music, and he was also decisive in shaping Black Sabbath’s new lyrical style. Unlike Ozzy, Dio is a true poet. He wrote some truly beautiful poetry for the album and reached for themes of fantasy, romanticism and lyricism that were almost absent from the lyrics before. And this is exactly where critics of post-Ozzy Black Sabbath will find a bone to pick. On Heaven and Hell you can no longer find that ominous, dark note Black Sabbath are so famous for. But far from calling the lyrics bad, quite the opposite. It’s just that they deal with completely different themes than those on the first records.
The album opens with the dynamic, punchy Neon Knights; a fast, heavy opener that hits you right off the bat, and yet it’s still excellent. Black Sabbath were very much alive in 1980! The fantastic Iommi lead that repeats throughout the song and Dio’s phenomenal singing prove right in the opening moments of the record that they’ve got the recipe for success.
In Children of the Sea, the record takes on a more epic, mystical flavor, which is no doubt helped by the beautiful acoustic intro that, as far as I’m concerned, is still one of the best intros of its kind in metal! The song builds mainly on Dio’s incredible melody, and after the intro it explodes into brutal power chord sawing. Iommi shines with melodic fills and a solo that’s unusual for Black Sabbath, but excellent. One of the best songs Black Sabbath ever wrote! “It’s never never never coming back, look out!”
At the start I mentioned that I wasn’t being completely honest when I said Black Sabbath totally shook off their blues roots on Heaven and Hell, and it really shows on the mid-tempo bluesy Lady Evil. A song that again delivers excellent Iommi fills and a great, groovy sound from Butler’s bass. All of it is backed up by a catchy chorus that casts a spell just like the wicked lady the lyrics talk about. The cherry on top is an interesting wah pedal solo.
The title track Heaven and Hell hits with epicness in the truest sense of the word. Definitely one of the album’s highlights, and also its longest song. A punchy, heavy track with plenty of tempo and rhythm changes, backed by a galloping bass guitar that’s slightly reminiscent of Harris’s Maiden gallops. If Dio hasn’t convinced you so far, he’ll win you over with this song with ease; truly heavy metal in its best light. Everything is in the right place, every note is played perfectly, the solo is once again excellent with a delay effect, and Dio, belting out line after line after the solo, would put many a vocalist to shame. The climactic peak is calmed down by a classical guitar ending. Magical!
Wishing Well is another catchy “straight-in-the-face” rocker. I know I’m repeating myself, but if there’s nothing else to say… Dio is excellent 🙂 Again there’s a dynamic bass line and acoustic guitars that get drowned out by the distorted axe.
Die Young… my personal favorite Black Sabbath song ever. Despite the slightly morbid title, it’s a song with an optimistic carpe diem message. A song that fills me with positivity and adrenaline every single time. Even though it’s slightly “cheesy” with its keyboard intro, the outburst that follows more than justifies its reputation as one of the most overlooked Black Sabbath songs. One of the few songs I could listen to over and over (it’s playing for the third time in a row right now, haha). “So live for today, for tomorrow never comes!” If Dio still doesn’t win you over with this song… you’re made of stone. Haha.
Walk Away is probably the “worst” song on the record, since with it they tried to write a pop single that would reach the masses. But it’s still light-years ahead of the worn-out Changes or Am I Going Insane?
Lonely is the Word is said to be one of Iommi’s favorite songs, and it works as a closer for the record. This dreamy bluesy track isn’t, at least for me, on the level of the opening songs, but it’s still a very solid song, with interesting guitar lines and bits.
When I started writing this review, I wasn’t completely sure how to write the conclusion. Now I can say without a doubt that Heaven and Hell is one of the best Black Sabbath releases, and for me personally even the favorite. Ozzy is without a doubt “the voice of” Black Sabbath, just like Bruce Dickinson was always the first violin of Iron Maiden, but I think I can safely say that Dio leaves him far behind. Instrumentally, too, this record is simply incredible. Back in 1980, Iommi was ahead of his time with his superior guitar wizardry, and Butler and Ward formed a very coherent rhythm section.
Heaven and Hell put Black Sabbath back on the throne of the heavy metal kings. And very soon those of us who are a little younger will finally get to see Dio with Black Sabbath live too. Well… with Heaven and Hell.
author: Rok Klemše
Tracklist:
1. Neon Knights
2. Children Of The Sea
3. Lady Evil
4. Heaven And Hell
5. Wishing Well
6. Die Young
7. Walk Away
8. Lonely Is The Word
Lineup:
Ronnie James Dio – vocals
Tony Iommi – guitar
Terrance “Geezer” Butler – bass guitar
Bill Ward – drums
Guest musicians:
Geoff Nicholls – keyboards
