Catacombs of the Black Vatican

Author: Primož Novak

Artist: Black Label Society
Label: Mascot Records
Release: year_month
Runtime: 44:39
Rating: 3.5/5

Former Ozzy guitarist Zakk Wylde has slowly grown and dug himself into the scene with Black Label Society since its founding in 1998 (he’d tried his luck with Pride and Glory before that). What really boosted his popularity was opening for Ozzy at every festival under the sun. In a little under ten years, Wylde became more recognizable and more versatile, showing he’s capable of a lot more than what he did with Ozzy. Above all, he showed he can be stylistically pretty diverse. Over his career he’s lined up a nice pile of albums, from hard-hitting, groove-heavy records to an acoustic one meant for the day after a brutal drunken night. In recent years, though, Zakk has mellowed out a bit. He’s still kept his Southern rock flavor, but it’s all more commercially minded now, with more and more potential hits.

Catacombs of the Black Vatican opens with Fields of Unforgiveness, where grunge-leaning guitars slowly set the tempo for the album. The next track, My Dying Time, does much the same. Nothing new here: Zakk serves up Southern rock and grunge riffs, backed by his trademark »pinch harmonics«. Of course, there are some punchier tracks too, like Heart of Darkness, Beyond the Down and Damn the Flood, where Wylde shows some feel for groove. These songs give the album a bit of originality and, as a result, a nod to the older fans. Naturally, Wylde’s tender side makes an appearance this time too. Among the ballad-ish tracks, Angel of Mercy stands out the most thanks to its gentle piano. Zakk’s vocals haven’t changed much. For the last ten years, the tone of his voice has at times sounded like Ozzy’s, but luckily it’s not as annoying.

The songs themselves are put together pretty simply, and that simplicity shows in the rhythm section too. Zakk clearly doesn’t want to overcomplicate things, with plenty of emphasis on the choruses and, of course, Zakk’s virtuoso soloing. That only confirms the album is aimed at a wider audience.

Catacombs of the Black Vatican, BLS’s ninth studio album, doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. It’s a more reserved record that can boast a hit or two and a ballad, but next to their earlier work, the album as a whole is anything but a standout. Sadly, it doesn’t show BLS at their best, the way Sonic Brew and Stronger Than Death did. This is more an album that, with its mediocrity, lets fans know Zakk is still active, even if he doesn’t put out records as often anymore.

Lineup

Zakk Wylde – guitar, vocals, piano, acoustic guitar

John DeServio – bass

Chad Szeliga – drums

Production

Zakk Wylde

Track list