Artist: Black Sabbath
Label: Rhino Records
Release: 2007
Black Sabbath or Heaven & Hell?
I don’t think Black Sabbath need introducing to anyone, since they’re one of those late-sixties bands that founded heavy metal and embodied the NWOBHM before the term even existed. The classic lineup of Ward, Butler, Iommi and Osbourne still clung to blues-soaked hard rock patterns on the first records (hell – they were originally called Polka Tulk), but then they drifted further and further away from what was by then a rather played-out genre and became heavy metal masters. Success brought drugs, drugs brought louder and louder fights, and in the second half of the seventies Ozzy Osbourne left the band for just a few shows, then walked out for good at the end of 1978 (or so it seemed at the time).
In his place came a little man with a huge voice, Ronnie James Dio, who had previously proven his pipes in the supergroup Rainbow and who brought some badly needed freshness to Black Sabbath. First they put out the commercially exceptionally successful Heaven and Hell, after which drummer Ward left and Vinnie Appice (Vanilla Fudge) took his seat. This lineup then recorded Mob Rules, a similarly successful release commercially, which was supposed to be followed by a live record. Well, by the time Live Evil finally came out, neither Dio nor Appice was in the band anymore, so Bill Ward was back behind the kit, and what a surprise – Ian Gillan! Yeah, the paths of the giants Deep Purple, Rainbow and Black Sabbath have crossed quite a few times.
And why this long intro, which Black Sabbath fans know by heart and the rest of you at least roughly know, with all these lineup shuffles? The classic Black Sabbath lineup got back together at the end of the nineties, and this second golden lineup first did so in the early nineties. And now the time has come again… but since the original Black Sabbath had only recently been performing successfully (and reportedly even recording), Iommi, Butler, Appice and Dio decided to name the new reincarnation Heaven and Hell – after one of the best records and also one of the best songs. And so it wouldn’t stop at just a tour (I’m already looking forward to them warming us up for Metallica on July 5th!!!), they added three brand-new tracks to the reviewed collection of hits.
The first thirteen tracks remind you why this lineup is so highly regarded, respected and loved. Iommi is simply one of the best guitarists ever, and his riffs easily take their place on the throne next to Blackmore and Page, the rhythm section is reliable and devoted first and foremost to the guitar and second to that incredible voice! They don’t call Dio The Voice for nothing! The selection could of course have been better, but it’s good enough to convince listeners to go after the regular releases of the records mentioned above.
The Devil Cried is a very noisy track, punchy at first and full of great drum and guitar transitions throughout; the only thing that disappoints is, well, The Voice. The years have taken their toll, and even though it’s still an extraordinary voice, compared to those earlier gems it’s just not the same – much like the song itself, the voice is somehow rougher too. I’d make a similar observation about Shadow of the Wind, whose intro sounds a bit like Iron Man, but which is otherwise graced by a fantastic guitar solo. The closing Ear in the Wall kicks off at a proper gallop and carries on that way with all the noise, Dio’s voice is generously backed up especially in the chorus, and the complex structure mostly recalls Iron Maiden. But these are all traits that characterized Dio’s era in Black Sabbath anyway – more complex song structures, speed, punch and unpredictability. Okay, Dio has gotten older, his voice has matured, but he’s still in great shape.
Of course, questions come up – when will the classic Black Sabbath be back on stage? When will a new full studio record from one lineup or the other come out? They clearly don’t lack energy or creative drive! Could the impossible even happen, and we’ll soon hear Ozzy and Dio together in Black Sabbath??? That would probably be too much, but even sharper battle axes have been buried before…
Lineup
Ronnie James Dio – vocals
Tony Iommi – guitar
Geoff Nicholls – keyboards
Geezer Butler – bass
Vinny Appice – drums
Bill Ward – drums
Production
Martin Birch, Tony Iommi
Tracklist
1. Neon Knights
2. Lady Evil
3. Heaven And Hell
4. Die Young
5. Lonely Is The Word
6. The Mob Rules
7. Turn Up The Night
8. Voodoo
9. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
10. After All (The Dead)
11. TV Crimes
12. I
13. Children Of The Sea (Live)
14. The Devil Cried
15. Shadow Of The Wind
16. Ear In The Wall
