SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH

As usual, "Sabbath" release d their annual album. As usual it will be a good one. There is also someone lots of progheads cherish in the line-up (including myself of course). Mister Rick Wakeman himself holds the keyboards ! (but he did it already loooooooong before on the album "Space Oddity" from whm you might know about.

The opener is again a killer. In their past history, the band has always have the excellent idea to start an album with a killer song. "Black Sabbath" on their debut one, "War Pigs" on "Paranoïd", "Sweet Leaf" on "MOR" and the fantastic "Wheels Of Confusion" from their fourth effort. And don't worry the title track "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" just prolonged the tradition. A monster song and a fantastic witness of the early ages of the heavy metal genre (invented by "Sabbath" back to 1970).

The next song is also a highlight. More complex, "sophisticated". One of my fave here thanks to its hypnotic guitar riff (but Iommi is a master in this respect, able at times to compete with the Blackmores and the Pages). The middle part is totally heavy-blues oriented. This part is a bit longuish but the closing section is again brilliant. So mighty. So "Sabbath" !

Another tradition of the band, is to include soft / acoustic songs on their album (remember "Planet Caravan", "Solitude", the splendid "Orchid" and the less splendid (to say the least) "Changes". On this album, "Fluff" will do the job. A nice guitar instrumental. But it won't reach the sentimentality nor the perfection of "Orchid". Just a break.

This is now the fifth "Sabbath" album, and inevitably the band will start to repeat themselves like in "Killing Yourselves". A good song with a great guitar solo but this is a feeling of déjà vu (if you do not appreciate this band so much, you'll get this feeling already after their first release only).

No, "Who Are You" is not a cover from "Who" you know. It's a mellow rock ballad featuring synth and piano. Don't forget that Rick is holding the keys... But he is really the only attraction of this number that won't be much remembered in the future. "Looking For Today" is a more elaborate piece of music again. Not brilliant but the catchy mood is pleasant enough to bring some divertion in this album.

Those were the days of the most drug abuse by the band (especially Ozzy and Bill). The legend says that both of them were under cocaine every single day for about two years...They must have a damn good health for having survive to this treatment !

Globally, this album was a bit of a disappointment for me at the time of release. Fortunately there is a very good closing with "Spiral Architect". Heavy but completely original with the addition of some strings. I am not really a fan of such mixes but I have to say that they are pretty much bearable here. A bit mellow at times, but this is one of the best song of the album.

Three stars.

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