THE ETERNAL IDOL

My favourite song is "Lost Forever" : a very good hard-rock one. Extremely dynamic and featuring a superb guitar solo. Iommi is now the last original member in the "Sabbath" line-up which will change an awful lot during the next years. For the time being, an unknown singer is on board. He is of course much more limited than Glenn Hughes (who was in this role in the previous release but sacked because of drug abuse - a well-known story within "Sabbath") but he is a good vocalist. One of the heaviest but still more interesting song here is the closing number and tittle track. Some flavour from the good old days.

There will the short instrumental and spacey track as well (as usual) : "Scarlet Pimpernel". During all his career with "Sabbath", Iommi (the only member having remained with each line-up) has performed tons of great guitar breaks, inventing juicy riffs and saving lots of tracks from being just simple or poor ones. Thank you very much Mister Iommi. "Born To Lose" is one of the example here. As "Ancient Warrior" which is clearly an inspiration for the future "Dream Theater" songs. Not bad at all actually.

To be honest, the energetic "Hard Life To Live" is another one of the highlights (total three). Savage riff, upbeat and very aggressive rhythmic section (but what's the role of Bevan in here). A very strong song.

Some weak number as well. More on the AOR side (which is not my cup of tea) for "The Shining" and as well as "Glory Ride" (even the master and his solo won't be able this time to rescue this poor song). "Nightmare" being a heavy-metal and uninspired track.

I also wonder what's the role of Geoff Nicholls here since the keys are almost unexistant in this album (or at least so discrete that they are unheard except during "Ancient Warrior). There is absolutely no relation with prog in this album (except the two "Scarlet" minutes). But this is no surprise. This situation lasts for about seventeen years (more to come). IMO, the best two numbers sit at the end of the album.

It is difficult to say that this is a good album. Five out of ten which is maybe more than what could be expected. Two stars.

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