SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH

I know it's knd of cliche to say that you really need to give an album a lot of spins to really get into the music, but of all the BLACK SABBATH's albums I found this statement to be most true concerning this record. I'm not sure if that means there is more depth to this one, or it's more progressive, or it's just me, but i've grown to really like this album.The first three SABBATH records demanded my attention, they sort of grabbed me by the throat one way or another. "Vol 4" really lacked that quality, even though there were some great songs on it, I didn't feel any energy. Perhaps that was because the band were out of there element, as they recorded that one in L.A., California. They were i'm sure in the holiday mode after so much touring. For this one they are back in the U.K., and actually in an old castle to record this. I would say that is more their element than the beach would be. It's cool that Rick Wakeman is playing on this album under the alias of Spock Wall. Haha.

"Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath" opens with a killer riff from Iommi (the king of riffs). The vocals from Ozzy are very passionate, he's really into this. I love the contrast between the heavy passages and the pastoral sections. Nice solo from Iommi 2 1/2 minutes in. Check out the heaviness a minute later as Butler lays them down, while Ozzy lets it rip vocally. "A National Acrobat" is a very proggy tune. Ward is quite prominant on this one while Iommi grinds out the melodies. Ozzy spits out the lyrics. Iommi fires off some rounds after 3 1/2 minutes. Up to this point it's been quite hypnotizing, then the melody changes to a brighter tone 5 minutes in. "Fluff" features gentle guitar with piano arriving a minute in. "Sabbra Cadabra" is an uptempo rocker. Wakeman comes in with some piano melodies 3 minutes in. Ward and Butler shine late in the song.

"Killing Yourself To Live" seems to get better as it plays out. I like when Iommi comes in playing over the soundscape 2 minutes in with some great melodies.The song changes and the tempo shifts gears a few times the rest of the way. "Who Are You ?" opens with ominous synths. It slowly plods along. It changes as mellotron waves blow in softly, but then were back to those spacey synths. "Looking For Today" is an upbeat song, I like the chorus.The guitar to end it is a highlight. "Spiral Architect" along with the title track are my favourites. It begins with gentle guitar for a minute and then a full sound comes in. Ozzy sounds great on this one. Some orchestration on this one. The bass is prominant. Amazing sound. It ends with the sound of an audience clapping.

It's not as good as any of the first three albums in my opinion, but it fits in well with them, and is my fourth favourite of their first six classic records.