CROSS PURPOSES LIVE (CD + VHS)

If you except "Cross Purposes", these Tony Martin years were not the most inspired "Sabbath" ones. This live album combines some oldies and newbies. Such an attempt was already achieved with "Live Evil" with Dio on the vocals with a decent result.

This one is truely dispensible. The band only plays three songs from "Cross Purposes" and not the best ones. One of the poorest song (out of many) from their disgusting "Dehumanizer" ("Time Machine"). As if "Sabbath" did it on purpose ! Like playing "Headless Cross" in this live set. Might have been a small hit, but this song is sooooooooooo bad...

Now, the classic ones. Difficult task because inevitably Martin will have to face the comparison with "Sabbath's voice" : Ozzy of course. Even if he is not a great singer, he is the incarnation of this role in the band. The only good version is "Black Sabbath". And even if this CD ends up with a trilogy of giant songs, their rendition is just worth peanuts (for two of them).

"Paranoïd", "Iron Man" and "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" are just massacred. Especially "Iron Man". Reduced to just over three minutes this version is just a useless masquerade. And most of it is dedicated to a lenghty intro as well as a karaokee excercise. Shame on you "Sabbath".

The second best one of this live album is "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". Very close to its original version. Martin is more in-line with the spirit of this song than with other classics.

There is virtually NO reason at all to spend your time and money on this live album. IMHHO there is ONE reference in the genre : their "Reunion" album which supersedes any other ones. Not by an inch. But by a mile.

Two stars for this one. The poorest "Sabbath" live album.