THE ETERNAL IDOL

Sabbath needs vocalists that click with their sound. Ian Gillan nor Glen Hughes were really successful experiments, but Tony Martin was a match made in heaven, even though few people might agree to that.

The Toni Martin period is decidedly less fabulous and less relevant then the albums with Dio or the first few years with Ozzy, but throughout the 5 albums there are good moments aplenty, especially so on this first cooperation and also on the following Headless Cross and TYR. There are three tracks that blast with epic power and that I think every fan of Sabbath, power metal and even progressive metal should own. Both The Shining, Ancient Warrior and Eternal Idol are simply superb songs.

I would describe the remainder of the album as commercial and slightly metalized power blues. I admit I really didn't like much of it 20 years ago but after digging up this CD for the review, it amazed me how high the quality actually is. I usually cringe away from stuff like this but here it is hard to ignore the powerful performance and the inspired song writing. A certain blues highlight is Nightmare, while Hard Life to Love, Glory Ride and Born to Lose are all very enjoyable 80's hair metal tracks.