SEVENTH STAR

After the desastrous "Born Again", Iommi wanted to release a solo effort but pressures from the record company made it another way. It is funny that Glenn Hughes who has been bassist and vocalist of "Purple" Mark III & IV" follows Ian Gillan ("MarkII" and several other ones) on the vocals on this "Sabbath" album.

Their previous release was pure heavy metal while this one is much more rock-oriented (with strong blues tints of course). "No Stranger to love" for instance is a great rock ballad (better than any other "Sabbath" one). Hughes can demonstrate all his vocal skills (much superior to Ozzy's one - although Ozzy IS "Sabbath" 's voice).

Several straight-forward hard-rock songs (but not heavy) are filling (without being fillers) the album quite remarkably. The opener "In for the Kill" as well as "Turn To Stone" (especially the latter with its incredible beat) could have been easily featured on a "Purple" album with no problem (sorry about the comparison but it is inevitable here).

There is even a very short and spacey instrumental : "Sphinx". One of the very few prog related "Sabbath" song (but it last for just eighty seconds). Could have been included as an intro to "Seventh Star". A bluesy-heavy song (remember, Glenn is on the vocals). Very hard and deep drumming (almost like Bonham could do) and great guitar play. One of the highlight.

A similar attempt in this style is "Heart Like a Wheel". I'm not sure that the fact that Glenn came on board was the only reason for this deeper bluesy orientation. Iommi was strongly influenced by the genre in his pre-Sabbath's career. He will again perform a great guitar break. But this guy is very skilled.

"Angry Heart" is the third bluesy one in a row (maybe a bit too much for my ears). Less effective. And the album closes on the short and slow (but with very powerful vocals) "In Memory...".

This album is the most diversified "Sabbath" one. Probably because it was not intended to be a "Sabbath" record. It will be the only album in which Glenn appeared as vocalist (with this band, I mean). He hardly toured with "Sabbath" because of a fight with one of the managers. He was injured on his nose and throat and could hardly sing any longer. He was also seriously under heavy drugs in those days (a habbit in the Sabbath line-up) and was sacked.

It is a good come back and I will rate it with three stars.