SABOTAGE

Sabotage ranks, in my opininion, as the last gasp of the Sabbath that was. If "Sabbath, bloody sabbath" was a less heavy affair than it's predecessors with alot of emphasis on the progressive side of metal, "Sabotage" is the perfect mix of the heavier side of the band along with their progressive tendencies.

The opener "Hole in the sky" is one of my all time favorites with the band and the obvious choice for me when it comes to turning the volume up or demonstrating why I love Sabbath. Heaviness, groove and potency are the trademarks of this track and kicks up a storm of utter rage. How do you pick up from there? Why not with a flamenco tune which turns into one of the dirtiest, heaviest riffs of all time: "Symptom of the universe". This song is so amazingly heavy and the guitar sounds like it has come straight from Hell's fires to the sound of Ward's doomsday drumming. Sheer brilliance!

"Megalomania" is another great progressive tune I dig very, very much. It is like a combination of "Planet Caravan" and "Symptom of the universe", that is dreamy landscapes and sudden heaviness of greatness. The last song on the album, "The writ", is simply stunning.

In short, "Sabotage" is a varied well recorded and inspired piece of vinyl. Ozzy never sounded better and the band sounds on top of the world. The darkness which always accompanied Sabbath is maybe at it's blackest on this album. It's dense and pitch black but not by any means depressing. Simply outstanding and the darkness is lit up by a band so on top of their game I find myself amazed every time I return to the album. "Sabotage" is alongside "Never say die" the album I most frequently return to, due to it's depth, variation and inspiration. Every album from 1970 to1981 is great, some more than others, and "Sabotage" is a true juwel in the crown of heavy metal and progressive metal. Great stuff.