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"In general "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (hereafter abbreviated to "SBS") was released in December 1973 and, with music history as the ultimate judge, the fifth masterpiece in four years. It was the first Black Sabbath album I heard and its music irresistibly became the soundtrack to my pretty carefre...""In general
"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (hereafter abbreviated to "SBS") was released in December 1973 and, with music history as the ultimate judge, the fifth masterpiece in four years. It was the first Black Sabbath album I heard and its music irresistibly became the soundtrack to my pretty carefree adolescence.
I remember as yesterday how musical preferences determined which group of young people you belonged to: the alternatives that principally opposed everything that was commercial (quite a naive division, but hardly discussed) or the large group of young people who were satisfied with transparent and commercial Glam Rock or the ubiquitous progressive rock, and who generally didn't care for loud music, daring vocals, and visuals associated with the occult, the devil's adoration, and other obscure ideas. At that time, the Catholic Church was perfectly able to preach the dualism between good and evil in order to keep the mass of believers on the good, Catholic path. "Good" and "Evil" did not need to be further defined, but let's be honest: the religious history of the West (think about the Crusades) mainly illustrates how many people were killed in the name of God (Killing people in the name of the Devil should make more sense, no?). "Good" and "Evil", "Light and Dark": in a worldview that was full of political tensions, those categories needed representatives. Black Sabbath built up a questionable image with dark, threatening and explicit songs on the first 3 albums (the track "Black Sabbath" was very explicit and not really susceptible to interpretation). On the one hand, Sabbath could benefit from it, because it gave the fame of the group a boost in those early years. On the other hand, the effect very quickly lost its charm and the image even turned against the band.
Cover
But allow me to return to the album and all those magical times that I listened to it and dreamed away with what may easily be declared the best cover of 1973. No, just say "of all times". Covers had started to grow into artistic gems at the time, and the SBS cover work of the highly regarded Drew Struzan belongs in a museum. Front and back seemed to be opponents. The main character on the front dies a horrific death and everything looks like he is about to be included in a group of demons floating around the bed. The skull and the explicit reference to the devil in the number 666 now seem a bit outdated and somewhat cheap. At the time it became part of the cover however, it all added up perfectly. On the back we see a man on his deathbed, surrounded by family members in a human form. Most of them regret his imminent death. Both illustrations are loaded with symbolism and religious inspiration, and the band (especially Ozzy) loved what Struzan produced. Everything here is right. That certainly also applies to the Gothic font used: Struzan has refined it and applies a precise spacing. This is art. The refined finish through the use of threatening red on the front and calming blue on the back will hardly ever be matched later on. Think of "Born Again" or Iron Maiden's "Eddie the Head" and note the remarkable differences. Art and kitsch are indeed opponents of each other.
Progrock?
Another conclusion is that the sound of Sabbath is closer to the Progrock of that time. Especially the arrangements with piano, flute, strings, acoustic guitar and synthesizer (undoubtedly a Minimoog) testify of a different musical approach. The indispensable and sophisticated riffs of Iommi (beautifully balanced between menacing and melodic) are still the backbone, but they are no longer the only driving force. It is clear that SBS is the result of maturity. Thanks to the fact that the band was given more time in the sound studio, Iommi's solos are often a dueling game of question and answer, and the sound image becomes richer because of what Rick Wakeman of Yes contributes on the piano (It was only late that I learned that Wakeman had an active role in the production of SBS). That Sabbath went in a different direction in terms of timbre was welcomed by the sympathy of the specialized press. And it has to be said: every song has its own vibe and atmosphere, and yet the record remains very consistent. Production here is particularly strong.
Lyrics
Just like the sound, the lyrics (the majority were contributed by Geezer Butler) have undergone a transformation. Explicit themes (the witch sabbath of "Black Sabbath" or the devil as true ruler of the world in the text of "Lord of This World") are exchanged for suggestive and more closed lyrics. In a song like "Who are You?" The hostile identity no longer has a name. Geezer leaves the interpretation to the listener, who gets sucked into the song in such a way that the doom and the darkness fall heavily upon his shoulders. It’s a real shame how the lyrics of "Killing Yourself to Live" had to be adjusted by law. Whoever does not get further in the texts, is insensitive to the many metaphors and, for the sake of convenience, only takes the lyrics very literally has no contact with the world, and certainly not with the artistic value that SBS has to offer. It’s crystal clear the lyrics are not inviting to commit suicide but telling how very hard and uncertain a musicians life could be.
Drugs
But the rapid growth of the band was accompanied by more and more drugs and alcohol. Sabbath was undermined by its success. Of course, Bill Ward's drinking was particularly problematic and the frictions between the members of the band became ever greater and more problematic. In fact, it was already a special achievement that the first 4 albums were made. After all, Ozzy was often an unguided projectile, Iommi felt obliged to come up with strong riffs faster and faster, and Geezer Butler was a melancholic who struggled with himself and everyday life (he makes that clear in the lyrics of SBS). However, it must also be said that during the 1970s many musicians were keen to let their audience know how dangerous and excessive their lives were. This was even a part of the image. David Bowie also claims that he does not remember anything about the recordings for "Station to Station" due to an excessive use of Coke. I have my questions about this. It is very exceptional that drugs help to stimulate and improve a creative flow. Cocaine in particular. Coke gives you the feeling that you are unique, but in reality does not make you better or sharper.
The tracks
“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” leans on one of Iommi's greatest riffs, one of Ozzy's best vocal performances (he sounds both more powerful and more confident than ever before) and the beautifully sounding bass of Geezer. For quite a lot reviewers this track is simply one of the greatest metal songs that has ever been made. During some earlier listening I did indeed notice how heavy the riffs are, and how high-contrasted the high pitched vocals of Ozzy hit the dark and brooding, growling riff. It is also striking how Iommi starts making his riffs and the structure of the songs more complex than ever. The outro is, as usual, doom and terror, but in itself sufficient to be elevated to a form of art. 5/5
After the intensity of the title track, the listener is once again served with one of Iommi's great riffs. The melody that drives “A National Acrobat” is simple but effortlessly sustained throughout the first part of the song. The bass is absolutely top here and again there is another masterful vocal performance by Osbourne. The spaciousness that creeps into the sound image sometimes reminds me of Gothic. Ok, "proto-gothic" if you want. For some reviewers, this is even one of Sabbath's best tracks and I can very well get into that. The second part of the track is in my opinion a bit less as this song does not need a light-hearted outro. But who am I to complain about this? 5/5
"Fluff" is beautiful but not extraordinary and especially particularly innocent. When this record became the best in my collection, I gladly added a track like "Fluff". That is no longer the case. For me this musical excursion from Iommi and - at least according to the credits - Wakeman does not belong on this album. Again, before shooting at the pianist: technically and in terms of arrangements there is little to criticize. Iommi plays the acoustic guitar in a masterly way. But "Fluff" is not representative of the entire album and it does ruin the atmosphere a bit. It hardly fits with anything else on this album. Give me a second “Planet Caravan” instead. Dark, sultry and sensual. Unfortunately. "Fluff" is possibly the reason why I rate "Sabotage" a little higher. (2/5)
Sabbra Cadabra is daring because it occupies a unique place in Sabbath's oeuvre. The brutality of the first albums, far ahead of what would become known as “Stoner rock”, seems far away, but this unusual love song once again starts with a great and very catchy riff. Furthermore there are excellent drums and Ozzy also performs unusually strong. The bluesy drums of Ward and the piano work of Rick Wakeman (of progressive Rock band Yes) give the song a nice, optimistic vibe (boogie-woogie!). Complex instrumental sections take over the second half of the song and the outro also has the character of a weathered jam session that goes on just long enough. Too bad that the lyrics here - exceptionally - are a bit weaker. (5/5)
Killing Yourself to Live again has a strong guitar performance of Iommi (a recurring pattern it seems) and this prevents that the song, composed of three different parts, does not suddenly implode. The tempo changes are beautiful and magically executed. Iommi effortlessly takes his colleagues in tow and shows how close and tight Sabbath was. Extremely powerful song that never ceases to amaze and entertain despite the somewhat daring structure. (5/5)
I do not understand the annoyance regarding "Who Are You?" that is voiced by many other reviewers. Well, Black Sabbath has now come closer to progressive rock and gets help from Rick Wakeman and a Minimoog, but I can only applaud this. In this unusual track the typical Iommi riff on guitar is traded in for a great and sinister melody line that - especially when that melody line gets doubled - is fascinating enough in terms of timbre (The Moog filters are definitely among the best) to successfully carry the Ozzy vocals. According to the literature, the most important part of the composition was delivered by Ozzy. I may never find out the truth, but I am inclined to believe that Wakeman has translated the Ozzy's riff into an exceptionally beautiful "programming" of the Moog. The comparison with prog rock is not entirely right. Sabbath maintained its identity. Admittedly, the synthesizer solo in the break is quite the same as the traditional progrock use of the minimoog. But is this song too slow? Maybe so, but in its slowness this track remains fascinating. Geezer's lyrics have also undergone a transformation. Whoever tries to find out what this song is about does not pass a closed, dense and highly suggestive text. Geezer has grown enormously as a writer. He is less pronounced and wraps up the occult themes in alienating darkness. In the past, evil was called by name ("Satan sitting there, he's smiling") or the text was a bit too literal and somewhat banal ("The pope at the end of a rope"). With "Who are you", the listener is given the freedom to create his own image of the dangerous identity that Ozzy addresses. Oh, and while listening, don’t forget the high pitched vocals of Ozzy are also doubled perfectly. Some flaws here and there are not bothering. The spaciousness that remains in the overall sound image makes this song very digestible. The progrock level increases during the break. Not the most thundering piano part and as mentioned before, the sound of the Moog in the break is a bit disappointing, but the outro is of an exceptionally high level. Just like the lyrics, the bizarre sounds become very suggestive and create a self-contained universe. For fans of Heavy Metal and / or Hardrock this is understandably a strange thing to do, but I gladly admit that I think the song is fantastic. Other bands would not venture into this experiment and that is exactly what Sabbath does. More, more! (5/5)
"Looking for Today" is one of Sabbath's poppier songs, but I have absolutely no objection to that. It is exceptionally radio - friendly and could well have been a single. The structure is predictable and a bit too repetitive, but again the song is effortlessly maintained by four musicians who give the best of themselves. The lyrics criticize the type of bands and musicians who are already happy to be and stay a one-hit wonder or just populate the scene to grab some easy, quickly earned money. The arrangement with flutes in the bridges is nice: it brings light into the darkness and secures a well-defined sophisticated balance. (5/5)
"Spiral Architect" - less Hard Rock and due to the many strings and the orchestra most closely related to Progressive rock - closes the album very nicely. Iommi is doing great guitar work and Ozzy is at his best. Although the bass has been pushed back too much in the mix, the lyrics of Geezer Butler are among the best that was written together in 1973. The song is about DNA but at the same time touches on multiple themes. According to the literature, the suggestive and philosophically tinted lyrics were ready in an instant. It is the merit of the craftsmanship of the literary learned Geezer's that the song got a theme so quickly. (5/5)
Conclusion (4,6 /5)
Depending on the source being consulted, "SBS" would be considered the high point of the career of Black Sabbath (and therefore the high point of the so-called Ozzy-Era) and some reviewers even dare call it one of the best Hard Rock albums of all time . I will probably never get out of it because, although almost unthinkable, on "Sabotage" there may be even better songs. Allow me to stick to a status quo. Both albums are stuck together as an iconic duo. It must be clear however that on "SBS" all four musicians prove that their critics were wrong by increasing the creative effort, giving unprecedented attention to production standards and arrangements and not to forget the sublime cover paintings.
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"I used to really like this album, but overtime I have come to appreciate and adore it. This album is perfectly written, every song is packed with intellegent lyrics accompanied by beautiful music. This album shows that Cale is a very well read man, featuring refferences to Shakespeare, Graham Gre...""I used to really like this album, but overtime I have come to appreciate and adore it. This album is perfectly written, every song is packed with intellegent lyrics accompanied by beautiful music.
This album shows that Cale is a very well read man, featuring refferences to Shakespeare, Graham Greene and Dylan Thomas among others, the lyrics really are the best part of this album.
Every track (and I’m not exaggerating, I mean EVERY track) on this album is brilliant, it really is one of the most consistant albums of all time, as well as one of the best. My two favourites are the opener “Childs Christmas in Wales”, title inspired by the Dylan Thomas piece of prose of the same name and the title track, obviously entitled “Paris 1919” which is one of the best songs ever written (and written very well, I would say). "[+]Reply
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The lyrics range from personal and introspective to max cringe, but what else would we expect from Charli? She has brought out the best musical ideas from AG Cook and Sophie. She complains about being "almost famous" and the lack of commercial success, but Crash was her most successful record and an absolutely phenomenal record but didn't have what made her sound so great from her "core" PC Music sound, this one has everything crash has (Talk Talk) and also the HIFN craziness on the instrumental like Club Classics. Here's hoping more people who like Lady Gaga's Chromatica, or Magdalena Bay's Mercurial World, to check out Charli XCX.
"I want to dance with me when I get to the club"
Ship it"[+]Reply
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"One of the most interesting records from their incredible discography. There are still a few traces of their noisy beginnings, but not that much actually. There are melodies here. And damn great ones. This may not be the most instantly rewarding of their indie period, but with time, it clearly be...""One of the most interesting records from their incredible discography. There are still a few traces of their noisy beginnings, but not that much actually. There are melodies here. And damn great ones. This may not be the most instantly rewarding of their indie period, but with time, it clearly becomes one of the best.
And the cover is absolutely awesome *o*"[+]Reply
"I'm really liking this album. Really, really liking it. It's classy, it's provocative, it's original, it's terribly sexy, and the production is impeccable. Maybe the lyrics are not brilliant, maybe there are a couple of songs that feel a little underwhelming, but it's still a very competent and o...""I'm really liking this album. Really, really liking it. It's classy, it's provocative, it's original, it's terribly sexy, and the production is impeccable. Maybe the lyrics are not brilliant, maybe there are a couple of songs that feel a little underwhelming, but it's still a very competent and overall cohesive album, at least for me. A very pleasant surprise."[+]Reply
Crumpet | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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corenfro | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (6 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
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andy_hunter | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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drakonium | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +6 votes (6 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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9999 | Helpful? (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
A maximum of 5 top-voted qualifying comments are selected for each album. To provide the best experience for visitors, comments are excluded if they refer to data corrections, contain excessive profanity, are written in all caps, are non-English, are too short, consist of conversations between users, or contain lists of best tracks etc.
