Customer Reviews

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Dig)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My title isn't meant to be a knock on their previous 4 albums, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is, well...different, but different in a good way.

You have your heavy stuff, like the title track and "A National Acrobat". And then comes along "Fluff", a great acoustic intrumental that shows a softer side of Sabbath. Tony Iommi's guitar work is great on that track. "Sabbra Cadabra" blends the trademark Sabbath sound with some psychedelic elements. The second half of the album has a more experimental sound to it, with "Killing Yourself To Live" and "Spiral Architect" being the best tracks in the second half.

This is also a great re-master - nothing is mixed too loud, and you won't hear clipping like you do on other re-mastered CDs. Highly recommended

Get this version. It is the best, and is better than the Castle remaster. I have both, and I know.

In 1973 in the UK and 1974 in America Black Sabbath released "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" an experimental album going further than the original Sabbath sound of earlier albums. The change is not unappealing but fans will know by certain songs that it is an experimental album. And I'll say right know this experiment was well worth it. It gave us some amazing songs, except the title track and "Sabra Cadabra" (which Metallica covered on their Garage, Inc.album) most won't be the usual Sabbath you would hear on classic rock stations.

The band experimented with synthesizers on "Who Are You?" they used an orchestra on "Spiral Architect" but it doesn't mean that there isn't any heavy Sabbath on it. In fact the album has one of their heaviest and best known songs with the title-track. Because a band experiments it doesn't mean they're selling-out or they suck, it certainly isn't the case with Black Sabbath, this album is one of their best. While some may say that this album isn't good or is a sell-out I disagree, I think it's a very strong album with some really great songs that every fan should like. I understand the band is known for the doom sound and all, after all I own and love those albums but I think at that point they needed something new. They did, and that's great the orchestra parts sound really good and create an ambiance without being overused and at times sounds brilliant and adds to the music.

And now for the songs. The title track is a monster, by far one of their heaviest songs and I can't imagine something this heavy for 1973! An absolute favorite and when Ozzy could do it, the end of the song was something epic. It's quite an album opener. Follows "A National Acrobat "is in the vein of classic sound and is a really great song, nothing much to say about this one. Then follows "Fluff" an acoustic instrumental song, kind of like "Orchid" was on Master of Reality but only longer and far better. "Sabbra Cadabra" is another great song, the breakdown section sounds really good, I think most fans of Sabbath have at least heard of this song or perhaps heard Metallica's version which was also pretty good. "Killing Yourself To Live" is one of the bests songs here in my opinion, everything is great, has some clever lyrics and the middle song of the part is amazing. Has to be one of Sabbath's most underrated songs. "Who Are You?" sounded futuristic back then and still does so now. It's really bizarre and reflective I don't know what to think of it, I'm not such a big fan of that one. "Looking For Today" is another superb song, overlooked but really good, it sounds like really old classic rock n' roll, because it is. "Spiral Architect" has the full orchestra fro really great results, ends the album in great way, great song.

Those who like "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" like it A LOT. The album is grandiose, a masterwork and really is Sabbath's "Chef d'oeuvre". It doesn't have a classic doom Sabbath sound all the time, it's different and in some ways perhaps better. It remains one of my favorites in the Sabbath catalog and is one of their most ambitious releases.

On "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," like any classic Sabbath or early Ozzy solo work, we see Ozzy in his prime. Long before Ozzy Osbourne became a parody of himself, being known to most as an oafish buffoon on a reality show .

This is not one of Black Sabbath's best known albums. Their first three have that distinction. The only song from this album that became a bonafide hit was the title track, which became a classic rock staple. The whole album is fantastic though. Here they refine their sound and add synth, orchestral and keyboard textures. Even the novelty track "Fluff", which is a fan-hated softer side of the metal legends is a well-executed and composed song. Maturity is the word used by most critics reviewing this album. Although their earlier stuff had a bit more instant appeal, this album doesn't take long to get used to and after it takes hold it doesn't let go.

Lyrically, it is less gothic than earlier albums, with Sabbath concentrating on modern (for the time) themes more. Sabbra Cadabra, which is a paean to pagan witches, comes off as one of the strangest love songs ever written. Musically, the synths, pianos, flutes and other accents enhance Sabbath's style. Any fan of heavy metal, classic rock or dreary music will love this incarnation of the masters of the "doom blues". I bought the Japanese edition and compared it to the Sanctuary Deluxe remasters and I think that this has a clearer, more defined sound. The Sanctuary editions are excellent but tend to try to squeeze more volume out of the remaster by sacrificing dynamic range and it results in slight distortion at higher volume.

The only true classic Sabbath tunes on this album are:

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Sabbra Cadabra

Killing Yourself to Live

My favorite Sabbath albums in order from best to worst are:

PARANOID

BLACK SABBATH

MASTER OF REALITY

SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH

Vol.4

HEAVEN AND HELL

THE MOB RULES

PARANOID through MASTER all get 5 stars, with the others getting 4. All strongly recommended.

Sorry I didn't give it 5 stars, but I'm very picky about giving the 5th star to albums. Anyway to the review.

As I said this is yet again another awesome Sabbath record, from start to finish! The only real skip-over track is "Fluff", eh, not big bother listening to it.

This is a heavy metal classic, and every metal needs this record!

I could rant about this album, but no, I'm gonna keep this nice a short.

If you like loud riffing metal then don't wait and this album!

Last of the original Ozzy recordings that are actually good...Black Sabbath; Paranoid; Masters of Reality; Vol 4 (Black Album); Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath really should have been the send off to Ozzy Sabbath. It was their last truly great album. The Title track has so many rythem changes that are all awsome that it really was the blue-print for all metal to this day. There would be no heavy metal if not for this album, but there is a lot of filler. There are some really good songs also on this album, Spiral Architect and Killing myself to live are good, but don't compare with track number one. If not a true Sabbath fan might want to just pick up a sabbath greatest hits that hit the high points of this album. The albums you really want to hear all of are Masters of Reality and Paranoid. Still Great cover art and what a great send off.