Sabbatum: Medieval Tribute to Black Sabbath

Rondellus | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 28, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Music Cartel
• ASIN: B00007MB39
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #267,599 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sonitus Magnificus!!!, April 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sabbatum: Medieval Tribute to Black Sabbath (Audio CD)

When I bought this CD, I did not know that it was in Latin, but I am delighted with it. In fact, I am glad it is not in English- that would not only be un-medieval but also repetitive (I already heard Ozzy sing it in English). Just to clarify, I don't know Latin at all, except for a few words from church hymns, history, etc. (sic transit gloria mundi, dudes...) and what I recognize from Spanish. I am a fan of both Black Sabbath and medieval music, so I am admittedly a biased reviewer. If you like Gregorian chants, church music, harps, hurdy-gurdies, bagpipes, and other anachronistic sounds, you will love this CD. You could probably play this in a Catholic church on all soul's day if the priest is under forty & none the wiser. The band, Rondellus, is from Estonia in the Baltic region of Europe (formerly a Soviet satellite state). They also have a website printed with the CD. If anyone doubted the melodic strength of Black Sabbath, this translation to another format really lets it shine. Rondellus deserves great applause for the arrangements here- pure genius! Architectus Urbis Caelestis (Spiral Architect), Funambulus Domesticus (A National Acrobat), Post Murum Somnii (Behind the Wall of Sleep), Magus (The Wizard), and Planetarum Vagatio (Planet Caravan) are among the most outstanding tracks, but all are good, though Symptoms of the Universe should have had more of the melody instead of just a drone in the accompaniment(that is really my only criticism). Planet caravan really takes me there, with harp, fiddle and a gorgeous female voice. I feel almost weightless when I'm listening. Post Aeternitatum (After Forever) is performed in the style of a monastic chant, which is very appropriate considering it is the most "Christian" of all Sabbath songs. I can almost feel the reverberations bouncing off of cold stone walls, high ceilings, and into the ears of gargoyles and angels. Solitudo is also very church like, beginning with a medieval organ. Via Gravis(A Hard Road) features medieval bagpipes and drums, and is structured more like a dance song or "estampie". Architectus Urbis Caelestis is stripped down to just a lute and vocal, but it is mind-blowing. It sounds as if it was originally written as a medieval song! I could listen all day long. Much applause for the choice of songs here. They are not all the most well known Sabbath songs- you won't hear Iron Man or Paranoid, though War Pigs is here. I don't buy CD's every day, as I try to live frugally, but this was well worth the price. I am going to buy two more copies for very special people. Dante and Boccaccio would probably have enjoyed this if they could have heard it. I am not kidding folks, this CD makes the hairs on my neck stand up.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bange yoore heade, manne!, February 9, 2003

By 

Scott Sweet "Music Freak" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sabbatum: Medieval Tribute to Black Sabbath (Audio CD)

Black Sabbath gets the Renaissance treatment, and it works. This album shows a real affection for the original songs. Rondellus unearths a beauty in this stuff that wasn't readily apparent. The Gregorian/madrigal style reminds me of Dead Can Dance's "Aion."

When "War Pigs" starts, you might giggle. After about fifteen seconds, it works its magic on you. "Planet Caravan" is another really good one, and more mysterious than Pantera's rendition. Veikko Kliver's tenor meshes perfectly with the female harmonies.

Another cool feature is the reprinting of all the lyrics...in Latin. (It helps to have heard the original versions first.) Rondellus hails from Tallinn, Estonia. Maria Staak's vocals are truly beautiful, and the musicianship of this band rivals that of hard-core medieval band Corvus Corax.

Genre-hopping doesn't always work; just read some of the reviews for Pat Boone's "In A Metal Mood." In this case, Rondellus puts a classy spin on hard rock. If they played this on "The Osbournes," Ozzy would probably look at the ceiling and ask, "Sharon, is that how we did the songs? Man, those were crazy days. Crazy, crazy days."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, February 18, 2003

By 

R. Roy (New York City, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sabbatum: Medieval Tribute to Black Sabbath (Audio CD)

My wife HATES Sabbath, and I love 'em. We both enjoy Classical, though, and this is popular in our house (my 3 year old thinks it's a bit weird).

The songs are in LATIN (not OE as a negative reviewer said), as was the norm in medieval traditional music. And they all translate well. "A National Acrobat" works beautifully, and is my favorite.

As might be expected, "Solitude" sounds almost like its original, because the original used medieval-sounding instrumentation. And "The Wizard", being a very bluesy original, is nearly unrecognizable to me, but good nonetheless. "Planet Caravan" is beautifully rendered with an outstanding female voice.

"War Pigs", being so recognizable and catchy, does sound a little odd at first (as another reviewer noted), but that sense quickly faded for me when I understood the word "centuriones" to be "generals" in the original.

I commend Rondellus for their obvious appreciation of the source material and their meticulous re-creation of the songs into a new (old) form.

You probably have to like medieval, sacred, and/or folk music to enjoy this CD. I find this music very inspirational in my work and calming in my home.

I also noted that Bill Ward sent Rondellus a positive word. It's posted on their website.