Customer Reviews

Sabbatum: Medieval Tribute to Black Sabbath

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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."

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.

I'm a sabbath fan and I got this album more as a joke than anything. I put the CD on and the first track "War Pigs" or to give it its Latin name, "Verres Militares" made my hair stand up on end. I though this album was going to be more of a spoof than a serious effort (like a Weird Al kind of thing) but I soon realized that even if you had never heard the original recordings, this album would stand on its own.
Amazing and original, Rondellus deserves high praise for having the vision to think of something like this and the sheer talent to pull it off so well. Do yourself a favour and check this out!!

Bill Ward once said, in an interview, that there existed a mysterious fifth member of Black Sabbath, who was "whatever the phenomena was." The transcendental style of Rondellus Sabbatum evokes Ward's thoughts. In Latin, we hear a new element of Black Sabbath, that was always present in the background. This recording excells many classical recordings that I have, and once again demonstrates the sheer genius of Black Sabbath & Ozzy.

Must agree 100% with the positive reviews of this recording. I'm a Sabbath fan from the dim times, and so love all their stuff and several of the various tribute bits. I bought this as essentialy a "novelty item" but after a couple listens was hooked. It is outstanding in musicianship and execution. If you also have an appreciation for early or classical music you'll enjoy it all the more. You can't fail to be amused by the humour behind the venture ("medieval musicians perform Sab")but the sheer genius and care which Rondellus brought to the project will win your heart.
Besides, as has been suggested by other reviewers you could easily play this in the hearing of people who normally wouldn't get within 10 feet of a Sabbath recording. So when the vicar drops in for tea, pop this in. You won't be sad.

Wow! This album is one of the most unusual, and one of the best tributes ever made for any band. If I were a member of a band, I would be flattered by something like this. There are scores of "classical" interpretations of rock music, going back to the "easy listening" interpretations of sixties bands, and many of them are downright revolting. This one, however, goes several hundred years earlier than the classical (or even the Baroque) eras and presents the music of the Medieval Bards Ionnus Osbornus, Geserius Butlerus, Antonius Iommius, and William Warde in the original style. Or so you would think by listening to this. The music really sounds authentic to its "time period" and almost is convincing enough to make the listener think the actual Black Sabbath tunes are based on these Medieval bardic melodies. I can only wonder what the members of Black Sabbath feel about this. I have a funny feeling they all have a copy of this in their collections.
I admit I purchased this expecting a novelty record to be heard once, but it has become one of my heavy rotation CDs when I want something different.

Okay. So I have never been a Black Sabbath fan. It took this Renaissance rendition to help me appreciate the simplicity and beauty of their music. These melodies are absolutely beautiful! There is beautiful singing, along with authentic Renaissance instruments. The arrangements are flawless. I do happen to love Renaissance music, and this is one of the best executions of that genre I have ever heard. I can see Black Sabbath as strolling musicians wandering the streets of medieval England making their music. Had they been around back then (who knows...maybe they were) their music might have sounded just like this. Give it a listen; Black Sabbath fan or not. (I'd really be curious to know if Ozzie has ever heard this and what he'd think!) Don't overlook this one if you are a fan of Qntal or Estampie.

This CD is an absolute joy. Whether you are an enthusiast of Latin, medieval music or Black Sabbath, this is a unique experience and a CD you will want to own.

This is not your normal tribute album. Don't exspect even a normal beat to this stuff. This music is mostly vocals and a few organs and such, but mostly very different vocals. the vocals are sang in latin, and can be the melady to the music along with the vocals meaning. If you are thinking of buying this, please be ready for the different sounding music. this is NOT rock at all. Maybe ocultic music or lite rock minus guitars. Now on to th review of the songs.... 1. Verres militares (War Pigs) - Beautyful female vocals and with at some points a drum like background music. ...90% 2. Oculi Lilioli (Junior's Eyes) - This song is very strange. Has a type of Harp and a frame drum, and male vocals with female support vocals. ...90% 3. Funambulus domesticus (A National Acrobat) - Fiddles, frame drum, and female vocals are what this song are made up. It sound very good and really sounded like the normal song in a few ways unike other songs on this album. ...95% 4. Symptoma mundi (Symptom of the Universe) - Mostly odd male vocals with two Organistrum. ...85% 5. Post murum somnii (Behind the Wall of Sleep) - This one is sung by a female vocalist with fidders , 2 organsitrums , percussion, and a bell. It's a very good track. Couldn't have been better. ...100% 6. Post aeternitatem (After Forever) - like 3 male vocals making harmarnies. Very powerful stuff. Gotta hear it to know what I mean. ...95% 7. Magus (The Wizard) - This one has a harp and fiddle and a female vocal. Very well done track you will not forget. reminds me of the normal version. ...95% 8. Solitudo (Solitude) - This time its a organ and male vocals and towards the end of the track female vocals as well. sounds a lot like the normal version. ...90% 9. Rotae confusionis (Wheels of Confusion) - a drum and 2 female vocals. Decent stuff. ...90% 10. Planetarum vagatio (Planet Caravan) - this track has a lute, fiddle, and a "psaltery?" and female vocals. ....90% 11. Via gravis (A Hard Road) - 2 male vocals ,one female vocal, bagpipes and a drum. This one is one of the best on the album, if you like A hard Road like me, your love this version. ...100% 12. Arcitectus urbis caelestis (Spiral Architect) - This track has a lute and female vocals. This track very much touches th heart like the normal version did. Truely got the beauty of the normal version. ..100% If you want this album, please first listen to the tracks off the normal albums first. You will find this album very strange and you will after playing it, come to respect Black Sabbath even more, Now knowing what they wrote in another way.