Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's not Black Sabbath, but it's very good!, October 14, 2004
Some who have read my other reviews will know that I get a bit irritated with those who think that if a Sabbath album doesn't have Ozzy Osbourne, it's not really Sabbath.
Well, on this album I do agree. One other person who agrees is Tony Iommi. He never wanted this album to come out as a Sabbath album. It was originally to have been a solo album with different vocalists such as David Coverdale, Rob Halford and Glenn Hughes (who ended up singing on the entire album). Record company and management politics dictated that this come out as a Sabbath album or it wouldn't come out at all. I would have liked to have seen Tony dig in his heels on the issue, because having it come out as a Black Sabbath album set him up for more criticism than ever before for keeping the band's name. Glenn Hughes also did not want to be a member of Black Sabbath. As he would say years later, "I was into the Tony Iommi project, but not into the Black Sabbath name".
There are songs on here which wouldn't be out of place on a Black Sabbath album, but there are others which are decidedly non-Sabbath in flavour - which is what the idea of a solo album is all about!
"In For The Kill" - This is a fast, heavy opener that wouldn't have been amiss on "Heaven and Hell" or "Mob Rules". Glenn Hughes shows his vocal prowess right away.
"No Stranger To Love" - This left many Sabbath purists scratching their heads as it is a radio-friendly ballad. The video has extra harmony vocals from Hughes and features Denise Crosby, who would later portray Lieutenant Tasha Yar in "Star Trek: The Next Generation". A good song, but not Sabbath material.
"Turn To Stone" - Eric Singer's excellent drumming powers another fast, heavy number. Again, this wouldn't have been out of place during the Dio era.
"Sphinx (The Guardian)" - This is Geoff Nicholls (featured at last as a full member) playing some atmospheric keyboards. Not far removed from "Stonehenge" on "Born Again".
"Seventh Star" - Middle Eastern flavoured, both musically and lyrically. This actually sounds more like Rainbow than anything they did when Dio was in the band!
"Danger Zone" - Kind of typical mid-eighties commercial hard rock. Not a bad song, and of course different from Sabbath, but not my favourite.
"Heart Like A Wheel" - This shows Tony in a full heavy-blues mode not seen since the first album's "Warning" (which was a cover song anyway). Hughes really belts it out here and Tony is showcased here on guitar moreso than anywhere else on the album.
"Angry Heart" - Again kind of commercial, but not bad. Geoff Nicholls' keyboards make me think of Deep Purple - despite the presence of an ex-Purple member on this album, this is the only time I really can sense any kind of Purple influence.
"In Memory..." - Slow, largely acoustic and mournful. I think this is about the death of Iommi's father. Hughes wrings out the emotion on this one.
Anyone who knows the history of Sabbath knows that this was probably the most chaotic period in the band's history. Hughes only did a handful of shows before his drug problem (which had caused him to be sacked from Gary Moore's band the year before) got him fired from his second major shot at regaining his credibility in less than two years. It's too bad, because he is one of the best singers in rock. He should have been playing bass here too. No disrespect intended to Dave "The Beast" Spitz, but anyone who has heard Glenn's bass work on Purple's "Made In Europe" will know what I mean.
I actually had tickets to see this tour and was really looking forward to it, but my gig was one of the gigs that was cancelled and it wasn't rescheduled even after Iommi brought in Ray Gillen.
As an album, five stars. It really is good. However, labelling it as a Sabbath album when it clearly wasn't damaged the band's credibility even more, which is why I give it four stars.
Even so, make every effort to find it, though it's very hard to find in the States.
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not TRUE Sabbath, But A Great Metal CD Nonetheless!, May 20, 2001
This is a Black Sabbath album in name only (Tony Iommi is the only original member present), but once you get past that fact, you can enjoy this for what it REALLY is and that's a first-rate pure metal CD. Nothing ground-breaking, but superb playing and excellent production make it a winner. Ex-Deep Purple bassist/lead singer Glen Hughes takes the vocals here and puts a bluesy spin on Iommi's trademark monster riffs on tunes such as "In For The Kill," "Turn To Stone" and "Danger Zone." Definitely the best of the Sabbath albums that didn't feature Ozzy or Dio. Check it out!
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than given credit for., October 23, 1999
By A Customer
This was not meant to be a Black Sabbath album.It was originally a Tony Iommi solo project.That is why it doesn't really sound like a Sabbath album.The record co. decided that they were going to call it Black Sabbath.However,this is a very good album.An "Ozzy only"Sabbath fan won't like it,but someone interested in hearing something a little more diverse will thoroughly enjoy this CD. It has a good mix of hard rock,blues,and even a ballad.Glenn Hughes is an EXCELLENT singer,and his voice fits in very well with what Tony was trying to accomplish.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
~ Black Sabbath
~ Black Sabbath
~ Black Sabbath
~ Black Sabbath
~ Black Sabbath
is Black Sabbath's 
