OK here we go with BLACK SABBATH’s fifth studio album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Before we get started into the analysis of this album, i should point out that I find it amazing that a band can produce this level of quality in the first 3 or 4 years of existence. Bear in mind their first album came out in 1970 and we’re now in 1973 for this their fifth album and the quality is still right up there with anything they’d done before this. Also worth noting no other metal band had released anything yet.
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the first song off the rank for this album and it’s one of my favourite riffs of all time. It’s basically quintessential sabbath. The song is a statement of intent, and god-dammit it sends the message home. “National Acrobat” follows and is similarly high in quality. Everyone in the band is is firing on all cylinders in this and Ozzy’s voice is sounding amazing. I also have so send a shout out to Geez for the great lyrics. As well as being one of my biggest influences on the bass, his lyrics are amazing. The man can do no wrong in my opinion.
A brief interlude follows with “Fluff” (some absolutely majestic guitar passages there, sir Iommi!) and then the more complex arrangements of “Sabbra Cadabra” (even featuring some piano). This is their fifth album and i’ve said it four times before that they’ve released what I’d call a perfect album. I’ll now say it again for the fifth time, and we’re only half way through the album.
OK, let’s flip this thing over (I’m listening on vinyl) and we have “Killing yourself to Live” oh lord. This is as good as it gets. “Looking for Today” is a bit of a sleeper but it does provide a good bit of contrast to proceedings and its a bloody great tune! The album finishes off with “Spiral Architect” and this listener finishes off with that blown away feeling that only masters of their craft can deliver. Black Sabbath are not only the originators of Heavy Metal but masters of it as well.
This is again, one of the best albums to come out of the 1970’s (well, any time period really) but when you take into account they didn’t really have anyone to copy or mimic musically this is even more outstanding!
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