THE MIGHTY RETURN OF BLACK SABBATH, DONE RIGHT
Friday, May 8th, 2009 at 3:00pm by Axl Rosenberg
There are probably more old farts making relevant music than I usually give credit for. For every Ozzy or Metallica, whose later years have been more or less a total fucking disaster (creatively if not financially), there’s a Testament or Napalm Death who are still making music worth listening to after two or even three decades in the biz.
Of course, few of those artists have been at as long as the members of Black Sabbath – now re-christened Heaven & Hell – and even most of the Sabbath peers who can still pull it out live (Priest, Maiden) aren’t really releasing albums that are worth a damn these days. So the fact that The Devil You Know is so freakin’ sweet makes it feel like something of a marvel.
The riffs on this record aren’t just tasty – they’re downright delicious. Is it possible to sound evil and soulful at the same time? This record would suggest that it. Lest we forget, Tony Iommi basically invented heavy metal by accident, and his influences are, at the end of the day, the same blues-based classic rock bands as all of his peers that didn’t go into the metal world. Iommi’s riffs and solos are awesome and truly, truly classic in sound.
Geezer Butler similarly deserves praise. His bass playing here is so good that it really reminds you how little thought so many modern bands put into the use of their bassist. Butler rarely settles for simply doubling whatever Iommi or drummer Vinny Appice are playing; he always puts his own spin on it, his own little tweak.
And Dio… Dio is fucking Dio. I’d be cynical about the chances that he really can sing this well at his age, except I just heard him do it last summer. Amazing.
The record does have some weaknesses, though. Here they are:
- DIO’S LYRICS ARE CORNY. That’s not a great shock, but he really goes past the line of “cool metal corny” and into “stupid Motley Crue corny” in a few places here. Take, for example, the song “Rock N’ Roll Angel.” Can we please have a moratorium on anyone in a rock n’ roll band using the words “rock n’ roll” in their lyrics? You sound ridiculous. Thanks.
- THE SONGS ARE A LITTLE TOO REPETITIVE. When you’re working in a basic riff-verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus-out structure, you always run the risk of running out of steam if your song goes too long, and that tends to happen here (with some obvious exceptions). If Heaven & Hell had brought the same jam band sensibility to the songwriting of this album that they’ve brought to their recent live shows – these are four of the coolest friggin’ musicians in the world, for crying out loud – this problem might have been avoided. As it stands, the album kinda starts to run out of steam in its last few songs.
How much these two issues bother you will be a simple matter of personal taste; they don’t really make me feel too down on the album, especially in light of the fact that this record could have been – and probably should have been – a total mess of millionaire rock star egos and reunion cash-in indifference.
This could be the last album by a line-up of Sabbath that anyone really cares about. If it is, everyone can pat themselves on the back that they went out on such a high note.
(four out of five horns)
-AR
I’M GONNA FAINT, HOLY SHIT I’M ABOUT TO PASS OUT!!
The MASTERSSSSSSSSSSSSS………………of HEAVY METALLLLLL
Good to see them go the AC/DC route and throw in a few “rock n roll” songs
Dammit, you beat me to it!
To the fat dude’s reaction or the AC/DC comment?
Fat dude from the video the other day.
I’M LEAVING NOW!!!
I agree with the hold on using “rock n roll” in any type of title. I would also like to ban the spelling of words in songs. Thank you.
BTW, the album kicks all kinds of ass.
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!!!!
Like that? Bay City Rollers style
Lemmy can still right a song that mentions “rock n roll” and pull it off.
i have to disagree with the statement about maiden not putting out records worth a damn. their post “reunion” discs have been really good and stronger than most bands half their age. the heaven and hell record however, is awesome, cheesy lyrics and all…
Gnarlk- You beat me to it. I was going to chime in and stick up for the post reunion Maiden albums as well. I’m not a big fan of Brave New World (WAAAAAYY to much repitition of chorus’)…but Dance of Death and especially A Matter of Life and Death are both superb albums. Any way, “The Devil You Know” fucking rules, I haven’t been able to take it out of my cd player for the last week and a half.
choice cuts: Atom and Evil, Bible Black,Double the Pain,Neverwhere,Breaking into Heaven.
Agreed on the maiden comments.
I completely agree, post reunion maiden albums have been awesome, and I consider brave new world a masterpiece.
Do you realize that Dio is 66 years old with a birthday in July? That means in early March he was 66.6 years old. Wonder if he celebrated…
I agree with most of this review, this is def a solid album . . .
But did anyone else listening to this feel that Vinny Apices playing was just way too lethargic? I mean granted this music is supposed to be sludgy, but it just felt like every song had the same exact slow beat (ride – snare, ride – snare) and it honestly took me out of it.
YES! dude, the drumming is the same thing for like 6 of the songs, it wouldnt be as bad if he at least changed the tempo a bit
I loved this album. Dio’s voice is certainly in better shape than Ozzy’s right now, and that’ one of the coolest album covers in a long time. I also agree with the moratorium on using the phrase ‘rock n roll’ in any songs. No one actually says that any more.
I’m with you THE CARL on the lethargic thing. I thought this was a strong record overall (better than Dehumanizer at the very least) but too many overly slow/sludge tempos and not enough faster stuff. Age maybe? Or just vibe? Either way, there are some really great songs, and I totally agree with the Geezer comment in the review – he’s just plain ol’ underrated, STILL. Now if only Dio would let him write the lyrics like Ozzy did way back when….
Yes, Geezer is one of the most fun to listen to bass players of all time. It still amazes me how his basslines weave in and out of Iommi’s guitar parts.
It is good, yeah…
The album is a defenite ‘grower’ the first few spins, I dug it, but did’nt ‘get it’…. now ALL the song get stuck in my head constantly, except for “rock and roll angel” which I usually skip. “Turn of the Screw” is the other weak one I think. There are some great vocal melodies here.
Did anyone else get an early (Facelift era) Alice in Chains vibe from this??? I do. Especially the verse in “Double the Pain”… it totally reminds me of “We Die Young” off facelift. The same stomping riff, and Dio sounds like line a bit as well.
No more using the phrase “rock n roll” ??? It is a bit ridiculous, but then you would have to wipe out some of Dio greatest songs from his solo career…….. “King of Rock and Roll” is un-fuck-with-able
**** “Dio sounds a bit like LAYNE” *****
WOOOOO….lacuna coils new CD got 4.5 horns, WHY DID THIS GET 4!?!?! lol I think Lacunas should be bumped down to like a 3.5
Really, this is not a great album, Dio and Iommi has never been good togheter, unless there’s some Geezer and Ward supporting them. I’m not saying that the album is a piece of shit, but it could turn out being a really great album.
I hated the idea of a new album without Ward, and of course most of all I hated the idea of Dio writing those shitty lyrics instead of the always great Buttler’s lyrics.
Come on, everybody knows that Buttler was the main man in early Sabbath (writing lyrics and riffs) and without him (writing lyrics or making some riffs) Sabbath (or in this case H&H) is nothing.
I agree that this isn’t a great album. I don’t even think it’s good. I think it’s bad. It’s one boring ass, mid-tempo, throw away riff after another. Nothing on the entire album sticks with me. I was hoping for so much more. These old farts are out of energy. Seeing them live was great but the new material is shit compared to the old stuff.
What’s weird is that the last full length Sabbath album was actually really good. I guess Iommi just lost it in the years since wasting time with this reunions playing the same old songs over and over again. Actually, I shouldn’t say that, the DEP sessions and Fused are great but his solo album is crap.
I regretfully have come to inform you that you official fail at metal. Apologies that this news has to come to you via the medium of the Internet but we feel it is the fastest method available at this time. We shall be sending a hard copy of your failure to your last known address to compound this specification. As of this date we request you no longer refer to yourself as ‘a metal fan’ or that your ‘favourite musical genre is metal.’
Regards,
Metal Failure Officer
on behalf of the Metal Failure Institution.
I guess I can no longer consider myself a “metal fan”, either. I didn’t like this album at all. I only listened to it twice and had no taste for it. The way you guys are talking about how great it is surprises me. Maybe I just didn’t give it a fair shake. That song “Eat The Cannibals” is downright awful. Those lyrics are cheesy as fuck. Anyway, I have to agree with nick on this, this album is just bad.
“How much these two issues bother you will be a simple matter of personal taste; they don’t really make me feel too down on the album, especially in light of the fact that this record could have been – and probably should have been – a total mess of millionaire rock star egos and reunion cash-in indifference.
This could be the last album by a line-up of Sabbath that anyone really cares about. If it is, everyone can pat themselves on the back that they went out on such a high note.”
First and I’m betting only time I’ll ever say this.
Fuck you, Axl.
Fuck you.
On to the album, I can’t stand Dio, I hate the guy, but of course he’s talented, I also can’t fucking stand his lyrics or approach to music, so I find it hard to even like the idea of a Dio-Sabbath album.
I know it’s obligatory to love this album and for it to get ball-fucking-crazy positive reviews from anything metal oriented, but I’m not even sure if I’ll bother, I cannot stand that ass, I’m still waiting for Ozzy, minus Sharon, minus his slew of producers, and Sabbath to put out a new album, I don’t care if they go grungier to support Ozzy’s post-ATV accident change of vocals, I don’t give a damn if the whole fucking album is them slamming out brutal riffs to cover Ozzy’s yells, and I don’t care if they can do it live.
That is what I fucking want.
Long live Sabbath without Dio.
Damn, Revrant, I was wondering when your obligatory “Dio sucks” rant was coming.
Haven’t had a Dio Sucks rant before, Sam, I’ve noted it.
And he does suck.
“Can we please have a moratorium on anyone in a rock n’ roll band using the words “rock n’ roll” in their lyrics? You sound ridiculous. Thanks.”
No you can’t. Dio is exempt – it’s simply too integral to his discography.
Just look:
Rock And Roll
We Rock
Long Live Rock ‘N Roll
King Of Rock And Roll
Rock N’ Roll Children
All songs that Dio has been involved in. So by now he’s exhausted the theme?
No – au contraire – I’m saying he’s shown a consistent commitment to the theme that deserves utmost respect and therefore has exclusive right to its exploitation without apology.
And add If You Don’t Like Rock N’ Roll to that list as well
Can we say that Brian Johnson has exhausted the theme?
Yes.
“Can we please have a moratorium on anyone in a rock n’ roll band using the words “rock n’ roll” in their lyrics?”
“I do cocaine!” – Dr. Rockso.
This album is more of the same only 2 o 3 songs are good….
It seems like a lot of these albums that are reviewed get high ratings.