Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - Black Sabbath

One of the most prominent and memorable Black Sabbath albums, 1973’s ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’ is widely recognised as the band’s first album to depart from the heavy doom metal sound they pioneered, and the first to feature additional instruments and classical elements. Despite neither of these claims being true – its cocaine-soaked predecessor ‘Vol. 4’ remains their most progressive, but didn’t sell quite as well – this later release defined the style that would dominate the second half of the band’s classic period, and ultimately lead to its downfall several years later. ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,’ which I’ll call SBS from now on for the obvious reasons ...  Read the complete review

Many Sabbath fans feel that 1973's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was the bands best album, others feel that they had lost their way and had strayed away from the metal genre in favour of a more experimental style. I should be classified into the first category since I feel this is Black Sabbath's best album, but only just. It was their second most succesful after 1970's Paranoid which propelled them to mega fame. By the time Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was released in 1973 (not 1974 as listed in Dooyoo) the band were already so well established and supported by fans that they could afford to experiment as they did so with this album. SBS manages to merge together the ...  Read the complete review

Some have argued that the songs are not as heavy on this album as on the previous four albums, be it because the riffs were not as sludgy or as demonic, or because they added synthesizers and strings. Who cares about that? Synthesizers can rock out too if you know how to use them, and Black Sabbath found people who knew how to use them. Rick Wakeman (Yes) compliments Tony Iommi's still powerful riffs, Bill Ward's thunderous drumming, Geezer Butler's pounding bass, and Ozzy's howls brilliantly, and the songs are excellent. The title track is a heavy metal masterpiece. That guitar riff is brutal, and Ozzy's screams have never sounded better (he ...  Read the complete review

When Sabbath released this masterpiece in 1973, it really was the culmination of all their skills. This album has it all, being both lyrically and musically accomplished. It opens with the track of the same name, in my opinion Sabbath’s crowning glory. Spearheaded by one of Iommi’s most pounding riffs of all time, it is a brilliant song, which cannot be argued with. This track alone is worth the asking price of the album, but Sabbath being the generous bunch they are, decide to make all the songs on this album classics! The intriguing National Acrobat follows (lyrically a very puzzling song), and then Fluff, the obligatory Sabbath “nice” ...  Read the complete review