Jorney to "13": Numbers 11-13

In anticipation of Black Sabbath's new release "13" I will spotlight 13 key tracks from the 8 studio albums that the band recorded and released with Ozzy Osbourne between 1970 and 1978.

Numbers 8-10

From Sabotage

11. "Symptom of the Universe"

Featuring an in your face riff, a great Ozzy vocal, and a spacey, acoustic break, "Symptom of the Universe" is another wonderful showcase of how much range the band possessed.

From Technical Ecstacy (1976)

12. "All Moving Parts Stand Still"

Past their creative peek with Ozzy, Black Sabbath still produced some good music. "All Moving Parts Stand Still" might sound a little dated but the song has a great feel.






From Never Say Die! (1978)

13. "Never Say Die"

Ozzy's swan song. "Never Say Die" finds the band in straight rock territory. The song has a nice, uptempo pace with uplifting lyrics that match the music perfectly. Ozzy has talked Never Say Die! down, but the title cut is nothing to be ashamed of.

Journey to "13": Numbers 8-10

In anticipation of Black Sabbath's new release "13" I will spotlight 13 key tracks from the 8 studio albums that the band recorded and released with Ozzy Osbourne between 1970 and 1978.

Numbers 4-7

From Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

8. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"

If every band has a Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in their discography then Sabbath Bloody Sabbath would be Black Sabbath's.

The title track opens the album and it rolls at the listener with a dense, pummeling riff. The chorus brings some light, jazzy playing and the post-solo section doesn't sound like it would be out of place on a 1990's Grunge record.

In addition to all of the wonderful musical things going on the song also features one of Ozzy's best vocal deliveries ever. He seems to be dangerously close to the end of his range but never loses it. It's a great performance that any singer would be proud of.

 9. "Spiral Architect"

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the most progressive sounding of the original 8 Sabbath albums and
"Spiral Architect" is the perfect way to close it.

Starting with an acoustic intro the song launches into a bombastic progression. Ozzy works at the top of his range again and delivers a real emotive vocal. By the time the strings show up the song has taken the listener on quite an exciting sonic journey.

From Sabotage (1975)

10. "Hole in the Sky"

"Hole in the Sky" finds the band in "groove" mode as they deliver a nice swinging riff. Iommi delivers some dizzying fills, while Ward and Butler hold down the bottom.

Journey to "13": Numbers 4-7

In anticipation of Black Sabbath's new release "13" I will spotlight 13 key tracks from the 8 studio albums that the band recorded and released with Ozzy Osbourne between 1970 and 1978. 

Numbers 1-3 

From Master of Reality (1971)

4. "After Forever"

If nothing else "After Forever" puts to rest any idea that Black Sabbath was a "satanic" band. It contains a pro-religious message that could actually come across as pandering.

The opening of the song depends on both Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler playing complementary parts to create a very memorable riff. The appearance of a synthesizer part played by Tommy Iommi is also of note.

5. "Children of the Grave"

One of the heaviest up-tempo songs from the Ozzy-era, "Children of the Grave" is a longtime staple of the live set. Containing several cool sections, I think it's best to just include my favorite version of the song. Live at the California Jam in 1974.

 From Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (1972)

6. "Supernaut"

Another incredibly memorable riff from another great up-tempo song. Bill Wards percussion work and Tony Iommi's trill-heavy solo are two of the highlights. 

7. "Snowblind"

Not the first Black Sabbath song to focus on drug use, "Snowblind" puts cocaine in the spotlight. It features a nice mid-tempo riff with some excellent Bill Ward drumming throughout. 

Journey to "13": Numbers 1-3

In anticipation of Black Sabbath's new release "13" I will spotlight 13 key tracks from the 8 studio albums that the band recorded and released with Ozzy Osbourne between 1970 and 1978. 

 From Black Sabbath (1970):

1. "Black Sabbath"

With its opening bed of rain and thunder followed by a heavy diabolus in musica riff, "Black Sabbath" is the moment that heavy metal music was born.

Featuring lyrics about encountering a not-quite human "figure in black, several peaks and valleys, and an excellent fast paced climax, the song is the sonic equivalent of a horror movie.

2. "The Wizard"

A hypnotic riff from Ozzy's blues harp starts things off before the band  join with an uptempo, blues-tinged riff. The bluesy, groove-filled aspect of Black Sabbath is often over looked. In addition to serving up heavy riffs the band was really able to fall into loose, blues based feels and "The Wizard" is a perfect showcase for both  aspects of the band's sound.

From Paranoid (1970):

3. "Electric Funeral"

A heavy wah-tinged riff is the focal point of "Electric Funeral". Drummer Bill Ward works with the riff, providing an unconventional beat that showcases why he is so important to the band's early sound.

The latter part of the song with quick Tony Iommi chord changes that lead to bluesy-riffing is another perfect example of Sabbath's unique sound.

Journey to Black Sabbath's 13: Introduction

Next week Black Sabbath will release 13, their first full-length studio album since 1995's Forbidden.* That alone is cause for celebration, but the fact that Ozzy Osbourne is providing vocals for the first time since 1978's Never Say Die is the real selling point.

In anticipation of the new release (and before I provide a complete track by track review) I will spotlight 13 key tracks from the Ozzy Osbourne era during the next few days. This list will be derived from the 8 studio albums that the band recorded and released between 1970 and 1978. It will not include either of the two studio tracks that the band recorded with Ozzy for the 1998 live album Reunion.

With only 13 songs and such a strong catalog I'll jettison some of the more obvious/popular songs that would normally appear on a list like this. I feel that excluding these songs will open slots for some great songs that I feel are worth covering.

* In 2009 the Dio era lineup recorded The Devil You Know under the moniker Heaven and Hell. The band recorded and toured under this name to avoid creating confusion with the active, yet on hiatus, Ozzy fronted version of the band.

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Journey's End

Back in March I started to listen to all of the music that Black Sabbath recorded with singer Ronnie James Dio. Collected as The Rules of Hell and 45 tracks in total, it  covered three studio albums, a live album, and a career retrospective*. Before March I was an Ozzy Osbourne era loyalist. Many weeks later I am very pleased to say that that's no longer the case.

I feel silly for ignoring this music for so long, but I'm happy that I finally opened myself up to it. Not only did I add some excellent Black Sabbath music to my collection, but I also gained a greater appreciation for what an amazing singer Ronnie James Dio was.

Now that my journey is complete I've compiled a 13 song playlist that includes my favorite tracks from The Rules of Hell.

1 - "Neon Knights" (Heaven and Hell)
2- "Children of the Sea" (Heaven and Hell)
3- "Heaven and Hell" (Heaven and Hell)
4- "Lonely is the Word" (Heaven and Hell)
5- "Turn Up the Night" (Mob Rules)
6- "The Sign of the Southern Cross" (Mob Rules)
7- "The Mob Rules" (Mob Rules)
8- "Over and Over" (Mob Rules)
9- "Children of the Grave" (Live Evil)
10- "Computer God" (Dehumanizer)
11- "Master of Insanity" (Dehumanzier)
12- "Time Machine" (Dehumanizer)
13- "Shadow of the Wind" (The Dio Years)
Playlist on Spotify
*The three new songs included on The Dio Years are only included in the digital download version.

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Ear in the Wall

"Ear in the Wall" brings my 45 song journey through the Dio lead Black Sabbath to an end. It's been quite an experience going through the catalog song by song, and I can't believe that I am done. I listened to some great music and definitely gained some new favorite Sabbath Songs.

Sadly "The Ear in the Wall" isn't one of them. It starts with a promising riff but the verse finds the band reverting to stock metal territory. The chorus gets things back on track but overall the song is pretty sub par. The solo is interesting and Dio's lyrics paint some interesting images, but it's not enough to really make the song standout.

Tomorrow I'll wrap things up and offer up a playlist that includes the best songs that I listened to. Thanks for taking this journey with me! I hope you enjoyed it.

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Shadow of the Wind

"Shadow of the Wind" opens with a monstrous riff. It is slow, plodding and unmistakeably Black Sabbath. It's much more memorable than "The Devil Cried" and will likely find its way to the Black Sabbth playlist that I put together after I finish these write-ups.

Dio's vocal is just amazing. He delivers through out, but during the post-solo section he sings with more power and emotion than any song that I have covered here so far. There is also some great bass work from Butler during this section as well.

Tomorrow the final Dio Black Sabbath* song, "Ear in the Wall"!

*The Live Evil/Mob Rules/Dehumanizer line-up did record an album and tour as "Heaven and Hell" between 2007 and 2010, opting to go under a different name to not distract from the Ozzy Osbourne lead version which had reunited (but was on hiatus) by this point.

Exploring the Rules of Hell - The Devil Cried

One of three songs recorded for inclusion with a Dio era Black Sabbath best of collection in 2007, "The Devil Cried" shows the band in top form. It's the same line-up from Mob Rules, Live Evil and Dehumanzier.

Iommi's guitar tone is thick and punchy, Appice's drums are solid and Butler's bass is as deep as ever. Dio's voice shows no sign of the15 year layoff from the band.

It's a good track and I'm glad it was included on  the digital version of The Rules of Hell.

One interesting note: The three new songs are credited to Iommi/Dio from a songwriting perspective.

Tomorrow, "Shadow of the Wind"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Time Machine (Wayne's World Version)

Originally featured on the Wayne's World soundtrack, this earlier version of "Time Machine" is slightly different than the one found on Dehumanzier. The production is listed as being by Black Sabbath as opposed to Mack.

I didn't compare the songs too much but in addition to having a more aggressive feel there are slight changes, especially in the early parts of the song. It's cool that it was included on The Rules of Hell.

Tomorrow I'll listen to the first of the final three Black Sabbath songs to feature Dio, 2007's "The Devil Cried"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Buried Alive

"Buried Alive" brings me to the end of Dehumanizer, and it is a good final track from a very solid album. Combining classic Black Sabbath with more modern sounds the song covers a lot of ground.

Parts sound like they could be found on several albums from the era from bands influenced by Sabbath. Alice in Chains and White Zombie came to mind while listening.

Butler's bass is really busy and with it's deep tone it is easy to miss. Iommi delivers several excellent guitar breaks. Iommi was really inspired on this album and turned in some memorable guitar parts.

Tomorrow the last Dio Black Sabbath song for 15 years, "Time Machine (Waynes World Version)"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - I

"I" is the first forgettable track on Dehumanizer. That it is Track 9 of a 10 track album shows how strong Dehumanizer is. By no means is it a bad track though; It's just too run of the mill.

After a cool blues based riff at the intro it kind of descends into a fairly stock sounding metal tune.There are some highlights though. Dio's vocal is excellent.

Tomorrow I'll listen to the last track on Dehumanizer, "Buried Alive"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Too Late

The first acoustic track on Dehumanzier starts with an intro that reminded me a bit of "Die Young" from Heaven and Hell. Dio's vocal is fitting and Butler's bass lines are nice and melodic.

Things become real memorable though after the guitars get electric.There is a heavy middle section that is followed by an excellent Iommi solo that finds him reaching some high notes via what sounds to me like a DigiTech Whammy pedal. If it is, it's some nice use of the effect, and a bit different than other player's use of the pedal.

Tomorrow I'll listen to "I"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Sins of the Father

"Sins of the Father" comes right out of the gate with vocals and guitar. The melody has kind of a Beatles feel to it. It is definitely different than anything that the band has presented before, and it shows how versatile this line-up of the band was.

The song goes through a few different feels and lays into a nice groove at one point. Iommi delivers a few non-traditional guitar breaks that serve the song perfectly. He does go traditional before it's over though, turning to a blues based approach for the outro-solo.

Tomorrow, "Too Late"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Time Machine

"Time Machine" has a nice driving pace and a really aggressive Dio vocal. Parts of the song sound like they would fit right in on Sabotage while others feel completely fresh. It is a great melding of new and old Black Sabbath without sounding calculated.

An earlier recording of this song (from the same sessions) appeared on the Wayne's World soundtrack. That's included on The Rules of Hell and I'll cover it on Sunday.

Tomorrow I'll cover "Sins of the Father"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Master of Insanity

"Master of Insanity" has its roots in a Geezer Butler Band demo from the mid 80s.* The version on Dehumanizer is slightly reworked to give it that true Black Sabbath feel.

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Letters From Earth

"Letters From Earth" has a nice slow pace and groove with an opening riff that reminds me a bit of "Snowblind" from Vol. 4.

There are some cool sounds after the first chorus. They sound like backwards guitars or possibly backwards vocals. The middle/solo section is excellent as well with a great riff before a slick, curvy sounding solo.

Tomorrow "Master of Insanity"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - TV Crimes

"TV Crimes" deals with the hypocrisy of television evangelists. It's a nice, fast paced song with some great Geezer Butler bass work. Dio's vocals have a great flow and show a great command of rhythm. And yes I'm probably starting to sound like a broken record here, but Dio really was something special. That he left so much music behind for people to enjoy is a wonderful gift.

Three songs in to the ten song album and I'm starting to think that Dehumanzier might end up being a go to Black Sabbath album for me.

Tomorrow I'll listen to "Letters From Earth"!

Exploring the Rules of Hell - After All (The Dead)

"After All (The Dead)" starts with what sounds like Tony Iommi creating an ominous cello-like riff via volume swells. From there Dio sings of talking to the dead as the band feeds off of his vocal lines. In a nice call back to earlier days Iommi delivers some trills like those heard on "Black Sabbath".

Exploring the Rules of Hell - Computer God

In June of 1992 the Ronnie James Dio fronted Black Sabbath released Dehumanizer. The ten songs on the album were the first new studio recordings to feature Dio since Mob Rules nearly eleven years earlier. The album also marked the return of Geezer Butler and Vinny Appice. Butler returned to the band after a nine year abscence, and Appice was called in after current drummer Cozy Powell was injured. The arrival of Appice marked the new sessions as a reunion of the Mob Rules era of the band.