Saturday, June 15, 2013

BLACK SABBATH: "13"

Rating: RRRR
Label: Vertigo 2013
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom

Sabbath-esque? Sabbath-ish? There's no longer need to refer to second rate acts as either really since we're dealing with the originals here. Indeed, if anyone's entitled to sound doomy and plodding as f**k, surely the mad Brommies?? Bang on right - misters and sisters of rock and heavy metal. Ehem, sure, opener, "End of The Beginning", may remind you of the classic "Black Sabbath" tune and, "Zeitgest", surely will have you muttering and thinking about "Planet Caravan". But, and that's a rather big but, Tony Iommi is still the ultimate guitar demon of coming up with those magical riffs and utterly doom(y) chords.

Heck, even Ozzy sort of sounds like Sab-Oz of the past. Well, not quite as many high notes and considering all those years of abuse, not too shabby in the studio, a completely different animal live on stage though. Geezer lays down some serious lines and Brad Wild (Rage Against The Machine) is a decent replacement to Bill Ward. It's all very true to the seventies and "Damaged Soul" is slow, heavy, d-o-o-m metal. The first two Sabbath albums are untouchable and "13" is nowhere near the brillance of Master of Reality and Vol 4. Just as good as Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die? Sure. Maybe. Why not? Very soild effort and definitely a nice way to complete the circle...

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