Black Sabbath Album Review
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Band Name: Black Sabbath
Album Name: The Dio Years Rating: 4 / 5 User Rating: 0 / 5 Label: Rhino Buy Album: Amazon.com Rate Album: Rate |
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Tracklist 1. Neon Knights 2. Lady Evil 3. Heaven & Hell 4. Die Young 5. Lonely Is The Word 6. The Mob Rules 7. Turn Up The Night 8. Voodoo 9. Falling Off The Edge Of The World 10. After All (The Dead) 11. TV Crimes 12. I 13. Children Of The Sea (Live) 14. The Devil Cried 15. Shadow Of the Wind 16. Ear In The Wall |
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As Iommi, Butler, Dio and Appice are set to hit concert stages under the moniker Heaven And Hell, Rhino reminds us that the foursome is more appropriately known as Black Sabbath – when perpetual wildman Ozzy Osbourne is not at the fore of the line-up of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame outfit, Ronnie James Dio has always stepped up to fill the position as frontman of rock's most forebodingly heavy act quite agreeably. So as Osbourne continues to focus on his iconic solo status, fans should make no bones about it – Black Sabbath is back. \r\n \r\nThree brand new cuts form the centerpiece of this collection, including an exemplary doom masterpiece entitled “Shadow Of The Wind.” Here, Iommi lurches into riff that bleeds disaster and should be rightly considered as being amongst the brooding songwriter's most wicked sounding work. Dio sounds in top form, dismissing doubts perpetrated by his band's abysmal solo album of last year, “Holy Diver Live.” Although the recent studio recordings from Dio have been aptly exciting, the singer seems to have saved his very best for these three new Sabbath cuts. With the up-tempo “Ear In The Wall” and a signature-sounding cut in “The Devil Cried” each delivering exactly what fans are looking for in a classic Sab tune, the new material alone makes this album mandatory for any true lover of metal's most legendary act. \r\n \r\nHarvesting the cream-of-the-crop jams written during “The Dio Years,” this record seethes with the dark energy that only the mighty Sabbath can provide, be it the faster-paced “Die Young” or “Neon Knights” or the irrefutable metal classics “The Mob Rules” and “Heaven And Hell” – these cuts prove that not only was there life for Sabbath after Ozzy, but with Dio at the helm, this quartet remains one of heavy metal's most fearsome. Add in insightful liner notes and a well presented package overall and the result is one overwhelmingly impressive affair. As "Heaven And Hell" lights up audiences across the nation this spring, whether you're a fan or a fool, you can rest assured that the mob still rules. Review by: thewizard Read Member Reviews |
