Favorite Black Sabbath Album?

[Axalon]

Hello Kurando, Drone and all you Sabbath lovers out there….

I only know Blue Oyster Cult by name essentially and it was about “1000 years” ago I heard anything of them – it did not give any lasting impression on me if I remember everything correctly. Thus I never bothered much with those dudes and moved on…

I totally agree with you that it is a personal preference call. Now, if I understand you correctly you coming out of a heavy metal preference while I look upon Sabbath out of a hardrock preference. Regardless, I do agree with you that the Master of reality-album is a very, very important album and especially so for heavy metal and possibly for stoner-rock as well (“Sweat leaf” and “Lord of the world” got clear cut stoner-rock vibes). Perhaps even THE most important album for heavy metal that Sabbath ever did as far as sound goes (considering the time of release here and all little bits and pieces found all over the album). Of course “Ironman” out of Paranoid, was also very important for the development of heavy metal. While the title track of Paranoid or “Fairies wear boots” and perhaps “Rat salad” was equally important for hardrock. The Warpigs-intro for stoner-rock (and as a whole for hardrock) etc. etc.

To me the most important and obvious blue-prints for heavy metal on the “Master of reality” album are the “After forever” and especially “Children of the grave”-tracks. Very heavy metal-esque and copied over and over again up to this day. That pretty much underlines the importance of these tracks for heavy metal, to me at least.

Then when have of course plenty of parts in “Into the void” as well, also copied in essence plenty of times in within the framework of heavy metal. I actually like that track in spite of the heavy metal factors attached to it, but I do like “Lord of this world” more since I feel it is more true too the Sabbath-sound outlined in my previous post. It is more in the style of the first album and have far less heavy metal-vibe too it. “Lord of this world” got even more stoner-rock vibe too it than “Into the void” while both obviously serve as important cornerstones for that kind of musical style. Anyhow, each to his own. We simply appear to like different aspects of Sabbath and there is nothing to it (just like me and Drone regarding powerhouse rockband Clutch).

While on the subject of the “Lord of this world”-track I think it was more or less ripped of by Nirvana, on some song they did, I don’t like Nirvana (nor Pearl Jam) much but I am positive and friendly to the “Seattle-sound” in general. I really did enjoy the Sound Garden-album “Super unknown” for instance which I also think was a really excellent album (actually before it became a big hit) – kind of a speeded up Sabbath-vibe here and there, “Spoon man” and “Let me drown” comes to mind here….

Yeah yeah, enough of me – lets have some other opinions here instead! And keep voting here as long as it is not the Ronnie James Gah!-album! “Over to you”….


- Cheers

[Kurando]

"Over to you" Indeed... Another spirited post Axalon.

You know, I have to admit one thing for the later albums: comparatively they have some really great lyrics! Over to you is a good example.

Another good one is Bill Ward's tune Swinging the Chain! I really dig Bill Ward; I heard a rumour that in the early 70's he and Ozzy did acid every day for two years (even Christmas!) I would definitely put that on my resume...

I recall that Bill released an album in the late 80's and it said on the jacket "after being sick for nearly a decade Bill Ward triumphantly returns to the music scene!"

Not bad... ;)

[PowerWizard]

Master of reality is the BEST Black Sabbath album big-time!


Side one
# Title Length
1. "Sweet Leaf"
2. "After Forever" (Tony Iommi)
3. "Embryo" (Tony Iommi)
4. "Children of the Grave"
Side two
# Title Length
5. "Orchid" (Tony Iommi)
6. "Lord of This World"
7. "Solitude"
8. "Into the Void"

Do I need to say more? :) I mean, INTO THE VOID? Who didn't vote for that, it has one of the greatest metal riffs ever. You gotta be kidding me, rofl.

I see many people voted for Paranoid. Meh, meh. War pigs, Iron man, popular hits. Hello, people, do you know songs like Children of the Grave? Laguna Sunrise? Hole In The Sky? Hello, sheeple, what's going on in the heads?

[Lord Winter]

Paranoid is good. But master of reality has some of the most well written rifts I've heard. No one can doubt that Iommi was the master of the heavy rift.

[Togakure]

Paranoid for me.

Though it was quite a departure from Black Sabbath tradition, I did like the A side of Heaven and Hell, the first album with Dio on vocals. Mob Rules didn't do anything for me though.

[Scurvy]

I only know Blue Oyster Cult by name essentially and it was about “1000 years” ago I heard anything of them – it did not give any lasting impression on me if I remember everything correctly. Thus I never bothered much with those dudes and moved on…

I really like the Iced Earth covers of Cities on Flame and Bunin' for You, far more than the originals. Don't Fear the Reaper is an awesome song though

[Reverend Joe]

I only know Blue Oyster Cult by name essentially and it was about “1000 years” ago I heard anything of them – it did not give any lasting impression on me if I remember everything correctly. Thus I never bothered much with those dudes and moved on…

Apparently you don't know what you're missing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwwrZKbJNxM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvswK1uqCos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9PPy0jzc8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV531TzJX2Y

Okay, granted, they're on the Deep Purple spectrum of Metal, but they're still awesome.

Edit: on second thought, the only BOC album you'll ever need is "On Your Feet or On Your Knees." One of the best 70's metal albums, with the best versions of most of their best songs, and best of all, no cowbell.

[Kurando]

Don't even get me started about B.O.C.

The first four albums come from the other side! I have Proof!!

[Axalon]

Hi Scurvy, Rev and Kurando and all Sabbath lovers as well! And a special thumbs up for showmanship to metal-monger PowerWizard!


Guys I’m touched by the efforts to remedy my obvious ignorance on the B.O.C. What can I say? I did my duty and listened thru the stuff Rev was kind enough post up for me. Here is what I thought of the stuff…

Its pretty much text-book rock ‘n roll borderlining and crossing over to hardrock at times – with decent enough guitar play. I listened thru some other tunes as well and discovered some reminiscent sixties sound in them (kind of a chorus-hippie-thingy goin there). In general the overall sound is pretty straightforward and dry (it might be the quality of the uploaded files though). Also the overall feeling I had was that it strikes me as - in lack of better words; “thin”… It kind of lacks the power and "nerve" of Deep Purple (definitive line up - mind you) or Led Zeppelin. Obviously so on vocals but also in other regards as well. I also got the feeling that it lacked originality by comparison (more text-book style over it) and it has a softer - less powerful - vibe to it in general – I blame the bassist for that.

If I didn’t know any better I would actually say that these boys are a rock-band that borderlines to hardrock on occasion. Also the guitar reminded me of the sound that N.Y’s very own Lou Reed used to have, more emphasis on distortion rather than depth and fullness in the overall guitar sound. And the lighter pretty poplike organ really annoyed me. I do prefer the more massive and far more expressive sound of John Lord in Deep Purple, heavier, and more full.

Having said all this; I would be lying if I said that I didn’t find my head gently nodding at times while I listened. B.O.C pretty much strike me as a rock-band in kind of the same manner as Led Zeppelin does, moving freely between the various styles of rock – hard and/or regular. Finally, It had a very different sound compared to its more famous and British counterparts. It’s decent stuff, but I find it unlikely that I will buy any records of them soon. So at the end of the day; I am still not a true believer here, sorry guys….

Moving on to our star-attraction of the thread then; Sabbath….


Kurando! I will now reveal that I totally digg “Never say die!” in fact more so than some of the earlier albums as a whole; "Sabbath bloody Sabbath" and "Technical Ecstasy" for instance. Regardless of the fact that “Never say die!” album has taken a heavy beating by the opinions of majority for years - I personally regard it as a truly great album. It got plenty of first class hardrock crammed on it (while the heavy metal aspect of it is pretty thin – maybe that why so many people hold it in so low regard?). As you already pointed out “Swinging the Chain” is a really excellent tune and I personally feel that it is hardly the only one on that album! For instance I really like “Break Out”. I mean how much cooler can it get?!? Jazzrock - Sabbath style! That hornsection really kills! Admittedly I kind of like the concept of jazzrock and especially in that kind of format, heavy, expressive and with a clear cut steady groove attached too it. I totally love how everything blends together - just wonderful!

Anyhow, I am a bit puzzled in retrospect as for why Bill Ward did not sing more often back in the day. After all, his voice – while different – could easily compete with that of Osborne’s if we disregard the fact that we are so accustomed to having Ozzy on vocals. Really wonderful phrasing by Ward in “Swinging the chain”. As for lyrics, it usually is not a primary thing for me, but in general termes it's a nice bonus if it well done as well. Sabbath actually managed to create some pretty decent lyrics over the years and I think that they a a bit underestimated in that regard (or should I perhaps say Gezeer if remember things corectly here. I have some vague memory from some interview somewhere stating that Geezer usually did lyrics for 'em). Oh well, I have babbled on for long enough here….

Keep on voting people and lets have some more comments here! If nothing else; it is welcome and healthy change to all the usual "My favorite cornflakes!"-threads found around here....

I probably should have not said that last part!


- Cheers

[Reverend Joe]

Well, okay, I guess you have a pretty solid argument there, Axalon; after all, the BOC did transition rather easily into AOR music. But I still would insist you listen to them live before you completely abandon them: ME-262, for example. And yeah, a lot of their stuff was mainstream, but their best songs were still early heavy metal; and to be honest with you, I'm still surprised that you or anyone else considers the studio Zeppelin to be Heavy Metal. I always figured it for weird glam rock, and nothing further. I mean, can you really show me a song that Zeppelin did that's more metal than "Hot Rails to Hell" or, more to the point, "Paranoid" or "Children of the Grave?"

[The Spartan (Returns)]

I actually haven't heard of the albums entirely, but I vote Black Sabbath.

Just hearing the SONG, Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath... and you know you have something special there.

[Axalon]

Well, okay, I guess you have a pretty solid argument there, Axalon; after all, the BOC did transition rather easily into AOR music. But I still would insist you listen to them live before you completely abandon them: ME-262, for example. And yeah, a lot of their stuff was mainstream, but their best songs were still early heavy metal; and to be honest with you, I'm still surprised that you or anyone else considers the studio Zeppelin to be Heavy Metal. I always figured it for weird glam rock, and nothing further. I mean, can you really show me a song that Zeppelin did that's more metal than "Hot Rails to Hell" or, more to the point, "Paranoid" or "Children of the Grave?"

But I have…. I have…. It’s a no go, even if it is decent rock but it’s just not good enough for me personally. It simply does not hit close enough to home, if you get my drift here, sorry…

The way I see it (right or wrong) there is a big difference between us. I make a distinction between heavy metal and hardrock while it seems that you do not. As I said before; I like/love hardrock while I loathe heavy metal. That will fup things for us while we try to understand each other.

You seem to have misunderstood me, regarding Zeppelin that is. I don’t consider them a hardrock band, I consider them as a rock-band that did excellent hardrock at times (especially in the early days). “Blackdog” is a good example of that, but hardly the only one. Finally, according to me, Zeppelin didn’t do metal….

However we are drifting away from Black Sabbath here…

- Cheers