Pop Pickers, this was an incredible line-up for the 1990 record by the Sabs, it was Iommi/Martin/Murray/Nicholls/Powell who made the weighty result, there is a lot of goodness on here and more built on the dark dimension created by the previous Headless Cross album. Satan is swapped for Odin on this occasion but the theatre of the heavy metal here is just as dark. Once again you really get a full on impression of how great a vocalist Tony Martin is, of course the riff wizardry of Tony 'God' Iommi works wonders ably and assisted by top notch veterans Cozy Powell and Neil Murray. The essential mix of keyboards once again delivered by long time fifth member of Sabbath, the great Geoff Nicholls.
My standout on this is the opener Anno Mundi (The Vision), and save for the AoR misfire of Feels Good To Me each song here delivers in a dosage of heavy metal delight.
Try it next time you are in need of some sumptuous metal therapy, its another underrated and oft forgotten piece of 'Sabbath' history...
Playlist for a promised land...deliver us from Monday blues...
Anno Mundi (The Vision) - Black Sabbath
Metal Command - Exodus
Fast as a Shark - Accept
Damned for All Time - Blind Guardian
Manitou - Venom
8 comments:
It is certainly a highlight in Sabbath's later career
Sounds like you're having a good Bank Holiday Monday...
It's sad that this album is all but forgotten, it's packed full of great riffing and top notch songs. Even Feels Good to Me sounds great to me. Tony Martin's vocals lift the track. They were obviously hoping for a Whitesnake style mega-hit but it just didn't happen. All in all a great album.
Eat the Rich!
You know that I reckon Tony Martin is one helluva singer - I just love his voice and this is another fine Sabbs album.
P.S. My current playlist is all classic Bon era AC/DC at the moment. This was fuelled by a dream I had a couple of nights ago where Bon and I were going out together. Unfortunately the dream finished before anything raunchy happened. Oh well, back to reality.
Jams - indeed!
Steve - I did thank you sir
Toast - agreed, a MTV friendly song attempt ?
Stu - that be a Motörhead song that be
VK - I was listening to If You Want Blood...on Tuesday, but I wasn't dreaming of Bon I hasten to add!
Incidentally there are several dozen Bon era AC/DC song lyrics which could have described what may have unfolded had your dream run it's course!
Yes Jimmy it was probably an attempt to break into the MTV millions.
AC/DC! I'd be dreaming of Rosie as I love women with a generous figure ;D
Yes, I agree with Ms Knitter in terms of vocal talents, pitch control and range - however Dio is still tops followed Tony Martin.
I read an on-line review in which a critic described 'Headless Cross' as a mix of 'Sabbath meets Miami Vice'. Maybe it's the keyboards, but the comment provided a good chuckle.
Take care LJ
Ace ♠
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