Bloody Sabbath

"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" is the 5th studio album by British heavy metal act, Black Sabbath. It was released in 1973 on the World Wide Artists label and produced by the band with Tom Allom. The line-up for the album was Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Bill Ward (drums).

With four groundbreaking albums in three years behind them, Black Sabbath entered the studio once more in September, 1973, to record what would become "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". The outcome was a different direction for the band using synthesizers and orchestral pieces, which critics were divided in whether it worked or not.

There is a lot to like with this album, beginning with the title song, and one of the most recognisable riffs in the heavy metal genre, eventually giving way to vocals on which is clear Ozzy has worked on. It's not just the vocal department which has been given a shake-up, though. Black Sabbath plays a more progressive style on this album than any before or after. Musically, it's what the band needed to do to evolve.

There are more positives than negatives on this album. The main riff on "A National Acrobat" is brilliant, the arrangement of instrumental song, "Fluff", and the aggression/tempo of "Sabbra Cadabra" stick out as highlights, and that's just the first half of the album.

What doesn't work, however, is what the band tried to achieve with "Who Are You?" - a psychedelic song which would feel more at home on a Rush or a Yes album, which is ironic as Yes' keyboard player, Rick Wakeman, appears on "Sabbra Cadabra". It is probably the only blemish on some of Black Sabbath's best work.

If you're a Black Sabbath fan, you'll already like this album and it's likely you'll already have it in your collection. If you want to branch out and hear one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" isn't a bad album to start with. However, you might want to dig deeper into the past with the band's debut offering.

1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. A National Acrobat
3. Fluff
4. Sabbra Cadabra
5. Killing Yourself to Live
6. Who Are You?
7. Looking For Today
8. Spiral Architect