The End - Black Sabbath

This is the second, technically if you don't count album tracks, Ep by Black Sabbath. I could be wrong about that, but I'm pretty sure I'm not. I decided to review this, because I did review 13 and I've been wanting to do one of the group for some time now. I do plan on getting maybe Forbidden (:D really) or Mob Rules out before 2017 still, but you know.

1. Season of the Dead: Opening the album we get this sort of doomy, nice opening that I really am digging. The only real complaint is I could very much see this being any song really on the album. Like it's nothing that mind blowing, it's just kind of okay.
2. Cry All Night: I like the wah on this tunes opening. I mean this isn't a terrible tune, but the second time around it kind of loses some of it's interest. Like this isn't as good time number two or three. All thought "who gave you the right" made me laugh because it reminded me of Michael telling Toby "what gives you the right". Even thought the song changes into a slower pace I mean is that really that shocking. I mean did that take anyone by surprised they did this.
3. Take Me Home: "Tonight, I don't want to let the feeling go aria". Whatever, this is solid, but much like the other tunes, this sounds ike it's an outtake from the last record. Upon looking it up, I got to this track, I discovered it is and so are all the non live tracks...... Figures. While I do like the nylon string solo, I can't really say that took me off guard. I mean this is the band that put out Fluff and Planet Caravan. I mean that don't have to experiment, but that's what made (even the lesser of the album) 70's material so good. That had fun with it, kind of. 
4. Isolated Man: This really sounds like a lesser version of a Sabbath tunes that I kind of have tuned out, either that or Ozzy in the 2000's. There isn't anything here for me to really hold with me. It starts and ends. Also If I'm being honest, that intro reminds me a bit of Faith No More's 1989 tune Suprise Your Dead!. Just a hair. Tasty solo, but again, am I really surprised this is happening here.
5. God is Dead? (Live Sydney, Australia 4/27/13): Don't get me wrong, I like this tune, I think they vocal thing that sort of bothered me at parts sounds good here. The only down side to this live version, is it looses some of the atmosphere I think. It's not as eerie. It's kind of like if you were to hear a prerecorded version of a song for a live performance. There isn't much variety to this.
6. Under The Sun (Live Auckland, New Zealand 4/20/13): Of the live tunes, the only one to be not from the new album. This finds it's home on 1972's Vol. 4. This is still a solid performance, it's just..... I mean there isn't anything that makes this amazing you know. I just don't feel it you get me.
7. End Of The Beginning (Live Hamilton, ON Canada 4/11/14): This is just another live version of a song. It's okay it's not super amazing, or really that sick. I mean the one part reminds me of Fairies Wear Boots, but outside of that I'm just feeling neutral on this ditty. My biggest complaint though is even thought theses songs are very predictable, they are long as fuck. Like I've heard longer songs that end sooner.
8. Age Of Reason (Live Hamilton, ON Canada 4/11/14): Hey, he saved me the touble and said where the tunes from.... even though I knew, but it is what it is. This is just a live version of the song. You know I think I'm disappointed because even thought I'm not a huge fan they're records usually don't take forever to end for me. There is always something for me to admire you know. Here, I just don't know. All thought I do like the keys or the choir sounding thing in the middle of the song. All thought I will say, I'm glad this is the last track on the EP.

I have to give this a 5/10. It was better than Dystopia, not better than Blackstar or Heaven Adores You but it's only a month in the year so lets cross our fingers. I still have hopes for Waves, SVIIB

You can almost look at this as a sort of 5 Souls Ep and the Reedemer of Souls album. That just took the 5 bonus tracks from the deluxe edition and put them on vinyl for record store day. You can look at this as the cuts that weren't on that bonus disc. To be honest, this could have come out a few years ago. I don't see why they waited until now, I mean I understand "The End" but you could have turned that deluxe edition purchase worth someones while (The Next Day Extra *cough*). But in all seriousness this wasn't bad, I just wish they'd take a note from the Blackstar booklet (push themselves to make something truly great and new). To their credit the Ep was completed two years ago, sorta (the tunes were done 3 years ago). 

13 - Black Sabbath

This is the first, Studio, album since 1978's Never Say Die to have Ozzy as the singer of Black Sabbath. Me, being me, I was kind of iffy on this. I was a little cautious going into this. They haven't released an album since, even if you include Heaven & Hell, 2009. That was about 4 years ago. I don't know the exact date it was released, but the point is they haven't released any material since then. Now, this is Ozzy's first album with them in 35 years. And it's on their original record label Vertigo. I know Rick Rubin worked on this album with them, production wise, but I hope he didn't hurt it. I know there was something magical he did with Slayer. He pretty much cleaned them up and made their Reign In Blood and South of Heaven album

1. End of the Beginning: I think that this is a pretty interesting way to kind of say "were back". I don't know if, with the intro of the song, they really accomplished that, but well you know. There's still the rest of the song. I've heard this riff before. It's very similar to Black Sabbath off their Self Titled. You know, sometimes bands write an song then later change it. I could see this being a re recorded early version of that song. Kind of like most of the Different Kind Of Truth album that Van Halen did about a year or so ago. There is other stuff to, they could have added on to the early version, but still. For the most part, this isn't doing anything for me.
2. God Is Dead?: This is a pretty eerie song. It reminds me a little of the title track of the 1970 Debut album. But not so much. It's kind of like not so much like it. It's a good song, but it doesn't have the umph. I feel like those '70s bands are all in the same rut. I've realized what's wrong. This song doesn't have a warm feeling. It doesn't have a cold feeling either. It just feels like it isn't enough emotion. They do sound like more current doom metal, but it just isn't a evil as Sabbath I love.
3. Loner: This song reminds me of Vol. 4. I can't recall the exact track off the top of my head, but I'll say it later. And they lyrics aren't anything that amazing. But you know, I don't know. I'm not ripping of this, but I'm not gonna pretend that I love this album. So I think I should just be straight from now on, more so.
4. Zeitgiest: This is very much like Planet Caravan. This is actually my favorite song, by far, thus far on the album. This is actually the only song that I could say I've enjoyed. This is more of a pop oriented Planet Caravan. There is like a jazz guitar solo in it. And you understand the words. Much different from the rest of the album. And very good. {8/10}
5. Age of Reason: This song starts out ok, but It doesn't seem like it will go anywhere. I do like this more than Loner or End of The Beginning. This song is heavy, and is like the others. I could picture Dio singing this song. I do like the tempo change but I don't think it has that warmth to it I need. I also like the "gregorian chants" thing in the background. The more I listen to this song the more it grows on me. For the better, this is much better than tracks 1-3.
6. Live Forever: This song isn't that bad. This song doesn't drag me in, but yeah. It's just Ok, but not bad.
7. Damaged Soul: This is another decent song. I didn't expect this to blow me.... away. But I did hope for something to like out of this. I got a few songs, like this one, and I'm glad. I like the riff in this song. It's kind of driving.
8. Dear Father: According to my friend, this song is about a priest who a man is confessing to, and the Priest was the one who molested the kid. In a way I could see this being a continuation of the last song. In a sense that it was a combine song. Like they cross faded, I hope you get what I'm saying? This song is pretty decent. I feel like this song is a little long, but I do enjoy the end. I hope they don't make another album though. Because this would be the perfect end to their studio discography, like a book closer, with the rain.

Overall I have to give this track a 7/10. I think it's good. The album kind of picked up after Zeitgiest. I wish there was a different name, 13's already been used look at blur, Megadeth and there are others I just can't think of anymore off the top of my head. I do look forward to reviewing every Sabbath studio/live album from the debut to Cross Purposes. Unless there is a request to review another album too.

Never Say Die! - Black Sabbath

When I first found out about this album I thought it was a joke. When I was younger, like 8th grade, I used to search the internet (google, wikipedia, etc.) for album art. I still look for it sometimes. I love it. At that time my all time favorite album covers were by a art design group from the UK known as Hipgnosis. They worked on album covers such as Dark Side of the Moon, Houses of the Holy, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, the classic 1974 album Phenomenon by hard rock band UFO, they even did Paul McCartney's 1982 album. Well I thought that this album cover was very bizarre, and at first stupid. Well I have come to actually love this album cover. I think that it's really cool, and I think it's a good representation of the last "real" Black Sabbath album with Ozzy. This album was released on September 28th, 1978 and it didn't do very well. Well I'm heard to back this bitch up. Why?... Cuz I like it. These songs were I guess written after Ozzy quit and they got the singer of Savoy Brown and Fleetwood Mac, singer Dave Walker to replace him. And if what I read is right it says that the songs were written while he was there. They even performed an early version of Juniors Eyes on a BBC program with Walker. Well when Ozzy came back he ended up rewriting some of the stuff with the band and then they recorded the album. In an interview Ozzy said that he, pretty much, thinks that this is the worst thing that he ever recorded. And well Let's just say that this is a trip.

1. Never Say Die: This song gives a good energy to start off the album. The drums a kind of loud, but still, it's a good song. I don't think the lyrics are amazing, but it's kind of a catchy song. There is like a breakdown and the guitar sounds like it's picked. I think it's pretty cool sounding.
2. Johnny Blade: The beginning of this song reminds me of Lay Down Your Love off the 1980 Super Trouper album by ABBA. That song is pretty heavy if you actually listen. The keys in the song have a total Purple Lagoon-esque vibe to them. That's a song off FZ's 1978 Zappa in New York. I don't think this song is as good as either of those two songs, but I still think it's a decent song. The "breakdown" with the big riff reminds me of a part in Punky's Whips off that same Zappa album. There is a pretty cool synthesizer flourish "fill" right before the solo. The solo is a pretty, though it starts out kind of rocky, gets pretty cool. It kind of reminds me a little of something like Deep Purple. I don't think the solo is as accurate as it was supposed to be though. It sounds like he's stumbling there a little. None the less, it's a pretty cool solo.
3. Junior's Eyes: This song and the last song flow. This song starts out with an intro that reminds me of N.I.B.'s intro off their Feb. 1970 self titled debut album. And that intro is continued for the main part of the song. Like that's the main part. This song was originally written by Sabbath with Dave Waker and not Ozzy. When Ozzy left, Dave came along and wrote some songs with them. Ozzy came back then said he wouldn't do any songs that they wrote with Dave. So Ozzy changed the lyrics to reflect the then passing of his father. There is a cool sounding acoustic guitar playing along with the electric guitar solo. The acoustic guitar though it pretty audible.
4. A Hard Road: I've heard this song about a dozen times. And honestly It doesn't really do much for me. The solo is kind of cool sounding.
5. Shock Wave: This is a total 80's Priest riff in the beginning. Either that or a late 70's Priest one. Nothing really stuck out in this song for me. The solo is pretty cool, but It's not amazing.
6. Air Dance: Great Scott we found it. No but seriously, this is one of my favorite Sabbath songs. This song is ahead of it's time. The main riff to this song sounds like a riff that would be on some 80's song. If could see this being a song from the 80's, but not so much. It has this 80's/70's eeriness to it. I hope that makes sense. When I hear the intro to the song I think that this is something new, never been done before. Thought I had it has been. This song is also so "open"  the name fits it perfect. The solo is awesome, it's not overdriven, but more quiet. I really like the clean sound to it, and the keys in there too. Then there is another solo kind of and the tempo changes and the guitar and synthesizer sound like a Frank Zappa-esque solo, as where the piano and drums sound like The Story in Your Eyes off the 1971 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour by Moody Blues. Awesome ending.
7. Over To You: I don't like this song as much as some of the others. For most of the song it's pretty dry. It's like a dry rewrite of Air Dance, but not as exciting at all.
8. Breakout: This song kind of startout with a feeling of this is gonna be a good/sick solo. There are horns in there and it's kind of cool sounding. There is also a sax in the song and I think the sax sounds cool. I could see this being in a movie where someone important is coming in. I could kind of see this in a Tarantino movie.
9. Swinging The Chain: This song, and the last song, flow. This is, to my knowledge, the only song that Bill Ward sings lead on. I think Bill's voice is actually pretty cool. This song ends with them kind of chanting. I don't think it's amazing, just a nice change.

This gets a 6.7/10. I finished up the review with my 1st full listen of this album and I have to say that this is a million times different than anything that Sabbath has ever put out, at least up to that point in their career. I honestly like this more than Master of Reality of even Vol. 4 or 1980's Heaven and Hell. I have to mention that I have heard all but I think two song before, but out of order. This album has a whole Pre-80's tone to it. I don't think it's as good as 1970's Black Sabbath or 1970's Paranoid, but that's because they are planets apart. This album is also more piano driven, so to say. Though it's not amazing, check it out, just to at the least say you did. Part of the reason it's probably different thought it because of Dave Waker's influence from writing with them. I also kind of feel some of the song were a little long. I think the back cover is kind of cool to.