amcm's Full Review: Black Sabbath (1st LP) by Black Sabbath
This really brings back memories.I heard this record first back in the 1970s.Black Sabbath were heavy,dark and possibly evil,all appealing qualities for me and my friends.It was Black Sabbath,Led Zeppelin,Deep Purple and AC/DC that we listened to,and Thin Lizzy too(very big in Ireland).
Black Sabbath was released over thirty years ago,and it has stood the test of time well.Heavy metal started here,though as I remember the band denied their music was heavy metal. It's loud,has plenty of heavy bass rythms and guitar solos, with sharp lyrics that rhyme.They had it all.
The opening title song starts with bells chiming,nice and quiet,but these are suddenly drowned out by loud guitars as Ozzy begins,"What is this that stands before me?Figure in black which points at me."Eerie stuff,and what a voice.Not many people sang about Satan back then but Black Sabbath had no such scruples: "Is it the end my friend?Satan's come around the bend,People running cause they're scared,Ya people better go and beware,No!No!Please!No!"I think this was what Ozzy meant when he said on a VH1 interview that Sabbath just wanted to scare everyone.
Every song on the album keeps to this standard.The whole package works,in the same way that Abbey Road or The Dark Side of the Moon work.The lyrics are actually quite uplifting even though the themes are dark.When 'The Wizard' does his magic,for instance,"evil power disappears". Similarly,'Behind the Wall of Sleep' ends with this poetic touch: "Now from darkness there springs light,Wall of sleep is cool and bright,Wall of sleep is lying broken,Sun shines in,you have awoken".So what seems to be a visit to the dark side ends with a positive message.
Black Sabbath isn't just about well-crafted lyrics,of course.The music is what matters.And it's as forceful today as it sounded at first listen in the 1970s.I mention the lyrics because they work so well - such a rarity today.It's obvious that there was a good mind behind them.This is a classic.
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