Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Album Review: Black Sabbath – Reunion (1998)



Overview: 
                Finally, the original four were back together!  This album was recorded over the course of a two nights in the band’s hometown of Birmingham, England.  The best part about the album is the fact that all of those heavy Sabbath songs were finally able to be played using the technology that made them really hit you.  At the time of their genesis, Sabbath was the heaviest thing on vinyl, but as technology advanced, their sound began to dull.  By recording their hits on this live album, Sabbath was able to show that they were still heavier than everyone else.  The fans were also treated to two new studio tracks, “Psycho Man” and “Selling my Soul” which were incredible songs in their own right, but coupled with the what they meant (the return to form of the heaviest band ever) they were incredibly important to heavy metal culture as well. 

Tracks you may know: 
All of them, basically.  If you know Sabbath at all, the hits are all here.  Plus it has today’s technology coupled with the creativity of yesteryear.  One of the best Sabbath albums, period.

Tracks you should know:
“Psycho Man”:  Traditional Sabbath with a heavier, modern sound.  This is the kind of song that makes you sad that the band wasn’t able to do more together until recently.  A definite modern masterpiece that proved Sabbath was not dead yet.

Album rating: 
                It has the heft of an album from 1998 but all of the classics of the original Black Sabbath lineup.  Everyone is present and on top of their game.  What might have been had they actually got back together back then. 

10/10

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