Metal Monarchy
HISTORY OF METAL: 1975 - BLACK SABBATH FIGHT THE MAN
After a string of five commercially and critically successful albums in the short span of four years, the cracks in Black Sabbath's armor were showing.
The Birmingham natives found themselves embroiled in a legal battle with their former management - who had allegedly been embezzling money from the band. Also, frontman Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi became increasingly confrontational over the direction of the band, with Ozzy constantly complaining about Tony's "studio production obsession." To make matters even worse, Sabbath's legendary drug abuse was in overdrive, as the band was getting messed up on multiple substances every single day.
Despite all of these potential roadblocks, the new album, Sabotage, turned out amazing. Ozzy has claimed in later years that he doesn't think that the LP matches up to the "Classic 5," but I wholeheartedly disagree. Sabotage marks a perfect balance between the stripped-down, heavy riffs of the first three albums, and the meticulously produced experimental work of Volume 4 and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
The album begins with the high-energy, oft-covered "Hole in the Sky," and keeps listeners on their toes with "Symptom of the Universe," arguably Sabbath's heaviest song of all time. Ozzy's voice is in top form throughout the album, hitting high notes I didn't even know he possessed.
The second half of the album is the experimental half, with lengthy and unusual songs featuring keyboards, strings and synth. The band even brought in the English Chamber Choir for "Supertzar." The final song on the album, "The Writ," sums up the band's unrelenting hostility towards their prior management.
As you can see, the album cover is quite hilarious as well. It is said that Sabbath had no idea that the photo shoot was for the cover. Sadly, this album marked the beginning of the end of Ozzy-era Sabbath. It was the last shining moment of the most important stretch of albums in metal history. The next year would mark the first year that Judas Priest and Black Sabbath both released an album. Whose album would prove superior? Find out next time.
"Symptom of the Universe" live in London, 1978:
The Birmingham natives found themselves embroiled in a legal battle with their former management - who had allegedly been embezzling money from the band. Also, frontman Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi became increasingly confrontational over the direction of the band, with Ozzy constantly complaining about Tony's "studio production obsession." To make matters even worse, Sabbath's legendary drug abuse was in overdrive, as the band was getting messed up on multiple substances every single day.
Despite all of these potential roadblocks, the new album, Sabotage, turned out amazing. Ozzy has claimed in later years that he doesn't think that the LP matches up to the "Classic 5," but I wholeheartedly disagree. Sabotage marks a perfect balance between the stripped-down, heavy riffs of the first three albums, and the meticulously produced experimental work of Volume 4 and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
The album begins with the high-energy, oft-covered "Hole in the Sky," and keeps listeners on their toes with "Symptom of the Universe," arguably Sabbath's heaviest song of all time. Ozzy's voice is in top form throughout the album, hitting high notes I didn't even know he possessed.
The second half of the album is the experimental half, with lengthy and unusual songs featuring keyboards, strings and synth. The band even brought in the English Chamber Choir for "Supertzar." The final song on the album, "The Writ," sums up the band's unrelenting hostility towards their prior management.
As you can see, the album cover is quite hilarious as well. It is said that Sabbath had no idea that the photo shoot was for the cover. Sadly, this album marked the beginning of the end of Ozzy-era Sabbath. It was the last shining moment of the most important stretch of albums in metal history. The next year would mark the first year that Judas Priest and Black Sabbath both released an album. Whose album would prove superior? Find out next time.
"Symptom of the Universe" live in London, 1978:
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