Customer Reviews

Sabotage

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Firstly, there is little point in discussing this music per se: any self-respecting Sabbath fan, nay, rock fan, ought to already count this classic album amongst the highlights of their collection. Musically speaking, this is certainly a 5-star album. The question I aim to address here is rather: is it worth shelling out for this apparently newly remastered 2009 reissue if you already own the 1996 (blimey was it as long ago as that!) remastered version? Well, you'd like to think that over those 13 years the world of music reproduction technology would have moved on to the extent that a new version would eke even more sonic quality out of the sounds Sabbath laid down on analogue tape back in 1975. After all, this album was a long time in production, reflected in the complex arrangements and huge sound achieved by the band and their recording team. Indeed, I defy anyone not to feel `WOW, that was an experience!' with every ounce of their musical appreciation as the last strains of the awesome `Megalomania' waft into the distance. Maybe I just played it a little on the loud side. But I digress: the short answer is, after playing on a pretty decent hifi various songs from the two versions back to back, I couldn't be sure that I could discern any difference between them.

So what else might tempt the prospective purchaser? There is no `bonus' material. In my book that is great - I detest the pristine purity of a hallowed classic album being diluted with second-rate scrapings from the bottom of the barrel (for example, the `studio run-throughs' that sullied the Rhino reissue of `Close to the Edge' by Yes). With regard to packaging, this reissue comes in a digipack. For some people that may add value, but to be honest I prefer a jewel case that can be replaced if it gets knackered. In 2009 there is a 16 page booklet, whereas the earlier version had a mere 12 pages. The new version booklet has better photos and a short `essay' that helps set the music in historical context, although my straining eyes complain that occasional lapses into red text on a black background was a rather poor design choice. Also on the downside, the 2009 booklet unfortunately omits the song lyrics, which you do get in the old version. So all in all, I am forced to conclude that, for this particular album in the latest batch of Sabbath reissues, it is only die-hard completists or newcomers to Black Sabbath (does that really happen in 2009?) that would really benefit from acquiring this edition.

Yes, this album sounds different to other Sabbath albums, but that's no reason to discount it, is it? I love the simplicity of Master of Reality and Paranoid as much as the next man (who is somebody who likes them very much), but for me Sabotage has always held a very special place in my heart. Aside from the absolutely stunning title track i've never rated Sabbath Bloody Sabbath too highly - for me it too often feels thin and lightweight - but boy does Sabotage compensate. Colossal riffs bludgeon you from beginning to end, Ozzy had never been on better lyrical form, the production is complex and multi-layered but remains wintry, bleak and brutal, and the album keeps you hooked until the final moments, after which you emerge blinking into the sunlight, wondering where on Earth you've been taken. Absolutely fantastic, unlike any other album I know, and for me, a huge Sabs fan, the best of the lot.

This sixth album from the classic Black Sabbath lineup of Osbourne, Iommi, Ward and Butler is for me the real beginning of the end of the band. The cracks had started to show two albums earlier with the patchy Volume 4, but they had managed to get it together to record a classic with `Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'. But for this album things just started to go wrong.

The trademarks are all there, the heavy guitar sound and doom laden lyrics, but there is now much fiddling around with keyboards, choirs and the such. The whole thing feels over produced and over fiddled with. The seeming spontaneity and simplicity that made records like `Paranoid' great is missing.

All those involved are also starting to sound jaded and just going through the motions, Osbourne in particular sounds a little bored and would continue to be less and less interested in future albums.

It wasn't quite the end; there is still just enough spark and fire left in the band to lift it from the doldrums. So all in all 3 stars.

I sometimes try to decide which Sabbath album I feel is the best, and I have never been able to. Most if not all Sabbath fans would answer this question as "Paranoid" I'd guess, but for me this is not the case. If I tried to count the number of songs that I like in a given Sabbath album and try to answer the question according to which one has the most, then I would maybe say Paraniod as well. But somehow I tend to think SABOTAGE IS their best album, because MEGALOMANIA is in this one. And although I truly almost pass out because of joy when I listen to songs like N.I.B., A National Acrobat, Sweet Leaf, Black Sabbath, Iron Man (even She's Gone, which I think is a great song from their last and most underrated album Technical Ecstasy...I think none of these songs are as perfect as Megalomania. Megalomania IS the perfect rock song in my book, and because of this very reason I mostly find that Sabotage IS the best Sabbath album ever not to say that other songs in this album are not good.

They say it is not their favourite album, I say they are being unfair on themselves. If you can get past Bill Ward wearing silly tights on the front cover and Ozzy doing an insane Dracula impression on the rear cover, Sabbath's sixth album is an absolute powerhouse.

As ever, the opening track (Hole in the Sky) just rips it up, total head banging material and really the album never lets up after that, through such classics as "Megolamania" and "Symptom of the Universe" (what a brilliant title).

It is solid Black Sabbath and is an album that should not be overlooked.

This album is a bit off the wall but along with "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" is my favourite Black Sabbath album.
Not just a heavy rock thrash but far more creative and thoughtful than that.
Ozzy at his vocal best!

This album has many great musical accomplishments.
Lets start with Tony Iommi's guitar sound. The introduction of John Birch Pickups, give tracks like Symptom Of The Universe a guitar sound that resembles a Heavy Metal Chain Saw. In fact Tony has never duplicated that guitar sound since.
The Writ & Megalomania are more iconic statements made by the entire band, achieving technically advanced Heavy Metal Music.

I wish Bill Wards great drumming was enhanced by the double bass production processes of today, as they are very low in the mix. Many do not realize Tony Iommi used an MXR Phase 90 & a pig nose amp on tracks on this album he told me while they were recording their next album in the studio.
Geezer played his new John Birch 8 string bass on this album.
You can hear it in the last 2 minutes of the writ, also Geezers bass playing for the last 3 minutes of Megalomania is just Sterling.
Ozzy's double & tripled tracked voice throughout slices through this entire album. A state of the art production for a Heavy Metal band of this time period.
If you notice Tony Iommi gets a different guitar sound for every album Ozzy sang on. His guitar style, solos & tone today have changed dramatically compared to this Iconic album.

What were they thinking? Ozzy in a dress, Bill in tights. Not poster material, that's for sure. Still, the music is what it's all about. The first 4 songs are some of the best material they have ever produced - brilliant songs, riffs and solos. Tensions were high within the band, however the quality of music didn't drop until their next album, Technical Ecstacy. This completes the first 6 essential Sabbath albums.

i found this album to be a real treat to my ears, it isnt a bona fide masterpiece but for many this is an album where cracks could be found, for me its a strong album brimming with crunching guitars and some of bill wards finest drumming.
You need to own this.

I have been pondering on what Black Sabb album to buy recently, the must own album for me was always Master of Reality...possibly as this was the first Sabbath album I'd listened to hence it made the biggest impact. I used to own all the albums but in a moment of 'I've moved on' madness I got rid. I digress, having thrashed Paranoid and got sick to death of it, I quickly ruled that out. I was never a huge fan or Paranoid, possibly because this is the album that was always played at party's etc and eventually I grew to resent it...when I was desperate to hear any of the other albums instead, for a change! Sabotage was an album that was regarded as one of the not-so-great albums but when I listened to it, it blew my mind and quickly became a firm favourite. It only seems inconsistent (as someone else mentioned) as the first three tracks are incredibly powerful. However the album is, in my opinion, arguably one of the most consistent. Symptom of the Univserse for me, encapsulates Sabbath at their best...Iommi's wicked riffs to Ozzy's lyrical wizardry, the end of this track he pulls out some heavy duty lyrics that would melt the hardest of hearts. This album was made during their infamous drug binging days and yet...if anything the drugs appear to have embellished their inspiration (but kids...drugs are bad m'kay).
At the time of release, Rolling Stone stated "Sabotage is not only Black Sabbath's best record since Paranoid, it might be their best ever", I tend to agree (although would have used Master instead of Paranoid).
I think the only thing that lets this album down is the sound quality, hence 4 stars, the album was produced by Tony Iommi and despite the incredible production values the end result sounds a little rough around the edges. This is possibly more down to the recording equipment used, as opposed to Tonys abilities. If you compare the quality of Sabotage with say the remastered version of Master of Reality...it's very noticeable.