Here’s a question for the older Metal heads in our readership. Where were you when Black Sabbath’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” was released? For the younger set among us, believe it or not, on this day forty years ago, those Masters of Reality delivered their fifth album to the Metal masses and for many this kept the ball rolling strong as Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill continued to prove that this no longer new form of music that bore the title “Heavy Metal” was in some very good hands. According to the bands history, after the tour for “Volume 4”, they would return to Los Angeles but suffer severe road fatigue that kept them from composing any new material. It was not until they returned to the UK and rented out the Clearwell Castle in Glouchestershire, England that the proper mood and atmosphere would for the new albums core would be set in motion. Music fans might find it interesting to learn that Yes’ keyboardist Rick Wakeman appears as a session player on the album as well. It is cited as being perhaps the first of the Sabbath albums to receive positive critical acclaim in the mainstream press. Now I’ll admit that this particular album is not one of my own personal favorites outside of the title track and “Killing Yourself To Live” and since I would get into the band much later than this 1973 release based on my age I feel that this was bound to happen. I think my first Sabbath record was “Paranoid” because I had to learn a number of tracks on the drums for my band (and how many of you can say that very same thing – well the first Sabbath album part is what I meant for the rest of you). Anyway, that said I just wanted to raise a glass of beer and of course the Metal horns for the anniversary.
What does this particular Black Sabbath album mean to you as a Metal fan? Please let me know in the open comments section below because I would love to hear how it affected you.
Track Listing:
1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. A National Acrobat
3. Fluff
4. Sabra Cadabra
5. Killing Yourself To Live
6. Who Are You
7. Looking For Today
8. Spiral Architect
Official Website: www.blacksabbath.com
Official Album Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbath_Bloody_Sabbath
There is no official “Anniversary Edition” of the release with bonus tracks or the other kind of stuff that one might find on such a release but the material did get a remastering a few years ago and that is linked for you below. Also, since Sabbath has just released a live concert film and audio CD from their recent and sold out reunion tour I have added that in for good measure.