Black Sabbath’s new album “13” is released today.
They have a proper video for the first single, “God is Dead?”
Last week they streamed the core of the album (no bonus tracks) on iTunes. My buddy “W” and I listened to it and came to a basic conclusion:
This doesn’t sound like Black Sabbath. It sounds like Ozzy Osborne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and that drummer from RATM (no offense to Brad). Or maybe “Black Sabbath, featuring Ozzy Osborne”. Something just didn’t feel right. Sure, the riffs are awesome, Tony and Geezer are legendary. But somehow the whole thing just didn’t feel together; like there was something missing. I think it’s vocals — it sounds like Ozzy singing, not John. I can’t totally fault that of course, but it’s the reality of how it feels. And while Brad Wilk is certainly a good drummer, he’s not Bill Ward. Brad is very technically sound, but Bill’s got this laid back “just behind the beat” groove and feel. They’re just different drummers and it’s not the same without Bill behind the kit.
I read that Rick Rubin had the guys listen to their first album again, an attempt to recapture that moment. Maybe that’s the problem? Trying to recapture magic from 40+ years ago — that’s difficult, because people change, life is different. I do think they did a fair job at it, because much of the album does sound “like old Sabbath” (i.e. first 3–5 albums, depending how you look at it). The song “Zeitgeist” instantly reminded me of “Planet Caravan”. But yet, the sound also comes across like a band with musicians that have been around for 40+ years, so technique and sound and interests and everything has changed. Or maybe because there’s an overt effort to make a particular sound, that it’s trying too hard? I don’t know.
Overall I do like the album, and I’m sure it’s going to go to #1 and be considered the best album of 2013… but I’m wondering how much of that is because truly it’s a good album, or because of the hype and legend around it? Sure, I pre-ordered my copy. Yes it’s freshly installed on my iDevice to listen to on endless loop while working today. But I’m just not sure it’s worthy of being hailed as their finest and best work. Maybe 3.5 out of 5 stars.
But I’m thankful for it, because it’s one more round of riffage from The Father… and that answers the question: no God (Iommi) isn’t dead.
Stuff From Hsoi 
Hsoi, (great blog by the by) maybe the problem is ammo? I know I’m having a heck of time just getting a hold of 115gr 9mm to go to the range.
Just a thought.
I think you may have intended to comment on this post:
https://blog.hsoi.com/2013/06/11/aar-kr-training-2013-06-08-basic-pistol-1/
Well, that may be the case but for Basic Pistol 1 we provide everything (that’s the nature of the class). Ammo’s been a bit tough for us to come by, we did have to slightly increase the price of the class as a result (maybe that’s part of it?). But we have ammo and classes are running OK.
And ammo is showing up at the stores. I wish people would stop the panic buying tho. The only way we’re going to get things back to normal is for people to get their buying behavior back to normal too. I know we can’t rest on our political laurels right now, but I reckon this adminstration has much bigger issues to cope with now (like credibility, amongst their own supporters) that gun control isn’t as big a priority now. Or at least, it’s not as big a priority as the media circus wants to make it out. So we’ll see.