Black Sabbath
13

They're back.

After 18 years away from the studio, Black Sabbath have recorded a new album; and, hear ye, hear ye, with the classic lineup, with the exception of drummer Bill Ward, who left the project due to an unspecified "contractual dispute", but was admirably replaced by Brad Wilk (Rage Against The Machine). So, here we have an unwavering Geezer Butler on bass and lyrics, the evergreen Tony Iommi on guitar, unfortunately undergoing treatment for lymphoma that struck him a few years ago, and after 35 years absent from a Black Sabbath project, an Ozzy Osbourne more alive than ever.
The album's production is entrusted to the now-ubiquitous Rick Rubin, the undisputed master of production for an endless lineup of bands.

Now, let me make a brief disclaimer: it's a work by elderly and distinguished (?) gentlemen, with no pretense of being an album that will change the course of music; consequently, although the CD is sprinkled with déjà-senti, it's undeniably a solid product, that sounds 100% Black Sabbath.
However, this entire discourse collapses regarding the third track "Zeitgeist": it's blatantly a "Planet Caravan" part 2, as everything is so similar to the unforgettable 1970 song, and frankly, it left me quite unimpressed.

Two other songs that didn't enthuse me are "Live Forever" and "Damaged Soul". The former seems directly lifted from "Masters Of Reality", but appears quite bland and lacking in ideas; the latter is pachydermic and rather slow. Perhaps even excessively so.

Fortunately, the flaws end there, as the remaining five tracks each convinced me in their own way. "Loner" is more energetic, with slightly more 'catchy' vocal lines (pardon the term, to be taken with caution); while the opening "End Of The Beginning" and the closing "Dear Father" (the latter with good lyrics), channel into the classic sound of Black Sabbath, slow and menacing (the runtime is long), without boring or tiring.
"Age Of Reason" fits the norm, with some standout moments like the drum intro entrusted to the aforementioned Brad Wilk, thanks to whom Bill Ward's absence isn't missed.
But my favorite track is the single "God Is Dead?" (Nietzsche thanks for the kind reference): supported by remarkable lyrics, the song unfolds over almost nine minutes, with its slow and threatening advance, as a harbinger of doom, with alternating rhythm changes, until it plunges into a sudden end.

So this is the return of Black Sabbath (and mine too: I haven't been on this site or written reviews for about two years): without much fanfare, the band wanted to pay tribute to us fans with a very well-done work. Long live the Black Sabbath!

P.S. The album concludes in a truly brilliant way: as the last song fades out, you hear the sound of rain and the chime of a bell well known to us...