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It's 1994, and the final chapter of Black Sabbath is being written. But Tony Iommi still has the desire—or perhaps stubbornness—and brings to life this Cross Purposes, a good album that perhaps lacks something, that "hand" of God—Ronnie James, to be clear—that had returned with Sabbath on the previous Dehumanizer, 12 years after the legendary Heaven and Hell. Not to take anything away from the good Tony Martin, who is undoubtedly an excellent vocalist, but Dio is indeed a god and has no rivals. The lineup, in addition to the aforementioned Martin and Iommi, features the historic bassist Geezer Butler and, making his debut with the group, drummer Bobby Rondinelli.
Talking about the album, you immediately notice from the energetic opener "I Witness" that Sabbath won't disappoint us this time either. It's a classic Sabbath post-Ozzy style piece, with Rondinelli keeping the tension high from start to finish. With "Cross of Thorns," our guys seem to calm down, even though Butler and Rondinelli once more dominate, with an Iommi who almost stays in the background until the proverbial solo, which, however, doesn't have much ambition. Indeed, everything is supported by an excellent Martin who gives the piece a lot of emphasis. It's perhaps one of his best performances. "Psycophobia" arrives, and the title says it all: it's a nearly schizophrenic track, decidedly un-Sabbath style, I would almost dare to say thrash, and it doesn't leave much.
This all leads us to "Virtual Death." The sound seems fitting: a drum that slowly pounds relentlessly, a distorted guitar, a dark bass. These are the real Sabbath.
The climax comes when a dazed and malicious Martin is left with only Butler: "People Always Tried To Change Me, Alter Everying I Am, Though You Find This So Amusing, You Left Me In This State I'm In. Virtual Death." The best track on the album.
After all this, the first notes of "Immaculate Deception" start, and once again Sabbath manages to surprise. Finally, you hear the real Iommi, who breaks a sweeping rhythm with a solo worthy of his name.
For years and years, Black Sabbath has always used the same standard formula; why change? And here comes the usual ballad: "Dying for Love." It introduces a languid yet inspired Iommi, continues with an excellent Martin. A nice piece, which accelerates at the end, certainly not the best slow song by Sabbath, but it's enjoyable to listen to.
"Back to Eden" gives us back energy and preaches goodwill: "The Power Of Peace Can Destroy The Gun..," but it's also cynical: "The Human Race Will Never Learn." In "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle," Iommi proves his skill but nothing more. Even in "Cardinal Sin," we find a more classic Sabbath sound, but it's a bit forced and nothing extraordinary. It concludes with "Evil Eye," which is said to have had a close collaboration with Eddie Van Halen. Perhaps it's meant to be a follow-up to Evil Woman (People say the woman's got an evil eye. Got hell looking up, heaven looking down, free me from the woman with the evil eye), but who knows... it's still a standard Sabbath piece, unpretentious but somewhat catchy.
In favor of the album is the fact that Black Sabbath has never just thrown together four notes and lyrics, and therefore on this front, we can't help but achieve a certain quality: texts—almost—always sensible and coherent and an excellent record production.
Against it is the fact that it's 1994, and this hard rock has been overused: to be honest, Black Sabbath has been surpassed for some time. Iommi and company won't give up and will try several more times, especially with the last studio album Forbidden in 1995, and with a Live, Reunion, with the original Iommi-Osbourne-Butler-Ward lineup in 1998.
Recently, Ozzy has said that he has no intention of returning to the studio with Black Sabbath because it would only put mud on the legendary works of the '70s. Wise words!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 I Witness (04:58)
Across The Desert Of The Burning Dark, A
Darkness Which Illuminates You,
There's A Place You've Always Wanted To Be,
Whose Pleasures Always Did Escape You,
It's Always Been So Out Of Reach, Nothing, So Near
Ever Felt So Far
And Now It's Here Within Your Grasp, A Never
Ending Burning Says It All.
As You Drive Into The Darkness, In Front The Future
Behind You History
Caught Alone In The Dark Night, Do You Think
That's The Way It's Supposed To Be.
You Don't Believe Your Eyes, Cos All They See Is
Lies, Oh Yeah.
You Better Run From The Holy Man, The Eyes That
Will Are Set Uppon You,
Listen Not To Verse And Prayer, Song That Thrill
And Voices Tempt You
The Inner Flame Has Fear Of Death, Never, Has
Light Ever Seemed So Dark.
Pilgrims Of Sabbocracy, Hear The Hounds Of
Heaven, As They Bark
I Witness A Time And A Place That Never Dies, Still Frozen In Time,
This Darkness The Only Place That I Can Hide.
I Witness, A Dream.
I Witness A Time And A Place That Never Dies, Still Frozen In Time,
This Darkness The Only Place That I Can Hide, I Witness A Dream.
Oh, Just A Dream.
03 Psychophobia (03:14)
Mortal Eyes, Looking Through A Veil Of Dreams,
Hypnotised, An Ever Living Soul With Wings.
Think You're God, But You Never Had Control,
Think You're Loved But There's No One There At All...
Chorus:
My Colours All Ran Dry, And Now I See The World In
Black And White,
It's Too Late Now, It's Time To Kiss The Rainbow
Goodbye.
Poison Tears Running From A Palsied Face,
Satan Nears, Descending On The Human Race.
Think You're God, Don't You Wish You Had Control,
Think You're Loved But There's No One There At All...
Chorus
Listen To The Wind, Hear The Gospel Blow.
Tell Me That You Don't Hear What I'm Hearing
And I Will Let You Go.
Look Up To The Sky, Put Your Trust In Me,
Tell Me That You Ain't Feelin What I'm Feelin And I
Will Set You Free.
Look Into The Flame, See The Embers Glow,
Tell Me That You Don't See What I'm Seein And I
Will Let You Go
Look Up To The Sky, Put Your Trust In Me,
Tell Me That You Ain't Feelin What I'm Feelin And I
Will Set You Free.
Look Into The Flame, See The Embers Glow,
Tell Me That You Don't See What I'm Seein And I
Will Let You Go
Taste The Holy Blood, Running From My Veins
Tell Me That You Ain't Feelin What I'm Feelin And
I'll Take Away The Pain
Yes I Will Now, Oh Yes I Will, It's Time To Kiss The
Rainbow Goodbye.
05 Immaculate Deception (04:15)
In The Daylight, Comes Darkness, On The Verge Of
Night A Fear Is Born,
Sweeter Than The Dream, The Reality Of You,
Immaculate, Deception.
From The Spirit Runs Poison, And The Wheel Of
Fortune Is Ever Still,
Sweeter Than The Light, The Darkness Of Your Soul,
Immaculate, Deception.
Something Has Touched, The Spirit Inside,
Once There Was Love Now There's A Void.
Night Of Deception, Ghost In My Mind,
Am I Bewitched, Slave To Desire.
It's Knowing That Time Keeps Rolling On, Night After
Day, Day After Night,
It's Knowing That Feeling Of Coming Home, To Where
My Spirit Lies.
It's Knowing That Feeling Of Coming Home, To Where
My Spirit Lies.
09 Cardinal Sin (04:21)
Where Do You Go When Your Conscience Takes Over
Do You Crawl To Your Corner And Cry.
Did You Imagine, That No One Would Notice
Just A Secret To Take When You Die.
All The World Is Watching You,
Every Tongue Is Screaming, Sinner.
How Are Your Dreams, Do They Claw At Your Sleep
Making Darkness A Place You Despise,
Where Is The God, That Once Was Your Strength
Are You Sure He Was There From The Start.
All The World Is Watching You, Nowhere You Can Hide,
Every Tongue Is Screaming, Only Satan Hears Your Cries.
When You Sin Cardinal Sin,
You Make Your Bed And On It You Must Lie, You Must Lie.
And Your Futures Looking Grim, But Did You Ever Give A Damn About The Child,
He's Running Wild.
When You Sin Cardinal Sin, Don't Expect The World Will Treat You Well.
Do You Think That God Will Forgive You Of Your Sins,
Now Will You Need To Sell Your Soul?
We Point The Finger, Sin Cardinal Sin, Laugh In Your Face, Sin
Cardinal Sin,
We Point The Finger, Laugh In Your Face,
Cos You're No Better Than The Rest Of The Human Race.
Oh Sin Cardinal Sin, Oh Sin Cardinal Sin.
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Other reviews
By Rainbow Rising
Much like their cousins Motorhead, Black Sabbath managed to navigate through very different musical eras without ever really overturning their proposal.
Cross Purposes thus turns out to be a pleasant melodic hard rock album, starting very well but losing its way with some tracks that are not always on target.
