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Rating: When Tony Iommi, the guitarist who churned out massive riffs with relentless continuity, and Ozzy Osbourne, the madman who screamed his frustration on stages all over the globe, began to be undermined by the substances they consumed daily, even Sabbath's studio work started to become controversial, falling victim themselves to the controversies of their progenitors. What sales (and the never gentle journalists) called a decline with satisfaction, was actually an attempt to show the public that Black Sabbath was capable of stepping outside its clichés. Added to this was the inconsistency of the main players in the theater who tried to steal the stage from one another, until the split occurred, in several acts but with no appeal.
But before that, there was “Never Say Die,” a testament to the creative-stylistic authenticity of the four rogues from Birmingham. These are artists who, despite the pressures, do not consider their work merely a sales product. Thus the need to renew themselves, even at the risk of stylistic oblivion. Rock albums "for the fans" are rubbish that the music business will leave as an inheritance to bands like Manowar and Motley Crue. Then certainly those who grew up on bread and “War Pigs” will find the freak choruses of “Hard Road” cloying and the fantastic jazz-prog digressions of “Air Dance” bland. They will not care about the meticulous details scattered throughout the tracks of this masterpiece. Yes, masterpiece. Because if Iommi had released this album disguised as a solo work of a Steve Hackett of the moment, we would now be hotly debating its stature. Overlooking the pathetic hearsay that "the Sabs died after Sabotage" and setting aside the heavy criticism from the critics of the time, we can really talk about this album: for what its intense melodies are worth, not on the basis of how a Sabbath record must sound at all costs.
The opener “Never Say Die” is actually the only truly commercial episode, the rest of the album is as refined as it is visionary. If the subsequent “Heaven and Hell” will be awarded platinum, we will award this work with the "ivory disc": the atmospheres of “Junior’s Eyes,” decadent and romantic, adorned by the elegant bass spirals of Mr. Geezer Butler. The keys of one Don Airey on “Over To You” (and here we're at least a decade ahead in terms of sound). The march of the keyboards in “Johnny Blade,” an episode in the style of a solo Ozzy. Because his subsequent “Blizzard Of Ozz” will become a hit by recycling a style of "johnnybladean" make. Listen to believe. Amazes with the flair of the aforementioned experiment called “Air Dance,” a piece like a rock version of a pre-Pat Metheny. Concluding (again in jazz fashion) are “Breakout” and “Swinging The Chain,” in which Bill Ward reprises the vocal experience he had (alas) two years earlier with “It’s All Right.” This time, the results are at least catchy.
“Never Say Die” is the album that Black Sabbath fans will never understand, because versatility is the prerogative of another audience, because Iommi and his companions were and are far more than fashion phenomena. P.S. I’m putting a score of four to adhere to the established order that wants this album to be nothing special. But for me, the rating is five.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Never Say Die (03:49)
People going nowhere, taken for a ride
Looking for the answers that they know inside
Searching for a reason, looking for a rhyme
Snow White's mirror said "partners in crime!"
Don't they ever have to worry?
Don't you ever wonder why?
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
Sunday's satisfaction, Monday's home and dry
Truth is on the doorstep, welcome in the lie
All dressed up in sorrow, got no place to go
Hold back, `till it's ready, taking it slow
Don't they ever have to worry?
Don't you ever wonder why?
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
Don't you ever say die
Don't you ever say die
Never say die
Panic, silver lining, writing's on the wall
Children get together, you can save us all
Future's on the corner, throwing us a die
Slow down, turn around, everything's fine
There's no need to have a reason
There's no need to wonder why
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
02 Johnny Blade (06:28)
Tortured and twisted, he walks the streets alone
People avoid him, they know the street's his own
Cold blade of silver, his eyes they burn so wild
Mean as a tiger, society's own child
Those who tried to burn him paid
You don't do that to Johnny Blade
He's the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Life has no meaning, and Death's his only friend
Will fate surprise him, where will he meet his end?
He feels so bitter, yes he's so full of hate
To die in the gutter, I guess that's Johnny's fate
Rivals all across the land
He killed them with his knife in hand
He's the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Johnny Blade, Johnny Blade
Well you know that Johnny's a spider
And his web is the city at night
He's a victim of modern frustration
That's the reason he's so ready to fight
He's the one who should be afraid
What will happen to you, Johnny Blade?
Oh he knows his future's decided
And he ain't gonna change it, no way
He was born to die in the gutter
He'll keep fighting `till the end of his days
Been alone all through his life
His only friend is a switchblade knife
He's the one who should be afraid
What will happen to you, Johnny Blade?
You fool the people
Who's fooling who?
It's time to listen
The fool is you!
03 Junior's Eyes (06:42)
Junior's eyes looked up to the skies in tears
He prayed that his maker, the giver and taker, would `pear
Junior sighed, as his hands reached out to the sky
Junior cried, the day that his best friend died
Yeah!
They're coming home again tomorrow
I'm sorry it won't be for long
With all the pain I've watched you live within
I'll try my hardest not to cry
When it is time to say goodbye
Junior's eyes, they couldn't disguise the pain
His father was leaving, and Junior's grieving again
Innocent eyes watched the man who had gave everything
Junior's sorrow, who knew what tomorrow would bring?
Yeah!
They're coming home again tomorrow
I'm sorry it won't be for long
With all the pain I've watched you live within
I'll try my hardest not to cry
When it is time to say goodbye
Junior's eyes looked into the skies once more
Now he knew well, this life was hell for sure
He desperately tried, his fingertips stretched to the stars, yeah
Reaching for reason, along with the time and the stars
Yeah!
They're coming home again tomorrow
I'm sorry it won't be for long
With all the pain I've watched you live within
I'll try my hardest not to cry
When it is time to say goodbye
09 Swinging the Chain (04:07)
It's against my uniform
To be a civil judge
All the songs are history now
`Bout rock stars and their grudge
Let us cast our minds back
To thirty years or more
You took up all the vandals
Will Hitler beat `em all?
And we're sad and sorry
Really sorry that it happened that way
Yes we're sad and sorry
But why'd you have to treat us that way?
Compare ourselves with others
And cover them in sin
Oh, God what a terrible
A terrible state we're in
There must be some way out of here
A comprimise that's right
If we cannot work it out
We're gonna have to fight
Yes we're sad and sorry
Really sorry that it happened that way
Yes we're sad and sorry
We cannot go on in those days
I'm talking about my brothers
Yeah, I'm talking `bout sisters as well
I wish you good luck
Good luck!
Oh, but the world's still on fire
Chain the hope you take on, liar
This fire
We're on fire, we're on fire, yeah...
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Other reviews
By Axlspark
"This song is a small masterpiece, with blues and jazz infusions scattered all around, sweet and dreamy."
"After listening to 'Never Say Die,' I feel compelled to say that it is a very valid work except for track 4 and 5, a really good job, very pleasant to listen to and a record that should be purchased."
By Starblazer
"'Never Say Die' is one of the lowest points in the career of the Tony Iommi Band."
"Apart from 'Johnny Blade' and 'Air Dance,' it is the classic album to use as a coaster."
