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Rating: In 1990, Black Sabbath released the third album with their most underrated singer, the fifth in their history (after Ozzy, R. J. Dio, Gillan, and Hughes): Tony Martin. The band (completed by the indispensable Iommi on guitars, Murray on bass, Powell on drums, and Nicholls on keyboards) is musically light-years away from the original (pioneers of doom) but gets closer to the one with Dio; it is therefore a mix of hard rock and epic with lyrics inspired by Norse mythology.
The album opens with one of its best songs: "Anno Mundi". Opened by a sweet arpeggio and a Latin choir, the song is characterized by a beautiful chorus in which Martin exclaims: As the wind in the night blows cold, your eyes are burning. The second track is the very fast "The Law Maker", where the spotlight is taken by Iommi's guitars (with beautiful riffs and solos) and the drums (with its kicks on the bass). The third song is the wonderful "Jerusalem" with truly evocative keyboards and a chorus that is damn heavy and melodic at the same time. Number 4 is also the longest on the album (6.44 min) "The Sabbath Stones", with a cadenced rhythm in the verses, a chorus for acoustic guitar, and a breathtaking instrumental gallop at the end. It is followed by a mini-suite divided into 3 songs: "The Battle of Tyr", an instrumental for keyboard, "Odin's Court", played with only acoustic guitar and vocals, and "Valhalla", masterfully played by all and with a very inspired Martin. "Feels Good to Me" is a ballad with blues undertones (a video was even made for it) while the earthquaking "Heaven in Black" closes it, fast and direct.
Ultimately, an album unjustly left in the shadows just because it wasn't played by the most representative line-ups of this band with a long and glorious career. Worth rediscovering.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Jerusalem (03:59)
The highway's screamin', callin' out your name
Cause every road that you travel on
There's a price to pay
A thousand eyes are starin'
But the blind still lead the blind
CHORUS:
Where will you turn if it all goes wrong
And you're on the run
jerusalem?
You say you walked through the valley
You say you've seen the signs
Echoes call you from a distant age
Or is it in your mind?
Then a thousand souls rise form the sea
Holding up the sun
And an angel cries 'beware your lies'
It could be the end of it all
CHORUS
Everybody knows your name, every road leads to anger
Will it always be the same, is there reason to return?
CHORUS
When an angel cries-Jerusalem
Better watch your lies-Jerusalem
When an angel cries-Jerusalem
06 Odin's Court (02:42)
As you walk alone the night surrounds you like a shroud
The dreams you had were once of love and being proud
Misty horizons block your vision of the world
But the raven's eyes will show you all you need to know
The land you loved is now so barren and so cold
The name of God rings out so high in your soul
This time the masters will lead us by the sword
And should we fail then all prevails in Odin's court
07 Valhalla (04:42)
Leading us on, to the land of eternity
Riding the cold cold winds of Valhalla
The Kingdom of Odin is the Kingdom of Gods
Where only souls of the brave may rest in peace
But someone among them had the skill of deceit
And raised the hand that would open the road to Hel
CHORUS:
When the winds of Valhalla run cold
Be sure that the blood will start to flow
When the winds of Valhalla run cold
Valhalla
The ring has been broken and a soul must be saved
Among the bravest of men, who rides to Hel
The longships are sailing and the chariots ride
And yes the anger of Thor will serve you well
CHORUS
Raise your hands
reach and Valhalla will save your soul
Raise your eyes
and Odin will lead us on
They say that history repeats itself
upon the year of the seventh century
Well nobody knows, no you never can tell
So you'd better run now and hide away
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Other reviews
By Starblazer
Tony Martin has a wonderful voice, a notch above even the legendary Ronnie James Dio.
Wonderful album, one of the pinnacle expressions of Black Sabbath.
By Rainbow Rising
"Anno Mundi (The Vision) is one of the best pieces ever written by Black Sabbath."
Tony Martin, here the singer of icy lands and battles with a mythical flavor, remains a great mystery in rock: how such a singer is not counted among the best is inexplicable.
