Album Review: Black Sabbath ’13’; Not bad for a bunch of old geezers…
[rating=4]
It seemed like the new album ‘13‘ from Black Sabbath was a cursed affair, doomed like it’s unlucky number of a title. Tony Iommi was stricken with cancer, Ozzy relapsed, and Drummer Bill Ward quit the band in a huff over money disputes.
So it’s a minor miracle the album has surfaced.
The comeback album is a curious thing, as it seems to never fully satisfy; it’s usually deemed a cash grab by the cynical. It also draws complaints for a lack of hunger; once a band gets older and richer, the priorities change. Can they ever sound as edgy as when they were young, brash and anxious for success?
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So is Black Sabbath’s ’13’ gonna blow your mind like their début album, or legendary albums like “Master Of Reality” or “Paranoid”? Nope. You can’t redo the entry point for a band known for inventing heavy metal. But it is an impressive affair; producer Rick Rubin deserves due credit. The man has a talent for rejuvenating older acts like few others.
And while Bill Ward’s ominous drum chops are missed, Rage Against The Machine’s Brad Wilkinson makes a valiant effort, doing his take of the behind the beat bombast that powers every Sabbath classic.
“End Of The Beginning” has a juggernaut chugging riff that recalls “Children Of The Grave”, with Iommi proving his guitar skills are undiminished by age or illness. And Ozzy’s nasal voice still remains a unique instrument. His lyrics (cowritten with bassist Geezer Butler) seems to draw on their age and mortality as well as their normal occult and sci-fi themed lyricist; “You don’t want to be a robot ghost/occupied inside a human host.”
This obsession with aging lingers on the album and faced more head on in the rocking “Live Forever” with a straightforward chorus; “I don’t want to live forever, but I don’t want to die.” This makes ’13’ another 2013 album about dealing with aging (see my reviews of the latest Bowie and Stooges albums).
Lead single “God Is Dead” conjures dread and power with Ozzy pondering religion and fate across ghostly arpeggios verses and a snarling riff filled chorus (which suggests classic track “Fairies Wear Boots”).
Meat and potatoes rocker “Loner” keeps thing moving before the album takes a more somber approach with the cosmic ballad “Zeitgeist” which clearly references “Planet Caravan.”
As you can see, every song on here is clearly a take off an older hit. This is an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” affair ala AC/DC. You won’t hear anything new or demonstratively different. What you will hear though, are a bunch of old dudes who sound like they’re having a damn good time while still flexing some metal muscle. And in an era where modern metal is sadly short on melody, Sabbath are a healthy antidote.
It’s also refreshing that the band isn’t gunning for an easy single or making any effort to sound “modern.” Each track is lengthy, so while you’re only getting 8 songs (or 11 if you gret the iTunes deluxe version) the band isn’t skimping on material.
If this is the last album these guys ever make, then they could have done far worse. Maybe they have one more left in them and Ward will return, but as for now, this is a perfectly respectable comeback.
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