TECHNICAL ECSTASY

Fine. Had they gone back and mined the heavy metal motherlode, I would have accepted it. But they chose instead to pursue a lightweight KISS-style pseudo glam rock, their single biggest career mistake. As a result this album is in parts actively unpleasant to listen to. I abandoned SABBATH fandom as a result of this album, as did many others - including OZZY, who left after this album, then returned and stuck it out for one more album after this (the equally lightweight 'Never Say Die') before carting himself off to carve out his own dynasty.

'Back Street Kids', 'It's Alright', 'Rock 'n' Roll Doctor' and 'She's Gone' are simply ill-advised mistakes, poorly written and executed. Cringe-worthy, in fact. Bill, stick to your kit. So that's half the tracks. The other four tracks merit the occasional listen. The songwriting is so poor there's not a single moment here worthy of the BLACK SABBATH canon. Even IOMMI's guitar tone whined and irritated rather than intimidated. The whooshing sound the band members could hear was the sound of other metal bands blowing past them. This album saw the kings of heavy metal abdicate their throne.

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