VOLUME FOUR

Not quite on pair with the haunting debut or the apocalyptical Master of Reality,but still better than both Paranoid and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath(ironically the two most succesfull Osbourne-era Sabbath albums).Curiously,there are no anthems in Vol.4,the final result showcasing the album as a whole,rather than individual songs(much unlike the heavy metal classics that made Paranoid what it is).This is ultimately healthy to the album,seeing as it's probably the most consistent recording the band ever pulled out.While all five of Black Sabbath first works were amazing to some extent,this one stands out for being the most ecletic and melodic of the lot.Although it slips at moments and threatens to loose the stride presented since the first album with less energetic tunes,the final result is again incredilbe.

Wheels Of Confusion is probably one of the band's finest pieces.It is also the best album opener they ever wrote,with a haunting guitar lament mourning through the speakers as soon as the needle hits the LP.With constant changing movements,the final minutes of this song are some of Tony Iommi's most remarkable experiments on guitar.Snowblind is the closest thing to a radio hit in the album,with it's rich melody and a certain melancholy that sets the definitive mood.Under The Sun is one of Black Sabbath's heaviest tunes to date,an incredible composition that closes the album with raw Metal glory.The nightmarish feel of Vol.4 is contrasted with delightfull tunes such as the ballad Changes and the instrumental Laguna Sunrise,compositions that prove just how subtle the band could be when they wanted to.Cornucopia and Supernaut are less interesting pieces,but the truth is that the band managed to do another album free of bad songs.

Black Sabbath Vol.4 is a very unique effort,with a distinctive mood and oftenly experimentive sounding.In their best days,this band couldn't make it wrong on studio:constantly changing the structure of their albums,they would eventually end up with a stunning and innovative hard rock offering.The same goes for both Zeppelin and Deep Purple:together,these three groups left the legacy of rock n' roll as it came to be known in the following years.

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