BLACK SABBATH

Suddenly I find my self not so sure about the rating on this one. Is it four stars or three? Let me tell you why. The first Sabbath album ranks, and rightly so, as one (or THE) birthplace of metal. I agree. The song "Black Sabbath" is such an amazing track which set the bluprint for things to come, with it's unworldly heaviness and atmosphere. One can argue forever about the heaviness and whether or not other bands were equally heavy, during or prior this release. It all falls flat, in my opinion. Heaviness is one thing (I mean think of Bakerloo, High Tide or Blue Cheer) but the thing that makes "Black Sabbath" such an outstanding and thoroughly unique track for it's time is the context, the darkness and the way it all falls in place. Black Sabbath may or may not have been the first playing really heavy but they certainly was the first and most successfill when it comes to showing the world the future of hard rock in all it's dark and ugly (meant in a positive way) shape.

There are a few other tracks worthy of mentioning. "The wizard", "Village of Sleep" and "N.I.B" are also great tracks of mystery and occult leanings. "N.I.B" stands as the favorite track from this album with it's distorted bass and desperate vocals. Simply outstanding.

The remainder of the album is blues-infused hard rock, albeit of the greatest quality but remains just that, blues-infused hard rock. Really, one does not always consider the fact that Sabbath was a blues band and obviously brought their music with them, no matter if they'd already written "Black Sabbath". Half of the album is metal to be and the other half is bluesy hard rock in the vein of so many other contemporaries of the day.

Well then... Is it a three or a four star album? Apart from it's apparent influence on hard rock and metal I think the music is really outstanding. There is a youthful inspiration and joy in the darkness of the album I like and feel alot of love for and the title track itself is an obvious classis, worthy of five stars alone.

Sit yourself down, put on your headphones and listen to opening intro of falling rain and be transported into the realms of Sabbath and things to come.