VOLUME FOUR

I got inspired to do this review of my favourite BS album by Alitare who gave it two stars but also said Black Sabbath has made far better albums. Well. better maybe, but far better: no way as far as I'm concerned. Always a matter of taste of course and according to my taste this is at least one of their very best. I bought it in the late seventies in about the same year I bought the debut and I always considered them more or less equal in quality. The debut was much darker even than the already dark Volume 4.

It starts off with one of the highlights, Wheels of Confusion/The Straigthener. A splendid composition with the instrumental second part as absolute highlight: Tony Iommi at his very best. 4,5*.

Tomorrow's Dream is a shorty but a very nice song indeed. This track is representitive for the overall sound of this album. Nice rhythm and great guitar. 3,75*.

Changes is the ballad of the album. First few notes almost sound like Steely Dan. But this doesn't last long for mr. Osbourne sets in his typical vocals. I used to like this one but right now I have to say ballads are not BS's strongest point. 2,75*.

FX is a very progressive short instrumental track. In fact it's some strange echoeing sounds following each other. But for a hardrock band I would like to declare this very progressive (wink). 2,5*.

Supernaut is my all time fav BS track. This one rocks and swings all the way. Really mindblowing stuff. Bill Ward is the star on this one. 4,75*.

Snowblind is a much slower song and quite frankly not by far as impressive as previous. Not a bad song though with a very fine solo by Iommi. 3,75*.

Cornucopia is one of those nice dark songs Sabbath is so good at. Pity it's so short. 3,5*.

Laguna Sunrise is a ballad like instrumental. I remember my cousin and I used to debate whether this was a good or a great little tune. I like this one better than Changes actually and they prove they can do a softer song. 3,25*.

St. Vitus Dance is the one that's least stuck in the back of my mind I have to say. It has been more than a decade since I last played this album but this track doesn't ring any bells. Just nice. 3*.

Under the Sun/Every day comes and goes must be the darkest song of this album. Especially the opening notes make you feel you're on a foggy graveyard or something. Black Sabbath's trademark and one of the reasons I love this band. 3,75*.

Maybe a total average of some 3,6 doesn't seem that high but don't forget the longest songs are the best on this album so I have every reason to round this up to 4 stars. Great effort !