MOB RULES

The Mob Rules continues with grown confidence on the path that Heaven and Hell carved the year before. The album is heavier and more consistent and the battle between Dio's vocal chords and Iommi's power chords reaches its zenith.

Turn up the night is a good opener but it isn't till Voodoo that this record really kicks off. Classic groove on that one. Sign of the Southern Cross is the epic beast and easily as good as Heaven and Hell for me. An instrumental interlude E5150 with creepy distorted bass chords leads into the straight old school metal title track. Halfway through the album, Country Girl offers a first lighter flair on this ripping doom monolith. It's a folksy catchy tune with a beautifully tender middle section. Slipping Away is a solid heavy rock song but probably the least interesting on the album. Some enjoyable bass picking from mr Butler though.

After these two down to earth tracks, Falling off the Edge of the World takes us away into Dio's fairy land again. A gentle intro leads into a short brooding funeral march till things are stirred up around the two minute mark with a entrancing looping riff courtesy of mr Iommi. Over and Over is the final proof that this is an album from the days when artists still knew how to make one. A slow emotional ballad rounds things up on a strong note and balances beautifully against all heaviness that preceded it.

For everyone even remotely interested in metal this is an absolute must. For the prog fan, Heaven and Hell might be more appealing with its more prominent melodic lyricism. So I'm a bit a loss with the star system here. Guess 4.5 rounded down will have to do.