NEVER SAY DIE!

This album has received mixed reviews, mainly on the negative or average side, though. They're not all wrong, but Never Say Die! does have its few merits if you don't expect traditional Sabbath sound.

Title track opens the game and it's a good hard rock song. Not as heavy as classic Sabbath. Pre-chorus has very nice guitar. Overall, the album has very good guitar playing, including brief solo at the end of the track. "Johnny Blade" begins with cheesy keyboards but once it gets going, it's rather good "proto-stoner" with unusual drums. Second part recalls bands classic period and is a highlight here. Iommi's solo is very good once again and he has a real distinct lead guitar sound on the album as a whole. Kind of filtered and maybe with a ring modulator? "Junior's Eyes" has a cool drum and bass groove. Ward & Butler were such a great rhythm section. Nice sparse wah-guitar adds to the funk. Chorus aims at fist-pumping hard rock but doesn't quite get there. Guitar solo does, though. These first three tracks are my favourites of the album and unfortunately it's mostly downhill from here. "A Hard Road" is unoriginal boogie shuffle that goes on forever. "Shock Wave" has a good groove, but to me it sound like a leftover track from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. "Air Dance" is a softer song. Session member Don Airey gets to show his piano skills and does a good job. There's something about the songs multi-part proggy arrangement that reminds me of Queen. Faster ending, especially its first part, is just excellent but fades out too soon. Another highlight track. "Over to You" sounds like another SBS leftover. Instrumental tracks have in my opinion been the most questionable parts of earlier Sabbath albums, but "Breakout" here takes the cake! A kind of poor man's version of a slow doomy Sabbath riff and horn section playing along with it and soloing. You'll just have to hear it to believe. Whew! It segues straight to the last song "Swinging the Chain" that's sung by Bill Ward! What the...? It's a decent hard rock song and Ward isn't bad singer but of course doesn't get nowhere near Ozzy's force and charisma. Not a good way for the original classic line up of the band to go.

Never Say Die! lacks heaviness and above all catchiness of the bands early stuff. Rhythm section shines on groovier parts and Iommi's playing is excellent, but unfortunately his riff-writing is not this time. Two stars. Worth a listen or a couple, but approach with an open mind.