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From the Vault...
05/27/2001
#735 |
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info
Black Sabbath
"Volume 4"
© Warner Bros. Records
Year of Release: 1972
Rating:
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track listing
Wheels Of Confusion/
The Straightener
Tomorrow's Dream
Changes
FX
Supernaut
Snowblind
Cornucopia
Laguna Sunrise
St. Vitus' Dance
Under The Sun/
Every Day Comes
And Goes
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Black Sabbath
"Volume 4"
Back in high school, Black Sabbath was one of the many bands us "young kids"
were into. The most popular albums during this time for me, were their first
3 albums, Black Sabbath, Paranoid and Master Of Reality.
Many songs from these 3 releases were always childhood remembrances, but the
later releases with Ozzy Osbourne as lead singer were never discussed with us
kids, and years (and decades) later, it's always a treat to look into the
later releases of a well-known popular group: Black Sabbath's 4th album,
Volume 4, released in 1972.
Black Sabbath's first 3 releases were truly unique in sound. There's no
mistaking the voice of Ozzy, yet Volume 4 has the sound of any common
extremely hard-rock 1970s bands; one band in particular, Deep Purple.
"Wheels Of Confusion/The Straightener" and "Tomorrow's Dream"
definitely fits this mold, as interesting as these songs are, they have the
common hard-rock 1970s sound. But when the vocals are heard, it's obvious
that the name of the band is easily recognized as Ozzy Osbourne and Black
Sabbath.
Surprisingly, "Changes" falls in the category of "I Didn't Know
That's By..." The only give away is Ozzy's recognizable voice. This piano
driven song is quite relaxing in sound, almost having a comparison in sound as
another British artist who was getting his start in 1972, Elton John.
"FX" is just that; an abbreviation for sound effects, and when learning
it's by Black Sabbath, it's easy to understand the eerieness of these sound
effects, if you're familiar with their previous releases.
"Supernaut" and "Cornucopia" definitely defines the sound
of Black Sabbath's music, from past releases. With the unique voice of Ozzy,
and the incredible guitar work of Tony Iommi, it's obvious that this song is
easily recognized, no doubt, as Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne.
"Snowblind" can be recognized as a common Black Sabbath song
in sound, yet it can also be compared to Deep Purple, as well.
"Laguna Sunrise" is a very pleasant accoustic guitar number, and
has some classical music instruments, as this song could be compared to the
soft progressive rock of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and/or a very gentle
instrumental piece by Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin. (Another surprise in
the category of "I Didn't Know That Was By...")
"St. Vitus' Dance" returns the usual classic Black Sabbath rock
sound, and the album's closing tune, "Under The Sun/Every Day Comes And
Goes" definitely brings back memories of their first album, with its
eerieness and mystery.
It's easily seen that Volume 4 has the common Black Sabbath sound,
and also features the common hard-rock sound of the 1970s. It can also be
heard that many future bands in the style of today's Alternative Rock and
today's hard-rock/heavy metal may or were inspired by the early Ozzy years of
Black Sabbath. Its true, that the songs contained on Volume 4 may
not be as equally electricfied as their first 3 releases, but one thing is
certain for Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: Their music was truly unique,
best described as gloom and doom, bone-crushing music, yet it defined heavy
metal music as it was then, and how it is today. Black Sabbath's Volume 4
rocks, and it is truly an interesting album to listen to.
© WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved.
Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Warner Bros. Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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