Black Sabbath – 13

It is pretty obvious that Black Sabbath still have what it takes… to sound like themselves from 35 years ago....
Black Sabbath : 13
6.66 Universal
2013 

Black Sabbath : 13Anyone who watched the hit MTV reality show The Osbournes in its early ‘00s heyday (don’t judge) knows that Ozzy Osbourne can hardly speak anymore, at least not clearly.  If you recall this then you already have a leg up on what the new and insanely hyped Black Sabbath album 13 sounds like.  Pretty much every song on this album is at a tempo that isn’t overwhelming to Osbourne’s delicate speech abilities.  The second he starts singing on the album’s opening track “End of the Beginning” (what a yawn title for a metal song) it is apparent the pace that will be set for the entire record.

Although this album doesn’t present a true Black Sabbath reunion (original drummer Bill Ward is not present, and is replaced by the mighty Brad Wilk), it is understandable that it received so much hype prior to its release given that it is the group’s first proper studio album since 1995 and their first with Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals since 1978’s Never Say Die!.  Despite numerous live reunions throughout the last fifteen or so years, 35 years is a long time for these men to have not created original material together and it is pretty obvious that they still have what it takes… to sound like themselves from 35 years ago.  But isn’t that what all these nostalgic band reunions are all about?

Time could be spent discussing individual tracks, but since we’ve discussed one, we’ve basically discussed them all.

Let’s call 13 for what it is, a decent rock/metal-ish record produced by über-producer Rick Rubin.  But make no mistake: this is not a new-sounding Black Sabbath.  It is classic-sounding Black Sabbath to the core, it’s so popular is because of who the band is, and because they are this band they can get away with not changing their sound at all.  Is this making sense yet?  Classic bands that have reunited to make new music are exempt from having to evolve, plain and simple.  Is that fair?  Probably not, but it is what it is.  Happy horror-metaling.

Black Sabbath – End of the Beginning

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