blackdragon123

17. Snowblind from Vol 4 [1972]
This musical tribute to cocaine was originally intended to be the title track of the album, but was considered to be explicit in its reference to the drug, and is made all the more blatant by Ozzy's whisper of "icicles within my brain! Cocaine" during the song. The band may have been out of their heads, but it didn't stop them from crafting another gem with this track. This live favourite appears to document the sense of isolation and paranoia that comes with addiction, transporting the listener into the dark world of drugs and superstardom. This song, far from glorifying the narcotic is a frightening report of someone lost in a world of madness and dependency, with a driving riff to march the song forward, it makes for a defining track in the album's listing. The highlight of the song, however is the breakdown, where a more melodic and equally chilling section takes over, and what comes through is an forlorn and earnest confession, allowing the listener some brief insight into a mostly reserved and secretive band. A 5* rating for its untouchable musicianship and class.

18. Hot Line from Born Again [1983]
A forgotten song from Gillan's stint with the band, "Hot Line" is a straight up, no-nonsense rock song, with a punchy riff and some glass-shattering vocals from the Deep Purple singer, it may not make much sense, but the song is undeniably catchy, and could still inspire the most fearful of gig-goers to dive into the rough and tumble of the moshpit with its unrelenting power and face-melting solo. Gillan truly lets loose on this track, that's what I love about it, and his vocals are free to run riot all over the track, sending chaos and head-banging fury through the speakers. The almost schizophrenic change from his normal singing voice to his high pitched screaming at the end of the track gives the song a sense of being delightfully unhinged and unchained. It's impossible to sit still when listening to this track, and is fully deserved of its 5* rating, for this album (love it or hate it) still embodies the spirit of metal more than most.

19. When Death Calls from Headless Cross [1989]
Headless Cross was heralded as Sabbath's saving grace and its (apparently brief) return to form with Tony Martin, and its not surprising why. This album is loaded with great rock tracks, and has a strong sense of identity, with its striking artwork and decisively dark lyrical themes. Its magnum opus, is without a doubt "When Death Calls", a song written by a the devil and addressed to all humanity, warning them gleefully of their impending doom at his hands. This subject matter is handled brilliantly by Martin, whose commanding voice leads the listener deeper into the twisted, shadowy nature of the song with an equal amount of fear and enjoyment. The true power of this track comes from its ending, as an ad-libbing Martin hammers home the point and refuses to let the song die, bellowing out more and more dark reminders of the punishment that awaits the sinful. It's a tribute to heavy metal, and an a fine piece in its arsenal. No wonder Iommi is particularly proud of this album! Assuredly a 5* track.

20. A Hard Road from Never Say Die! [1978]
Ozzy may hate this album, many fans and critics may hate this album, but I will always defend it. The record departs heavily from the heavy-doom mongering records of Sabbath's early 70s period, but I personally consider it a delight, as a lighter side of Sabbath emerges, a different dynamic to the band's playing, and to Ozzy's vocal style emerges, and "A Hard Road" is the best example of this new dynamic in action, celebrating the glory of living life to the full and enjoying all things, good and bad, that come with it. The track's finest moment comes at its end where Ozzy's repeated, uplifting preaching, along with the band in support repeat to the listener again and again. This end is one I have always found inspiring, and, despite the fact that its a much hated album, and I will never get to hear this song played live, it still deserves to be ranked 5* in the Sabbath list. This style of singing (as someone on this forum once rightly pointed out) laid the foundations for Ozzy's singing style on his early solo albums, and so plays a much larger part in the development of the band than he might want to admit. The fact that the band were so strung-out and drug-addled at the time of its creation adds (for me) to the magic and unique feel of the album's production and tone.

21. Sweet Leaf from Master of Reality [1971]
Who could forget the intro to this album? The repeated playing of Iommi coughing up bong smoke into a microphone, before this uncompromisingly muscular riff blasts through the smoke and begins this love-letter to marijuana. There is a charming innocence in Geezer's lyrics, and Ozzy's voice, at the peak of its power, puts them to music beautifully. This is one of the tracks that demonstrates that understated relationship between Ozzy and Iommi so well. There is a level of chemistry here that goes beyond the realms of two musicians simply being placed in the same room as one another and being told to play a rock song. Master of Reality is an album that allows for a wide range of different tempos, styles and genres to manifest themselves through Sabbath's playing, but in order to take that journey with confidence, the listener needs to be exposed to the sheer power of the band at its strongest with "Sweet Leaf", a 5* riff from a 5* band!

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'Well, I'm a common working man,
With a half of bitter, bread and jam,
And if it pleases me, I'll put one on ya man,
When the copper fades away!' - Jethro Tull