Your opinions on the new Sabbath song?

[voltron]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVfUimq2KeI
On one hand, it's kinda nice to see 3/4 of the band back, but this struck me as being quite average and dull. Ozzy's singing is a definite improvement when compared to his solo work of the past 10+ years (perhaps because he's back to drinking and drugs maybe)....I dunno, the new album should be interesting but I'm not getting my hopes up.

[Jack]

Really makes me realize how big a contribution their old drummer Bill Ward used to make to the band.  It's noticeably absent now and sorely missed.

Ozzy sounds like he's reading the lyrics off a sheet of paper.  Lifeless monotone for the most part.

The chorus is okay but the verses drag on way too long and between Ozzy's canned singing and that very basic little chord arpeggiation thing, (which they also use for the intro?!) it really drags.

Tony's still got his penchant for evil guitar riffs though   

[Allhallowsday]

It's boring.

[zombie no.one]

I heard this a few weeks ago on the official black sabbath site. Most of the comments from hardcore sabbath fans were generally positive, but most were aggrieved there was no guitar solo. None of them seemed to mention Bill Wards absence, I fact I didn't realise he wasnt on it till just reading your post Jack

Personally I think it's okay. I've never rated sabbath as high as most people into metal, they have a few great tunes but album wise I'd struggle to think of any genuine classic

[tracy]

It's fair....not quite as fun as an old Black Sabbath song and Ozzy sounds a bit dry.

[Allhallowsday]

I heard this a few weeks ago on the official black sabbath site. Most of the comments from hardcore sabbath fans were generally positive, but most were aggrieved there was no guitar solo. None of them seemed to mention Bill Wards absence, I fact I didn't realise he wasnt on it till just reading your post Jack

Personally I think it's okay. I've never rated sabbath as high as most people into metal, they have a few great tunes but album wise I'd struggle to think of any genuine classic

I think this is my attitude.  I do like to read criticism, but not like I used to (the NYTimes Book Review is not nearly so interesting anymore).  I like film criticism and music reviews. 

BLACK SABBATH's reputation has grown leaps and bounds in 30 years... can't help but compare reviews in my 1979 versus 2004 RS record guide, BLACK SABBATH are even more highly regarded now than they were nearly 10 years ago (all slavish praise in 2004...but they were trashed in 1979).  I still don't get 'em and I like hardcore and metal.  They remind me of URIAH HEEP (English bs). 

[lester1/2jr]

Personally I'm quite impressed. Particularly with the formal integrity of it, it doesn't ape modern styles

[voltron]

Personally I'm quite impressed. Particularly with the formal integrity of it, it doesn't ape modern styles

Yeah lester, I'm glad it sounds like Sabbath and that they didn't try to "modernize" their sound. Imagine Ozzy's singing autotuned to hell.

[Allhallowsday]

Personally I'm quite impressed. Particularly with the formal integrity of it, it doesn't ape modern styles

Yeah lester, I'm glad it sounds like Sabbath and that they didn't try to "modernize" their sound. Imagine Ozzy's singing autotuned to hell.

Emphasis on hell.  

[Umaril Has Returned]

Hmm....I'm not so sure about this one:
The first 6 minutes of the song were very reminiscent of instrumental sound of the Dio years, and up to that point in the song, Dio's vocals would have been more appropriate.

Around 6 and a half minutes, the sound goes old school and reminds you of what was on the Paranoid album. In either case, it's clear that Ozzy's vocals are less than a shadow of their former glory. And no solos in a Sabbath song is like Batman w\o Robin.

All in all, it's a hybrid of past and present, with no real inspiration. It's passable, but could have been better. But at least, as Lester 1\2 Jr. said, the sounds does NOT ape on modern styles, and for that, Sabbath gets some points.  At least we have that to go on.

[major jay]

I love it. It sounds like their first album (for me that's a good thing).
The lyrics are cheesy (Hey it's BLACK SABBATH, not Bob Dylan).

[Allhallowsday]

I love it. It sounds like their first album (for me that's a good thing).
The lyrics are cheesy (Hey it's BLACK SABBATH, not Bob Dylan).

Oh, BOB DYLAN is cheesy if he can be construed.