Beast which lay dormant underneath desolate and dreary Birmingham’s streets since mid 70’s awoken again to give us probably best metal creation ever to be put down on any type of recording medium. 1980 being the best year for metal (according to many metalheads and critics) has been given a crown. Crown being Black Sabbath’s “Heaven and Hell” album. With one masterstroke Sabbath with Heaven and Hell sealed envelope containing best metal music in the year of 1980 and sat it on the highest metal throne.
New singer and new less doomy and more mystical sound is probably the first thing that attacks listener’s ear. Ozzy is out and ex-Rainbow elf-man was brought in to revitalize this metal monster. Ronnie James Dio on the vox fronting the biggest metal band on earth does more for this record then just sings his heart out. Aside from being an archetype metal vocalist, Dio is a master lyrics craftsman. Fresh of the Rainbow wagon Dio uses words as a weapon to further accentuate already celestially crafted songs. Dio just mesmerizes listener with everything from mystical passages and witchery to tackling deepest fears about heaven and hell and just life itself. Writing is done in a very mature and deeply smart, acute but constructive way. It leaves enough room for imagination while at the same time not letting your evil mind roam too far. Here’s a little sample from the title track :

” They say that life’s a carousel
Spinning fast, you’ve got to ride it well
The world is full of kings and queens
Who blind your eyes and steal your dreams
It’s heaven and hell, oh well”

Album opens up with onward-driving and intense Neon Nights, and as soon as Dio opens up his pipes (line goes: oh no…!) one has exhilarating feeling of an operatic, warm and majestic presence. Tony and Co. cut through such a tracks like slower, environment friendly feast “Children of the Sea”, bass-riff driven Lady Evil, lordly brilliance of a title track, smart speeder “Die Young” and bluesy “Lonely is the Word”.
Everyone shines on the album. Especially Tony Iommi and Dio. And those Tony’s bone crushing riffs… Oh boy. Not much to say but that every time he picks up guitar, man is just poised to assault your deepest sense of being with majesty of royal riffery known only to him and no one else. On this album father of the metal guitar Tony Iommy becomes true ambassador of power chords.
Geezer’s punchy, melodic and tasty bass lines are in perfect sync with Bill Ward’s commanding drumming style. Note: Bill says he was so whacked out of his mind on alcohol that he doesn’t remember recording this album at all.
Dark but not too gloomy; mystical but not cheesy; magical but not fantasy, Heaven and Hell is pure metal-masterpiece accomplishment in every sense of the word.
Even when you hear this album in a post-modern production era of NOW, you will realize why it stood the test of time. You can put this album up against anything today’s super bands (especially power-metal) release and it will sound as innovative and more fresh. Martin Birch’s stellar production faithfully captures the sound of a true rock monument that rolls in only once every decade or so. Why is Paranoid more played on radio than” Heaven and Hell” is beyond science, but if you ever had a chance to hear this masterpiece and you don’t own it, I highly suggest you have your head examined.
Easily my favorite Sabbath’s album and probably in the top five metal albums of all time.
Favorite tracks include: Neon Nights, Children of the Sea, Heaven and Hell, and Die Young.

Rating:

Tracklist:
1. “Neon Knights” – 3:49
2. “Children of the Sea” – 5:30
3. “Lady Evil” – 4:22
4. “Heaven and Hell” – 6:56
5. “Wishing Well” – 4:02
6. “Die Young” – 4:41
7. “Walk Away” – 4:21
8. “Lonely Is the Word” – 5:49

Album lineup:
* Ronnie James Dio – vocals
* Tony Iommi – guitar
* Geezer Butler – bass guitar
* Bill Ward – drums
* Geoff Nicholls – keyboards

It is so hard to believe that this avalanche of crushing metal is debut of Colorado based Jag Panzer. Named after World War II German tank with good reason, because as soon as you hear this thing you will have feeling that tank just rolled over you.

Album opens up with “Licensed to Kill” and you’re immediately assaulted (I mean it in a good way) with such a vocal power and conviction, not seen in metal so far. Harry (the Tyrant) Conklin sounds just like he is ready to explode and burst out of skin on every damn song. He is type of metal vocalist that you just cannot ignore while listening. It’s right in your face, convincing yet melodic, commanding you to pay attention.

Album continues with onward marching “Symphony of Terror”, NWOBHM-like “Harder Then Steel” and thrasher “Reign of the Tyrants” (intro riff sound too close to Rammstein’s “Adios”) Read the rest of this entry »

Wolf comes with their most manic and most masterfully crafted release so far. Boy, I really dig this one. This is just pure sonic madness. Maelstrom of riffs, dual leads, steroid induced drumming and wrathful but high and clean vocals. This record is pure speed power done with such a precision and technicality that would make any German engineer question meaning of life, and yet it does not feel too tight. Band leaves lot of relaxed room for complexity. It is one of those records where at 2am you wish it was noon already so you can wake up and hear it again. Production is top notch. Not only there is no wasted track on here, but it looks as if every note is superbly thought out and crafted to perfection. Read the rest of this entry »

Believe it or not this was my first introduction to the vocal god Jorn Lande, and what an introduction. Walhalla of a record. True rock masterpiece. Huge artistic gap left between its predecessor (simply called Ark) debut and this one.

Progressive rock/metal at its best. It is really hard to find words to describe this record, but if I had to I would say that this is a “brave sonic masterpiece”. Brave because you will not see many musicians out there (especially in metal) trying different things like these guys do.

First, all of them are seasoned and top notch musicians. Bass virtuoso Randy Coven (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen, Riot) is all over the place but does it so gracefully and tastefully as a true professional. I literary had to rewind the record few times just to make sure it is the bass I am hearing (I mean that in a good way).

Mats Olausson (ex-Yngwie, Kamelot, Silver Mountain) on keyboards does not overdo it as many metal acts do (see most of symphonic black metal acts). He plays just the right amount of notes coloring the song and adding that mystic/nostalgic vibe to it. Read the rest of this entry »