Black Sunday

by Cypress Hill

Overview

Black Sunday made Cypress Hill's connection to rock & roll more explicit, with its heavy metal-like artwork and noisier, more dissonant samples (including, naturally, stoner icons Black Sabbath). It's a slightly darker affair than its groundbreaking predecessor, with the threats of violence more urgent and the pot obsession played to the hilt (after all, it was a crucial part of their widespread appeal). Apart from those subtle distinctions, the sound of Black Sunday is pretty much the same as Cypress Hill, refining the group's innovations into an accessible bid for crossover success. In fact, it's a little startling how often Black Sunday recycles musical ideas and even lyrical catch phrases from the endlessly inventive debut. And the rock-derived, verse-chorus song structures start to sound a little formulaic by the end of the record (how many choruses feature Sen Dog repeating part of whatever B Real just said?). But in spite of that, Black Sunday still sounds vital and lively, since the group has a surer sense of craft. Most of the tracks are fleshed out into structured songs, in contrast to the brief sketches that punctuated Cypress Hill. The album benefits immensely from the resulting clutch of excellent singles (and songs that could have been), and while a couple of tracks feel redundant and underdeveloped, Black Sunday is overall a consistent, engaging listen, especially the flawless first half or so. Unfortunately, it's also the group's last great album, thanks to the musical recycling operation that began here and would handicap much of their subsequent work. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	07/20/1993
Label:	Ruffhouse
UPC:	0074645393124

Tracks

1. I Wanna Get High
2. I Ain't Goin' Out Like That
3. Insane in the Brain
4. When the Sh-- Goes Down
5. Like a Shot
6. Cock the Hammer
7. Lock Down
8. 3 Lil' Putos
9. Legalize It
10. Hits from the Bong
11. What Go Around Come Around, Kid
12. A to the K
13. Hand on the Glock
14. Break 'Em off Some

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cypress Hill   Primary Artist
Sen Dog   Vocals
B-Real   Vocals
DJ Muggs   Turntables

Technical Credits

Joe Gamble   Engineer
Tony Iommi   Composer
Senen Reyes   Composer
Andy Kravitz   Engineer
Andy "Funky Drummer" Kravitz   Engineer
Bill Ward   Composer
Christopher Shaw   Engineer
John Hurley   Composer
Geezer Butler   Composer
Joe Nicolo   Mixing,Mixing Engineer,Executive Producer
John Gamble   Composer,Engineer
Louis Freese   Composer
Jason Roberts   Engineer
Ronnie Wilkins   Composer
Ozzy Osbourne   Composer
Chris Shaw   Engineer
Howie Weinberg   Mastering
DJ Muggs   Mixing,Arranger,Producer,Programming,Mixing Engineer,Executive Producer
Todd Ray   Composer
Lawrence Muggerud   Composer
Chris Schwartz   Executive Producer
Manuel Lecuona   Engineer
Anthony Artiaga   Photography
Dante Ariola   Design,Concept
Jay Papke   Design,Concept
Happy Walters   Management
T-Ray   Composer,Producer