When the most influential
heavy metal band ever to have roamed the earth teams up with
Body Count's
Ernie C to try and inject new life into their sound, it should have been the signal to give up the ghost. But poor
Black Sabbath named an album
Never Say Die because they meant it, and this sad album is a reminder of how dim even the brightest lights can get. Where their last album was an uneven but pleasant return to form, this is just the band going through the motions.
"Get a Grip" takes its riff from
Iommi's own
"Zero the Hero" and totally wrecks it;
"Can't Get Close Enough" is an awful
power metal ballad; and
"Shaking Off the Chains" might be the worst
Tony Martin-fronted
Sabbath song. And that is a bold claim considering how awful
Tyr was.
"Illusion of Power" is the weirdest song, with
Martin dueting with
Ice T on a song that sounds much more like
Body Count than anything
Sabbath-related.
"Sick and Tired" is the only standout track; with its bluesy tempo and decent vocals, it sounds like
Helloween performing a
Cream song. But considering the vast legacy behind the band, it is truly a sad state of affairs when their best material sounds like a mid-level
power metal band. It is hard to pinpoint the worst
Sabbath album, but this could be it. With boring songs, awful production (from
Ernie C), and uninspired performances, this is easily avoidable for all but the most enthusiastic fan. As a side note, the reception to this album was so poor that
Iommi cleared out the lineup, gave in, and finally reconciled with
Ozzy Osbourne for their spectacular reunion tour. ~ Bradley Torreano
