R.J.'s (Ronnie James Dio man!!!) first Sabbath album comes across as a totally cool endeavour. The album is so strong in parts (some songs are now Sabbath classics on par with any of the Ozzy stuff) that it's lesser lights do very little in lessening the album's overall strength. The Sabbath boys bring a metal approach like never heard before at least for them that is. The stoner appeal sort of waned with R.J's arrival. The new sound fit real well with the way R.J. sang. R.J brought a dungeons and dragons approach to the lyrics and was a way better vocalist technically. You may like the Oz-man but ya gotta admit R.J. can belt out a tune. Their sound also became cleaner and in a sense dare I say it commercial. Still with all that said, the ass kicking power of the band remained intact. 'Neon Knights' busts out of the gate and all of us bought the farm. When this song is played, heads must bang!!! Love the riff and lyrics (I could sing some if you want...?)!!! 'Children Of The Sea' is quite grand. Cool how it builds to it's main riff. I don't like 'Lady Evil' cause it rocks out a little too much for me. Next up is the title track and FUCK is it ever HEAVY!!! When I hear 'Heaven And Hell', like magic my hands form the sign of the horns. Truly epic man!!! Rises and falls but totally builds towards it's romp of an ending. I don't like 'Wishing Well'. Not a very hard track and I don't like the lyric "Throw me a penny" (whatta Jew!!!). 'Die Young' is another scorcher with an approach similar to 'Neon Knights'. 'Walk Away' is another boring track. 'Lonely Is The Word' is a cool mellow track that finishes off the album on a high note.

© 1999 malphas