Sabbotage - Song By Song

[Typhon]

The Writ was Sabbath's way of blasting the people that ripped them off, and I'm glad they did a song like this.  The song might be a bit long, but I do like it overall.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'll rank the tracks thus:

1) Don't Start (Too Late) / Symptom of the Universe
2) Hole in the Sky
3) Thrill of it All
4) Megalomania
5) The Writ
6) Supertzar
7) Blow on a Jug
8 ) Am I Going Insane (Radio)

[Zzzptm]

1. Megalomania
2. Thrill of It All
3. Symptom of the Universe
4. Hole in the Sky
5. The Writ
6. Am I Going Insane
7. Supertzar


Blow on a Jug is in a class all by itself.

[Vyn]

For whatever reason, Am I Going Insane always turned me off. It still does. Which is in stark contrast to how much admiration I have for the rest of the album. If I had to pick one disk from Sabbath's catalog to take with me, this would be the one.

Everything leading up to Sabotage is great - classics that defined a genre. There are some songs from their earlier works that I enjoy more than the songs on Sabotage. But to me, Sabotage was a peak creative effort that stayed true to their roots while attempting to move the band forward with the times. It's a no bullshit record (even if I can't stand one of the songs) and it would be years before Tony's guitar attack would attain the same heights. Well, a few years, anyway.

They were all flying high and rocking on, but I think Icarus-like they started to burn up after this one. Too much of the lifestyle, bad management, chasing a buck, years together with no break in the action...Sabotage sounds to me like the primal scream before it all falls apart.

[Charger]

My ranking would be

1. Megalomania
2. Symptom Of The Universe
3. Hole In The Sky

Those three are in a league of their own...the rest are pretty damn far behind...

4. Don't Start
5. Thrill Of It All
6. Supertzar
7. The Writ

and the bottom of the Sabbath barrel is one horrid piece of garbage that is
Am I Going Insane...

[Zzzptm]

Basically, side one is absolutely one of the sweetest heavy metal rides you'll ever have.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Do we want to do TE next?

[Zzzptm]

Do we want to do TE next?

No. But we have to do it eventually, don't we? Might as well get it over with. But I *will* re-listen to the tracks, just to see if anything in my mind has changed about them over the years.

[Typhon]

But to me, Sabotage was a peak creative effort that stayed true to their roots while attempting to move the band forward with the times.

For the record, Iommi felt that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was the band's peak.

[Zzzptm]

But to me, Sabotage was a peak creative effort that stayed true to their roots while attempting to move the band forward with the times.

For the record, Iommi felt that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was the band's peak.

I would agree, and hold that Sabotage really isn't that far off from SBS. Those are the two albums that, to me, define the best of what Black Sabbath has to offer. If you don't like those, don't bother with the other albums. If you like those, then keep exploring.

[Typhon]

Inserting my final rating of the albums for completion's sake.

Sabotage - 9/10

[Charger]

Sabotage

* * *


And all the stars go to Side A. Side B is a miss...if this would only have side A 5 stars wouldn't be enough.