Dehumanizer - Song By Song

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

It's not a secret that I love this album to bits, it beats Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules in my books... albeit by very small margins, and is only bettered in the whole history of muisc by SBS and Sabotage.


The album begins with Computer God, a phenominal peice of music which is the #2 song on the album. It's complex but the industrial sound works for me. It might have worked better as the album closer; perhaps just a straight swap with Buried Alive.

[Zzzptm]

I agree that there could have been a better opener: Neon Knights and Turn Up the Night got me expecting a fast rocker, so this slow burn start caught me off guard. It speeds up for the end, and that works well enough. I'd prefer Time Machine or TV Crime for the opener, but that's me.

The song itself is a strong tune, definitely Dio material, but the decade without Rainbow has helped out in getting him ready to do an album without wishing wells or country girls.

[Typhon]

It's not a secret that I love this album to bits, it beats Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules in my books... albeit by very small margins, and is only bettered in the whole history of muisc by SBS and Sabotage.

   I have to laugh because of how you and I can very much agree of some things, yet very much disagree on others.  The same guy who is keen enough to recognize how good NSD is, thinks that Dehumanizer is better than H&H and TMR.  I still say the English are an odd bunch. 

Anyhow, it's no secret that I hate this album.  It falls behind H&H and TMR by a very wide margin.  My reaction to the first song, Computer God, is about the same to most of the songs on this release.  I hear the band playing, and it does nothing for me.  It's not catchy, it doesn't get my juices flowing, it's just blah, ordinary music.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
I did say it was the best but only by a small margin.

And while we do agree on some aspects of the Ozzy albums, there are differences (MoR springs to mind). BUT, you really surprised me when you showed some love for H&H and TMR.

It should be clarified that I like music on its own merits, I would never say I don't like a song becuase it sounds a bit like Rainbow... because I liked Rainbow!

[Charger]

Ah Dehumanizer! The album that introduced me to all things heavy, to the greatest line up of the greatest band in the world and to the incredible vocals of the greatest singer that ever was mr. Ronnie James Dio.

The album kicks off with an incredible doomy number called COMPUTER GOD which is again one of those greatest tracks in the world. The simple yet exceptionally powerful drum intro that leads into one of Tony's greatest doomy riffs and Ronnie's soaring vocals. I still remember the goose bumps the song gave me on the very first listen, and it still does the same. What an incredible song. A modern classic...except ofcourse now it can just be called a classic being nearly 30 years old already...sheesh...how the time flies.

This is actually one of those only a handful of albums that have a slower opener that works to perfection. The album itself it one of the doomiest albums in existence so ofcourse the only way to start it is with an exceptionally doomy number. TV Crimes would have been the more traditional opener but honestly it might not have had that same impact that this song did (eventhough it is one of my absolute favourites on the album but more about that track later ofcourse) to the 15 or so year old Charger.

This is the song that started everything heavy for me and it sucked me in and never let go.

And gotta give a special mention to the incredible artwork...as I bought this album simply based on that artwork which blew my mind. It was the coolest album cover I had ever seen...and honestly it still remains one of the best artworks of all time.

Oh this is going to special...again.

[Typhon]

It should be clarified that I like music on its own merits,

Me too.  What I said was that when I play a Sabbath cd, I expect to hear Sabbath sounding music.  Not music that sounds like another band, even if I like that other band.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

It should be clarified that I like music on its own merits,

Me too.  What I said was that when I play a Sabbath cd, I expect to hear Sabbath sounding music.  Not music that sounds like another band, even if I like that other band.

Absolutely, but I wouldn't dislike that song if it was a good song. I don't think anything on Dehumanizer sounds like another band, but I agree that Ronnie maybe had more influence on the direction even if the rest of the band said no Dungeons and Dragons songs.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Next up we have After All (The Dead). This is a good song even if I didn't "get it" straight away. Slow, doomy, heavy, this may be the most traditional Sabbath sound on the album.

[Zzzptm]

After All (The Dead) - This starts as slowly as the first, then moves into an excellent build and finish. Dio on top of his game here and even though it was two slower songs back to back, this is where I really started getting into the album.

[Charger]

After All (The Dead) carries on with the extreme DOOOOOOMiness of the album. The slow Iommi intro is one of the best ones he's ever done and it builds up the song brilliantly.

In fact John Romero, the maker of the computer game DOOM loved that intro so much he wanted to use it in the game, but sadly wasn't allowed to so he made his own version of it which is surprise surprise the best level music on the game.

The lyrics are flawless, Ronnie's vocals are incredible, he manages to pour out his heart and soul and put so much presense into this song it is almost unreal. Geezer adds so much deep end to this song it pounds straight into your soul...and Vinny delivers a top notch drumming preformance as well.

This is probably my second favourite song on the album...it is just pure BLACK SABBATH perfection. Put this song on and you instantly know it's BLACK fuckin' SABBATH playing. SUBERB.

[Typhon]

I hear the band playing, and it does nothing for me.  It's not catchy, it doesn't get my juices flowing, it's just blah, ordinary music.

Ditto for After All (The Dead).

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

TV Crimes is a short, uptempo, catchy song which is the last Sabbath single to make the UK Top 40 (#33). It's a really enjoyable song mocking the world of TV Evangilisms. It has a nice vocal performance, with quick, snappy, clever lyrics. It's a great little song.

[Zzzptm]

Loved the video for TV Crimes, as well. It's a great fast track with plenty of heavy riffiness. The drum track has a great engine sound to it, pointing the way to a LOT of stoner rock yet to be made.

[Typhon]

T.V. Crimes is a little more ear pleasing.  Decent fast rocker.  It doesn't get my feet tapping or inspire me enough to sing along, but passable.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Next up is Letters From Earth. Probabkly my least favourite track on the album, but I still like it. A nice slower song to change the pace.