Cross Purposes - Song By Song

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Evil Eye

This is a solid song, it's not chasing the top spot on the album. Whether EVH had a hand in this is open to debate but the solo certainly seems not to be from Tony's repertoire!

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

So on to the enevitable ranking

1. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
2. Crown of Thorns
3. Back to Eden
4. Dying for Love
5. Psycophobia
6= I Witness
6= Evil Eye
8= Cardinal Sin
8= Virtual Death
8= Immaculate Deception

[Zzzptm]

For Evil Eye, I saw an interview snippet where Tony confirmed that it's EVH playing it, because it was too crazy a style for him to do.

And do check out that bonus track, it's a great one.

AND NOW WE MOVE ON TO FORBIDDEN

[Jack the Stripper]

I think Cross Purposes is probably the best of the Martin era although I’ve taken a strong liking to Forbidden in recent years. The only thing I’ll say, while Tony’s playing is superb with some really great riffage and solo’s and the songs overall are more in tune with Sabbaths Dio era with less cheese and AOR stylings from Martin, they’re just not all that memorable. There’s not many vocal hooks or catchy choruses to cling to or get that stuck in your head or even make you wanna singalong to. I do prefer Martins more laidback and gritty approach on this album but it does come at a cost. It gets a bit stale or tiresome listening or the way through in one hit. I would’ve loved to have heard Ronnie’s take on these songs. I think it would’ve elevated this album into Sabbath greatness.

Album Rating 6.5/10

Song Rankings
1. Virtual Death
2. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
3. Dying for Love
4. Back To Eden
5. Evil Eye
6. I Witness
7. Immaculate Deception
8. Cross of Thorns
8. Pschophobia
10. Cardinal Sin

No bad songs on it though...

[Zzzptm]

I agree that this had a lot of potential as a Dio album.

[Charger]

Again I did not want to mess this up with my blabberings so I saved my comments to the end.

Cross Purposes has always been and will always be one of my favourite Sabbath albums.

It's the heaviest of grittiest of the Martin-era albums and it showcases Tony's lyrical abilities to the max I think...this features some of his best work.

Recently he stated on facebook when asked did Geezer contribute any lyrics to this album that he didn't want to.

Martin's vocals here are also absolutely suberb. He tuned down some of his higher register for this and it worked perfectly.

Iommi's guitar work here is also exceptional...and Geezer brings the added heaviness which grantedly was missing from the previous albums. Bobby Rondinelli was a perfect choice as he has the groove of Bill Ward and the heaviness of Cozy and Vinny...a perfect match for Sabbath. I wish they would have used him for 13 and tour as well...beats that horrid Clufetus any day any way.

Not a single bad track on this album...I think the only weaker ones are Immaculate Conception which lacks punch and the ballad Dying For Love. The rest all are pure gold. I Witness is THE best album opener since Turn Up The Night...and frankly is the last great album opener Sabbath ever did.
Virtual Death is a Sabbath epic of the highest caliber, and the opening riff of Evil Eye is just mind blowingly great. As far as the solo goes. Tony said in a recent interview that Eddie Van Halen played it once and recorded it on single take and Tony then had to copy it for the album, but couldn't so it doesn't sound quite the same as Eddie's version. Tony also thinks he might still have the tape of Eddie's original solo and is more than willing to share it if he finds it.

Also about lyrical meanings Psychophobia is about the Waco incident and cults..has nothing to do with Ronnie.
I'm sure Tony might come to explaining the lyrics for this one too if he carries on with that lyrical explanation thing he recently started on facebook.


Overall rating for this Sabbath masterpiece is:

* * * * ½