Sabbath Riffs

"The unmistakable sound of That Guitar and the bludgeon of Those Riffs can only mean that the fire still blazes." Tony Iommi keeps the Black Sabbath flame burning on From The Dark

The Riff Master General returns: Praise the loud

(Image credit: © Ross Halfin)

With Ozzy gone and Geezer and Bill all but retired, it falls to Tony Iommi to keep the flame of Black Sabbath burning. On this album, in tandem with Norwegian singer Jørn Lande, he does so in the style of the Ronnie James Dio-fronted lineup and the subsequent Heaven & Hell. Is it as good? Mostly, yes. More importantly, the unmistakable sound of That Guitar and the bludgeon of Those Riffs can only mean that the fire still blazes.

Lande is an impressive partner, co-writing all eight songs with Iommi – even if his lyrics are sometimes more metal-by-numbers than the much-loved existential musings of Terence Michael Joseph Butler. The vocals, though, are arresting and occasionally uncannily like David Coverdale’s, echoing Lande’s work in Whitesnake spin-off outfit The Snakes three decades ago. 

FINISH READING HERE

More News from Timonium

• TU HOF Honors 2012 LAX Squad
• Local Dealership Changes Hands