BLACK SABBATH — Mob Rules (review)

BLACK SABBATH — Mob Rules album cover Album · 1981 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
bonnek
The Mob Rules continues with grown confidence on the path that Heaven and Hell carved the year before. The album is heavier and more consistent and the battle between Dio’s vocal chords and Iommi's power chords reaches its nadir.

"Turn up the Night" is a good opener but it isn’t till "Voodoo" that this record really kicks off. Classic groove on that one. "Sign of the Southern Cross" is the epic beast and even better then "Heaven and Hell". An instrumental interlude "E5150" with creepy distorted bass chords leads into the straight old school metal title track. Halfway through the album, "Country Girl" offers a first lighter flair on this ripping doom monolith. It's a folksy catchy tune with a beautifully tender middle section. "Slipping Away" is a solid heavy rock song but probably the least interesting on the album. Some enjoyable bass picking from mr Butler though.

After these two down to earth tracks, "Falling off the Edge of the World" takes us away into Dio's fairy land again. A gentle intro leads into a short brooding funeral march till things are stirred up around the two minute mark with a entrancing looping riff courtesy of mr Iommi. "Over and Over" is the final proof that this is a work from the days when artists still knew how to make an album. A slow emotional ballad rounds things up on a strong note and balances beautifully against all heaviness that preceded it.

There seems to be some bad vibes surrounding this album which kind of surprises me. Back in the day people seemed to find this every bit as good as "Heaven and Hell". An essential.
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