BLACK SABBATH — Technical Ecstasy (review)

BLACK SABBATH — Technical Ecstasy album cover Album · 1976 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Unitron
For the most part, the albums made by the original Black Sabbath lineup are considered untouchable legends in the world of rock and metal, that is until Technical Ecstasy. There's this idea that they just went straight from hot shit to just shit, no gradual decrease of quality, just a complete 180. To each their own if one believes that, but I think a combination of the reputation Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die get and coming from the wrong place to listen really neglects how good these albums sound.

Sabbath was already getting a bit more experimental on Sabotage, and this just continues that on a grander scale. Opener Back Street Kids is maybe 70's Sabbath's most hyper and pumped up song, sounding closer to the faster and more melodic direction metal was going in. It's Alright is the first song Bill Ward sings on, and it's a nice unique song in the band's catalogue. It has a laidback rock vibe in the vein of The Guess Who, in contrast to the incredible energetic drums that open up the following Gypsy. Honestly Bill Ward was on fire on these last two 70's Sabbath albums.

The funky All Moving Parts (Stand Still) has such a great groove, and there's something about funky songs from heavy bands in the 70's that's just instantly addicting. Rock 'n' Roll Doctor is another ridiculously catchy groove, and is the best boogie rock out there. Usually the highlight of the album is considered to be the closing Dirty Women. Personally I'm not a fan of some of the changes in sound it goes through, but the middle section is maybe Ozzy's best vocal performance ever. He has this rough and gravely tone that I've never heard him do on any other song, and hearing him almost roar "Oh dirty women, they don't mess around" over this heavy ass riff that sounds right out of the breakdown in Jethro Tull's Minstrel in the Gallery is one of the coolest sections of any song.

So yeah, it's pretty damn good. The next album would be even better though and my favorite Ozzy-era Sabbath album. Also that cover rocks, more albums should use Rene Magritte-esque surrealism.
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