Black Sabbath-Volume 4

*****

1972

Coke adds life.

Volume Four was recorded in Los Angeles in 1972. This album is probably one of their all time heaviest. First of all, they have a new producer now, thank god. You can tell the difference as soon as the first track opens up. Its a sonic gateway. Lo-Fi never sounded so Hi-Fi. Heavy music today can never sound like these albums due to one reason. Too much technology can make your guitar sound as heavy as a steam roller, but it will lack the most important quality. Rawness. Zach Wilde or whatever can play a mean guitar but it sounds a shiney as Kojaks bald head. But hey, technology, progress, who can stop it? I dont want anyone else to sound like this anyway.

The cover of this lp is a strange design of Ozzy with his classic Sab pose. When I was a wee tyke I always thought it was some sort of strange freaky priest or wizard or some shit. Maybe I was right. ha ha ha. Anyway, inside this album are some good pictures of the band and how good cocaine is to them! They even thank the good COKE-cola company of Los Angeles. I think they were pretty proud of their fun habit. Also, this album title was rejected AGAIN by Warner Brothers. They wanted it to be called SNOWBLIND, but Warner Brothers probably looked at them like they were crazy. All I know is that there was a LOT of cocaine involved in the making of this grand LP. And hey, great! It made me a happy boy. I love this LP. Its one of my top 3 Sabbath albums of all time.

Wheels Of Confusion is a cool, slow-then fast for a quick while-and then slow again song with a great outro called The Straightener. Welcome back reverb! I missed ya. Bill Wards double bass drum finally comes to the light in this LP. Its not quite as distinct as say Dave Lombardos, but its 1972. I know Keith Moon used one but hes a complete spaz and is out of control anyway.

Tommorows Dream is an OKAY song and god knows why its on their Greatest Hits album (We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll). Then we have......

Changes.. the balad. They beat Aerosmith to the metal balad, although its not really a metal balad. Just a sad song played by a heavy fucking bad. Real sad song though, I usually skip it cause it makes me all sad. ha ha ha.

FX is proof that drugs make you do strange things.

Supernaut is the heaviest song on this album probably and definatly another milestone in Sabbath asskicking. The lyrics are out of sight, the guitar is intense as shit and the rhytym section is the baddest band in the land. All four working to make an incredible song that no one else even could have imagined composing in 1972 for christ sake. Always a shame how they probably havent played this song in forever. If they want to live, they better play this for the reunion shows. I think its one of their best songs EVER.

Snowblind. This song is all about their cocaine dreams and whatever. Its a driving riff with a cool breakdown and fierce drumming. There are two stages of drug addiction. the first one is featured in the recording of this album. The second is shown as they play the same song in 1978 on the home video. They are SO struggling, especially the drummer. He looks like hes about had it. But this song was recorded during the rush part so thats why its soooo damn good. They sure like cocaine. Wish I could afford to have a good coke habit. I gave up cigarettes for booze.

Cornucopia. This song is pretty damn good. Bill Ward almost got fired for this song. They were in the studio doing mountains of cocaine and ol Bill just couldnt get it right. So they told him to go home and get it together. He returned, did a few lines, and got it right. Way to go Bill. I didnt think it seemed to be that hard of a song. But, uh, he is probably a better drummer than I am so Im not gonna talk trash!

Laguna Sunrise. Nice, sweet acoustic song. Pretty.

St. Vitus' Dance. This song shifts from HEAVY to a slight "ditty" sound. La, la la la la la, then GRRR GRR GRR GR GRRR. I know, you think Im on coke. Just go buy the album dickhead.

Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes. Once again, the final track on a Sabbath record kicks ass. The intro to this song is so fucking heavy. I love it all. This is actually one whole song in my eyes. Double bass drum is kicking on this. A great drumming song. I'm sure you will agree. Anyway, good lyrics on this one too. I think they are pushing the envelope and their minds on this LP. Tonys guitar is so fucking heavy. Once again, you just cant belive how people would even compare Zeppelin to Sabbath. Gag. I guess they dig all the Celtic mystery and all that horseshit.

This is definatly an album you must buy if you really want to get into Sabbath and dont wanna buy a greatest hits album or you're looking for something a lot heavier than Paranoid has to offer. Just don't go start sniffin lines everytime you put this on. Classic album.

Songs

Wheels Of Confusion/The Straightner

Tommorows Dream

Changes

FX

Supernaut

Snowblind

Cornucopia

Laguna Sunrise

St. Vitus Dance

Under The Sun/Every Day Comes And Goes