The opening title track is a seance-a trip-and the chase (sacrifice). It starts with a thunderstorm and a beckoning tolling church-bell. When the band starts playing it's a deliberate slow pace, that is both powerful and scary. Ozzy sees a figure in black pointing at him, and his fear sets in. Ozzy's the chosen one about to die. Next up is the 'The Wizard' that is powerfully riffy. 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' is about where you go when you die. 'N.I.B. (Nativity In Black) is possibly one of the most powerful, evil, get inside your head metal riffs to ever come out of rock. Iommi's guitar playing is at it's fuzziest-wah-wah best. Whilst the American's were on a Jesus kick, the English were just the oposite. 'Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games With Me' (a classic Crow song from Crow Music) has classic blues lyrics, and is very non-pc for today. This is one of best covers Black Sabbath ever recorded. 'Sleeping Village/Warning' is a 14-minute epic, heavy-metal blues jam; and the lyrics are strange and addictive. This is my favourite Sabbath track.

These first four Black Sabbath albums are absolute classics, and they laid the grounding for one of the most potent and influential rock bands in history i.e. Black Sabbath (early 1970), Paranoid (later 1970: features 'War Pigs' & 'Electric Funeral'), Master Of Reality (1971: features 'Sweet Leaf' & 'Children Of The Grave') and Volume 4 (1972: features 'Wheels Of Confusion', 'Snowblind' & 'Under The Sun'). As much as I love the music, I can't stand the lyrics of this band. If you wish to bypass these albums and buy a really great compilation then We Sold Our Soul For Rock'n'Roll comes highly recommended.