Sabotage

Sabotage

Though not as well-known as their earlier albums, Black Sabbath’s sixth studio album, Sabotage, is one the group’s very best. Tony Iommi’s guitar sound is particularly strong and cutting, while the album's tone was influenced by the nasty fact that the band were being sued by their previous management, leaving them to wonder if it was wise to just keep paying the lawyers. Such is the topic of “The Writ,” one of the few songs with lyrics written not by bassist Geezer Butler but singer Ozzy Osbourne. “Hole in the Sky” and “Symptom of the Universe” became fan favorites and center on guitar riffs as sharp as shark bites. Iommi even adds beautifully textured acoustic guitar pieces to the end of “Universe” and the brief instrumental “Don’t Start (Too Late).” The nearly 10-minute “Megalomania” creates a haunted atmosphere worthy of the band’s name. The other instrumental, “Supertzar,” added a choir to create the effect of a horror movie. “Am I Going Insane (Radio)” fulfilled the effect with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals.

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