Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Black SabbathEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2008-10-07
Music Label: Rhino Records
Soundtracks:
- Turn Up the Night
- Voodoo
- The Sign of the Southern Cross
- E5150
- The Mob Rules
- Country Girl
- Slipping Away
- Falling off the Edge of the World
- Over and Over
Free Music Notes for Mob Rules
Free Music Review: 'THUNDEROUS MOB' - Sabbath Summon the Apocalypse
Hit: 5 Stars
The incredible follow-up to 1980's HEAVEN AND HELL opus, 1981 saw the Ronnie James Dio-fronted BLACK SABBATH navigating the turbulent metal seas with the leviathan that was MOB RULES. H&H found SABBATH revitalized with a newfound creativity thanks to the superb writing skills and unmatched vocal prowess of their new frontman. That album yielded many a classic track and 30-years on, stands proud as one of the band's greatest achievements.
MOB RULES is an altogether different beast from H&H, however. Whereas the previous record had several different shades and moods, moving confidently from the chaotic "Neon Knights' to the dark and mysterious "Lady Evil" to the flat-out epic title-track, the nine songs which comprise MOB RULES are snarling, ferocious devil's morsels which seethe with venomous abandon as if they were poured from a churning cauldron located just to the left of satan's doorway.
Blessed with a thunderous, incredibly-thick production courtesy of veteran knob-twiddler Martin Birch and accompanying iconic cover artwork from the Brothers Hildebrandt, MOB RULES is a staggering statement of intent which sees the Sabs ready to take on all-comers to their heavy metal throne. The album literally EXPLODES from the get-go with lead-off track "Turn Up The Night," a speedy rocker which roars to life with a slightly deceiving cymbal-splash from kit-basher Vinnie Appice. A rollicking Iommi-riff takes center stage and threatens to eviscerate all in it's path whilst Dio howl's the lyric "a rumble of thunder/I'm suddenly under your spell" with urgency and unmatched swagger. A powerful opener which sets the stage nicely for the unstoppable auricular onslaught yet to come.
Follow-up track "Voodoo" cruises along a wicked highway of darkness courtesy of a throbbing Geezer Butler bass-line. Dio lays it on thick here atop a crunchy riff and snarls the lyric 'say you don't love me/you'll burn' with an evil finesse which was obviously in clear abundance during the tracking sessions for this record.
The album's centerpiece has to go the thundering, doom-laden 'Sign Of The Southern Cross," a 7:47 musical dirge which opens slowly and gradually ascends the metal mountain of grandeur as it's many layers are slowly revealed. Dio takes center stage with a wilting vocal painting images of 'fading away' and 'breaking crystal balls' as Iommi plucks away on soft acoustic guitar in the background. This false-sense of serenity is shattered by a sudden volley from Vinnie's drums as they rain down alarm and herald the arrival of a DOOM-LADEN power chord. The song then morphs into what it was intended to be: a harbinger of menace which smashes helpless souls unlucky enough to encounter it's all-consuming wrath.
A frenzied Iommi-solo closes the song as it fades into chaos - and chaos in this instance is the enigmatically-titled "E5150." A mysterious soundscape consisting of eerie synths and equally dissonant guitars, "E5150's" sole reason for existence is to prepare the listener for the sonic maelstrom that is about to be unleasehed via the album's title track. Arriving as if the band were conspiring with Hade's Hordes to unleash the apocalypse, "Mob Rules" erupts like Krakatoa and cracks the sky with a PULVERIZING riff. Dio commandeers the mike and unleashes the gods of war with an absolute STUNNER of a vocal which will simultaneously whiten the hairs on the back of your neck and send small furry animals scurrying for the nearest fallout shelters. Worth the price of admission alone and an absolute CLASSIC in the annals of all of Heavy Metal.
Side Two proper see things slowed down a bit with the likes of "Country Girl" and "Slipping Away." "Falling Off The Edge Of The World" is yet another flashy rocker on an album which acheives total dominance and never relinquishes it. Following the formula which sees a song begin with a brooding, atmospheric intro before segueing into a bruising, oppressive heaviness and then launching into a spirited sprint via an inspired-riff, "Falling" is vintage Sabbath Mark II. Album-closer "Over and Over" showcases a more pensive Sabbath and brings things to a dramatic conclusion.
MOB RULES saw the Dio/Iommi/Butler/Appice alliance solidify and appeared destined for even further greatness. Unfortunately, petty squabbling and in-fighting between band personnel doomed any future collaborations from this line-up for the remainder of the tumultuous 1980's. That they were able to reign-in the combustible elements of their creative relationship to author two of the era's seminal LP's reflects highly of their professionalism and leaves the world of metal with an indispensable, unsurpassed collection of music. - Ronnie Jimenez
Mob Rules Poster
Mob Rules was the first Sabbath release to feature Appice on drums (replacing Bill Ward). This album delivers high-octane classics including 'Falling Off The Edge Of The World' and 'Turn Up The Night.' This remastered album features in-depth liner notes including new band interviews.Classic Rock Music CDs
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