Disco de Black Sabbath: “Live Evil”

This is a GREAT live album. Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise. Both discs are absolutely solid. Of the total 12 songs on the album, 6 are from the later 2 Sabbath albums: Heaven and Hell, and Mob Rules. The other 6 are from the first 3: Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and Master of Reality. The beauty of this recording is that the new band (with singer Dio and drummer Appice) can not only rock their newest songs, but they can also kick out the old classics harder than ever. Since it has been more than 10 years since these classic albums came out, Iommi and Butler are both profoundly better at their instruments. Iommi now proves himself to be one of the great guitarists in rock. The solo in "Heaven and Hell" is incredible, and his guitar work throughout the album is really great; he is at his high point creatively.

The newer songs, like "Heaven and Hell" and "Sign of the Southern Cross" (two of my favorites) are pretty much like you would expect them (really awesome, that is). The old ones are done surprisingly well, too. The two that I had the most doubt for are the ones that turned out to be the best on the album: "Black Sabbath" and "Iron Man." These are incredible; they are quite different from their original versions. They are sleeker and more updated for the new decade of the 80s.

Dio is the best singer Black Sabbath ever had, as well as being my personal favorite singer of all time. His voice is one of the most recognizable in heavy metal, he has a great distinct style that fits the music of Black Sabbath very well. Vinny Appice (apparently it is pronounced "Ap-iss-ee," as Dio says at one point in the album) is an incredible drummer, although I have to say I do like Bill Ward better. Appice has much better technical ability, as clearly displayed in the ferocious drum solo of "War Pigs," but I find that he does not have the same groove. He doesn't rock quite as hard as Ward. However, the lineup of this album is still one of my favorites. This truly is Black Sabbath at their artistic prime.

It is hard to think of time when Black Sabbath was Ozzyless. It just always seem to be and always was. With Ozzy's departure in the 80's, the band went on with new singer Ronnie James Dio. Even though, most people tend to gloss over the Dio years. The band made some of its best music and Dio's presence seem to rejuvenate Sabbath. One can hear this on Live Evil.

This CD in the Sabbath catalogue is highly underappreciated. The songs on this CD are the perfect hybrid between the Ozzy years and the Dio years. I am not going to say that Dio is going to make you forget Ozzy on such Sabbath classics as Paranoid, Iron Man , or Children of the Grave. However, he does an admirable job. The songs from the Dio era are center stage here. One could make the point that Dio's songs are some of best music Sabbath ever made. The hot tracks are Heaven and Hell with The Sign of the Southern Cross thrown in for good measure. Another gem is Children of Sea.

Even though this album will not make you forget Ozzy. It will at least Make you appreciate the Mark II or Dio version of Black Sabbath a little more. Remember the mob rules and Ozzy drools.

This album is a great representation of Black Sabbath's 1982 set list for the "Mob Rules World Tour." Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice shine on songs ranging from "Iron Man", "Paranoid", & "War Pigs", to "The Mob Rules" and a special medley of "Heaven & Hell" and "The Sign of the Southern Cross." It may be hard to find a copy of this set of discs, but if you do spot a copy, be sure to pick it up. It's the only official live Sabbath record with Dio on vocals and Vinny Appice on drums. The other live albums that Sabbath has released feature Ozzy on vocals, and are not of great quality.

"Live at Last" released in 1980, is a poor recording of a 1973 gig, and "Reunion (1997)" showcases an incoherent Ozzy attempting to sing songs that he hadn't performed for decades.

This double album however, is stellar from beginning to end, and does not overlook any of the Black Sabbath hits released in the early 1980's with Dio. "Voodoo" and "Children of the Sea" are 100 times better live, than they are in the studio. Dio's vocals are magnificant, and he pulls off the Ozzy tunes pretty well. If only Black Sabbath would release this concert on DVD, or give us a new remastered edition, with bonus tracks. The minor hits "Turn Up the Night" & "Lady Evil" would sound awesome in a live setting. Pick this album up first, then get the other Dio/Sabbath collaborations "Mob Rules", "Heaven & Hell", & "Dehumanizer." The remastered "Mob Rules" CD sounds awesome, and the additional photos & inclusion of lyrics make it essential.

Even though the band had already split by the time this album was released and a lot of critics blasted the album afterwards,this is a high quality live Sabbath album,where the live versions of some of the 'heaven and Hell'and'Mob Rules'-era material simply burn,while Dio's renditions of old Sabbath tunes are extremely competent.Remember'If you listen to fools,the mob rules...'

This album is a great representation of the all too short Dio era for Black Sabbath. All the great songs from Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules are here, along with Dio's take on some classic Sab cuts. The exceptional tracks are "Children of the Sea," "Heaven and Hell," and "Sign of the Southern Cross."

I don't understand the people who object to Dio singing songs like "War Pigs" or "Iron Man." Most have no objection to the remakes of old Sabbath songs on the tribute album Nativity in Black, but they pan Dio for singing the same songs with two of the original band members playing along? Give me a break! Dio can't sing those songs like Ozzy, but with his vocal talents and unique style, his version of classic Sab is certainly worth a listen.

Bottom line: if you like Ronnie James Dio, get this album. If you can't stand to hear anyone but Ozzy sing "Paranoid," get the new Reunion album.