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7 out of 10
Why they didn't do a decent live release during the Ozzy era is beyond me. Anyway, what of this luxurious reworking of Mr. Dio's onstage contribution to the Sabbath sound? It has a Hollywood sheen to it, despite the thumping riffs and slough of old classics. Take N.I.B. - rather than ooze fuzzily, disturbingly, as the original does, this version swaggers. Yes, I know it's hard to believe that of Ronnie James but he is the consummate rock performer here - you're never more than a few minutes away from an extended 'Oh yeahhhh!!!!' or 'Oooooooooo!' ad-lib. Often where it's not necessary, such as during Black Sabbath. Purists can balk once again at his 'No! no! no! Yeahhhhh!' turning the once-genuinely scary piece of music into a Heavy Metal panto. I mean, laughing after the 'Satan's sitting there, he's smiling' line. I ask you. This is Sabbath, not bloody Aladdin.
I shall forgive him, however, because when he's on it, he's on it and, thankfully, that's most of the time. The constant 'Oh yeahhhh-ing' is just what I believe the Americans call his 'shtick', anyway. Children of the Sea, The Mob Rules, an epic Sign of the Southern Cross - his own material, basically. He's fine, there. Stick to what you know. Oh yeah.
Listen: www.heavenandhelllive.com
Tracklist:
1. E5150
2. Neon Knights
3. N.I.B.
4. Children of the Sea
5. Voodoo
6. Black Sabbath
7. War Pigs
8. Iron Man
9. The Mob Rules
10. Heaven and Hell
11. The Sign of the Southern Cross
12. Paranoid
13. Children of the Grave
14. Fluff
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