{"product_id":"black-sabbath-sabotage","title":"Black Sabbath ‎– Sabotage","description":"\u003ch4 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack Sabbath – Sabotage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA powerful and musically adventurous entry in the Black Sabbath catalogue, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSabotage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e captures the band expanding their heavy metal sound into more complex, progressive and experimental territory. Originally released in July 1975, this sixth studio album finds Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward delivering a collection of dark, technically accomplished and sonically ambitious performances that rank among the finest recordings of their original line-up.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBy the mid-1970s, Black Sabbath had established themselves as pioneers of heavy metal, following a remarkable run of influential albums including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack Sabbath\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eParanoid\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaster Of Reality\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSabbath Bloody Sabbath\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. However, the group were also dealing with increasingly difficult legal disputes and management problems, particularly involving their former manager Patrick Meehan. The album's title reflects the band's feeling that their business affairs were undermining their work, and the frustration surrounding this period became part of the record's identity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecorded between February and March 1975 at Morgan Studios in London and Brussels, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSabotage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was produced by Black Sabbath alongside Mike Butcher. The result is a remarkably varied album, combining the band's trademark heavy guitar sound with progressive structures, unusual instrumental passages, atmospheric choral arrangements and adventurous songwriting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe opening track, \"Hole In The Sky\", immediately establishes the album's uncompromising character. Tony Iommi's heavy, driving guitar riff provides the foundation for one of the band's great hard-hitting performances, while Ozzy Osbourne delivers a particularly forceful vocal. This leads into \"Don't Start (Too Late)\", a short acoustic instrumental that provides a moment of contrast before the extraordinary \"Symptom Of The Universe\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidely regarded as one of the band's most influential recordings, \"Symptom Of The Universe\" features one of Iommi's most celebrated riffs and moves between aggressive heavy metal and a surprisingly melodic acoustic conclusion. Its combination of speed, heaviness and contrasting musical sections helped anticipate developments in later thrash and progressive metal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe ambitious \"Megalomania\" is another major highlight. Stretching across an extended arrangement, it moves through contrasting moods and musical passages, building from atmospheric beginnings into a powerful and increasingly intense performance. It demonstrates the band's ability to create lengthy compositions without losing their unmistakable heaviness.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide two opens with \"The Thrill Of It All\", a dynamic composition that combines muscular guitar work with more melodic passages and intricate changes in arrangement. \"Supertzar\" is one of the album's most distinctive moments, incorporating the English Chamber Choir into a dark, dramatic instrumental arrangement that adds an almost cinematic quality to the music.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Am I Going Insane (Radio)\" offers a more accessible, melodic approach, although its title is often misunderstood: the word \"Radio\" is a play on the word \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eradio rental\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, British slang for being mentally unstable, rather than an indication of a separate radio edit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album closes with \"The Writ\", an expansive and particularly personal composition inspired by the band's disputes with their former management. Featuring biting lyrics, shifting musical passages and an extended instrumental development, it provides a fitting conclusion to an album created during a turbulent period in the group's history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe original line-up is in outstanding form throughout, with Tony Iommi's inventive guitar work, Geezer Butler's commanding bass playing, Bill Ward's expressive drumming and Ozzy Osbourne's distinctive vocals creating a sound that is both unmistakably Black Sabbath and considerably more adventurous than their earlier recordings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough sometimes overshadowed by the band's more commercially successful early albums, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSabotage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e has become highly regarded among fans for its musical ambition, exceptional performances and willingness to push the boundaries of traditional heavy metal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn essential album for fans of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, classic British heavy metal, progressive metal and the darker side of 1970s hard rock. Featuring the monumental \"Symptom Of The Universe\", the epic \"Megalomania\" and the atmospheric \"Supertzar\", \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSabotage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remains one of the most compelling releases in the band's classic catalogue.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA1. Hole In The Sky – 4:01\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA2. Don't Start (Too Late) – 0:49\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA3. Symptom Of The Universe – 6:29\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA4. Megalomania – 9:46\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB1. Thrill Of It All – 5:55\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB2. Supertzar – 3:42\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB3. Am I Going Insane (Radio) – 4:13\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eB4. The Writ – 8:17\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KZiuHXFB-Hc?si=5oCxB2XlQff1zzUM\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"NEMs Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56571224654166,"sku":"NEL 6018","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/1000102130.jpg?v=1794324539","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/black-sabbath-sabotage","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}