Let’s go check out an iconic band of my youth, albeit with a less than iconic lineup.
Disc 1824is…Cross Purposes
Artist: Black Sabbath
Year of Release: 1994
What’s up with the Cover? If you like an epic story, then this cover might be an angel at the end of the War of Heaven, realizing that backing Lucifer might not have been the best choice.
If you are just here to party, then maybe this angel just stood too close to a candle while getting a beer from the cooler on the deck. She’ll be fine – certainly not damned to hell - just singed and a little embarrassed. Help put her out and then get that seraph a drink!
How I Came To Know It: Despite being a long-time Black Sabbath fan (my first Sabbath review was way back at Disc 6!), this era of Sabbath was never on my radar. Then recently my friend Spence was exploring these albums. I was intrigued and that intrigue – plus the aforementioned house money – resulted in an impulse buy.
How It Stacks Up: With the purchase of two new Sabbath albums I now have 12. Of those 12 I put “Cross Purposes” in at…#11. So not last.
Ratings: 2 stars
The key to enjoying “Cross Purposes” is recognizing that Ozzy is long gone. Ronnie James Dio is also gone, and this time he’s not coming back. Absorb that reality and make peace with your grief.
Don’t feel too bad. You can still enjoy this record, but you’re going to have to lower your expectations a bit. OK, are they lowered? Then let’s proceed safely and judge “Cross Purposes” on its own merits
Tony Martin is not a bad vocalist. He’s actually a good one. If he were a James Bond he’d be Timothy Dalton. Dalton’s never gonna be Sean Connery or Daniel Craig. He’s probably not gonna even by Roger Moore. But he’s got a couple of movies in him and they are watchable. Enjoyable, even.
So no, Tony Martin is not the mad genius of Ozzy Osbourne, and while his anthemic vocals are in the style of Ronnie James Dio, there is only one Dio. It took me a couple of listens to get over this, but once I did I appreciated Martin’s talents. In most metal bands he would be great but standing as he does in the massive umbra of Ozzy and Dio, he’s going to draw comparisons that aren’t his fault.
But make no mistake, dude can sing. When “Dying for Love” came on at track six it caught me in mid-step (OK, mid-bite, I was eating a plate full of chicken). The song is stripped down and slow. The kind of song that will quickly expose an average singer. Martin rises to the challenge, soaring up and over the melody with gusto and easy power.
As for the rest of the band, with apologies to the more than capable drumming of Bobby Rondinelli, I found myself missing both Bill Ward and Vinnie Appice. They are co-equals for me in Sabbath drumming greatness. Rondinelli is…not.
Iommi and Geezer hold down guitar and bass perfectly well, but the songwriting doesn’t do them a lot of favours, sounding both of its time and occasionally derivative. When Soundgarden plays, I often hear the echoes of Sabbath in their work, but on a few “Cross Purposes” tracks (“Back to Eden”, “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”) reality was reversed and I heard Soundgarden in Sabbath. That ain’t how it is supposed to work.
For all that, on standouts “Cross of Thorns” and “Immaculate Deception” the band recaptures some of the old Sabbath magic. All that creepy majesty returns, and you get that doomy, crunchy riff action and arcane “is something important happening?” lyrics that reminds me favourably of the Dio years.
As I wrapped up my third listen of the week, decision time descended upon me. My overloaded CD shelves looked down at me threateningly – did I dare take up precious space with this record? Would I ever play it again?
I considered the reissue that I had purchased. Packaged as it was in a modern cardboard case, it was noticeably skinnier. Yes – it would definitely take up less space! As I sat on the knife-edge of a decision that helped save “Cross Purposes” from the resale pile.
If it had been an old school jewel case it might’ve been screwed.
Best tracks: Cross of Thorns, Immaculate Deception, Dying for Love, Evil Eye
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