Heaven and Hell – The Devil You Know – 2009 THe opening track, “Atom and Evil” (ugh, are these guys 15?) has the pace of a funeral processional. Almost as if the band is trying to instill depression. It’s not fun. Heaven and Hell are the holy/unholy marriage of Dio Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain
Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain – 2007 “I’m not going away!” Ozzy screams amidst the post-metal industrial backing and siren wail of Zakk Wylde’s guitar. He’s pretty earnest about it. I believe him. After turning himself into a reality tv clown, rocket-fueling his wife’s talk show career and turning his Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Rapture of the Deep
Deep Purple – Rapture of the Deep “The Wrong Man” rocks. Let me just say that for starters. In this latter day version of Purple, it’s a great litle groovetastic rocker. Gillan is in great voice, Airey makes you not miss Lord. At all. Whereas the title track sounds wayyyy Continue Reading
Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Deep Purple – Bananas
Deep Purple – Bananas – 2003 Bye bye, Jon Lord.So, Lord leaves, Blackmore is gone, who’s left? Ian Gillan (who occasionally sounds like Ian Anderson AND Warren Zevon!), drummer Ian Paice. Not much else. Ex-Sabbath keyboardist Don Airey is here instead and Steve Morse is on guitars. You know what? Continue Reading