Black Sabbath
Sabotage (Super Deluxe)
(BMG)
9/10
By Decibel Report

Named due to the ensuing legal drama and chaos that followed from firing their manager Patrick Meehan, previously an assistant to Don Arden, Sabbath's sixth album, Sabotage, surrenders its deepest and darkest charms with a heavy cargo of musical ammunition extras.

Recorded at Morgan Studios, in Willesden, the legal shenanigans taking place prolonged its release beyond the four month recording schedule. Nevertheless, the aggro involved is credited as producing a harder and angrier edge. As much is in evidence from the off with Hole In The Sky and Symptom Of The Universe leading the attack towards the final album track, The Writ, that appositely illustrates the turmoil within the ranks.

It’s now over four decades since its original release and the music sounds like a juggernaut growling through the gears; with entrancing experimental manoeuvres here and there. Bill Ward wearing his wife’s red tights on the hastily arranged cover shoot, as though he’s mixed up going to Morgan Studios in-house bar with a barre class, adds a bizarre visual humour to the strangeness going on behind the scenes.

Spooling backwards to the present, this current deluxe edition is a true fan delight as, released both on CD and black vinyl, it comes complete with a full live show recorded during the promotional tour for Sabotage. Furthermore, thirteen of the sixteen tracks have never been released before. Coupled with the single edit for Am I Going Insane (Radio) and Hole In The Sky there’s a weighty book of liner notes and a ‘75 MSG replica concert programme and tour poster.

Following the template of riches of the previous programme of box set releases, this latest compendium of Sabbath original album plus contemporaneous full concerts and associated paraphernalia keeps their heavy bar raised very high.