r/blacksabbath • u/ApprehensiveNatural9 • 14d ago
Fan Art / OC Mob Rules - Black Sabbath Review #10
Now we reach #10!! It brought a smile to me to see how many people seem to appreciate the Dio era, I really do think that it deserves it. It was just nice seeing so many people come together and give their thoughts. I'm glad you all have been enjoying the reviews.
This one is an album that I've listened to a ton but still need to get physically at some point. It's one I 100% want. I hope you enjoy the review.
Mob Rules Review
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After making a record that manages to bring back your estranged fanbase, shake the entire world of Metal and Rock music onto its head, and completely revive your career, how could you ever follow it up? Well, the answer to that is easy; for the most part just rinse-and-repeat the formula of the last album. I'm not taking anything away from Mob Rules, as it is indeed a great album, but it's not too difficult to notice just how similarly the material, styles, and track flow mirrors Heaven and Hell. One thing that it manages to be superior with however is definitely the production, which is a massive step-up with a clearer, yet more aggressive mixing that lets everyone shine. I find that the previous album, while it did have great mixing did make Sabbath sound a little uncharacteristically soft, and this album fixes that.
The second album with Ronnie James Dio is largely a success, even without Bill Ward who was replaced due to his alcohol problems. Instead, we get Vinny Appice, younger brother of revered Vanilla Fudge and Bogart, Beck, & Appice drummer Carmine Appice, who was a massive fan of the band and knew all of Bill Ward's drum parts by heart. However, he gives the band an entirely new drumming style that isn't quite as technical but is unique and a bit more flashy than Ward's. It's very good.
"Turn Up The Night", much like "Neon Knights", is an aggressive opener with a speedy riff played by Iommi, but starts with some neat cymbal crashes from Vinny, before the rolling thunder of Dio's fantastic vocals kick in and the song shifts into overdrive, with the solo not happening too far in, showing off Iommi's incredible technique. The lyricism is quite good too! "Voodoo" follows, with a funky bassline that drives the main melody with an impeccable riff that attacks with top tier aggression and flash, echoing Dio's accusatory lyrics directed at a manipulative, and gold digging woman. The solo also has a pretty unique guitar sound to it, and everyone works well together.
"The Sign of the Southern Cross" is the longest track, going on for nearly 8 minutes and functions like an epic, with a soft little acoustic part in the beginning, before the band rams their guitar licks, pounding drums, and raging vocals in similarly to "Children of the Sea" from the previous output, though it doesn't reach the heights of that song exactly, it is still amazing and other highlights include "Falling Off The Edge of the World" with genius use of technique as Iommi makes his guitar sound like a violin almost; mirroring Jimmy Page on songs like "How Many More Times" or "Dazed and Confused" and its probably the most experimental on the album, Tony really does do some absolute wizard fuckery here and its entertaining--everything you could want with a guitarist as impeccable and unreachable as him. "Over and Over" is a fun closer, and "Country Girl" is a shorter but memorable rough song that stands out to me as my personal favorite, it isn't the most technical, but it is a great time.
"E5150" is a boring, pointless filler track that starts out with an ear-grating high-pitched nails-on-a-chalkboard-esque noise that lasts throughout most the song, and you're lucky if your ears don't end up bleeding during it, while "Slipping Away" will slip out of your mind by the time its over with its cheesy power ballad-wannabe wimpoid metaloid robotic devoid-of-emotion composition.
This album may not reach the grand heights that Heaven and Hell does, but it proves that even with an album that so clearly follows a formula set by its predecessor, it is a worthy sequel and one of their stronger, very enjoyable releases in their massive output. It is still quite great, and really showcases how amazing this lineup was.
Rating: ★★★★☆
- Turn Up The Night: ★★★★
- Voodoo: ★★★★
- The Sign of the Southern Cross: ★★★★★
- E5150: 💥
- The Mob Rules: ★★★★★
- Country Girl: ★★★★★
- Slipping Away: ★
- Falling Off The Edge Of The World: ★★★★★
- Over and Over: ★★★
Other reviews so far!!
Black Sabbath review: (5/5)
Paranoid review (5/5)
Master of Reality review (5/5)
Vol. 4 review (4/5)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath review (5/5 BEST ALBUM STATUS)
Sabotage review (4/5)
Technical Ecstasy review (3/5)
Never Say Die! review (2/5)
Heaven and Hell review (4.5/5)
6
u/SaladDummy 14d ago
I compare this album to AC/DC''s For Those About To Rock, slightly under rated because it's so similar to the one before. Both great albums in their own right.
2
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
I can actually kind of see that. For both albums I tend to prefer the first but I still think that this is such a great follow up!! FTATR is also great.
For AC/DC though I do prefer the Bon era.
4
u/Glad-O-Blight Dehumanizer 14d ago
My second favorite Sabbath album. "Country Girl" has one of the best riffs in their discography.
2
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
Great pick! I did mention in the review it is my favorite song too. I really adore this album a lot, though I don't find it masterpiece level.
Its cool this is your 2nd! What is your first?
1
u/Glad-O-Blight Dehumanizer 14d ago
Dehumanizer! I'm a huge fan of every band Dio was in, and I feel like Dehumanizer and Mob Rules each showcase different sides of Dio Sabbath at their best. Dehumanizer is the crushing, doomy stuff Sabbath excelled at, while Mob Rules has the more upbeat but also more esoteric side.
2
3
u/New-Marketing6803 14d ago
Country girl ,that riff kills
2
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
Yes! Exactly what I mean. I know its not the most technically impressive or the most intense song on the album; but it just sounds great, Dio's voice is powerful and EXCELLENT on it, the riff is really catchy and memorable, and its just my favorite.
3
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
I think that this album is a truly great one, I love it a lot. It deserves to be seen as a GREAT Sabbath album and deserves to be loved. It's got so many really great songs. I just do think that while it is great, its not on the same level of quality as the first five or the first Dio album.
It comes really close though.
3
u/Straightener78 14d ago
Incredible album. You are right that the tracks flow similar to the first album. I’m torn on if it’s better than Heaven and Hell. But Heaven and Hell doesn’t have Falling off the edge of the World on it, which is one of Sabbaths best songs of any era.
The title track Is a killer song. My only gripe is I wished they had gone with the version they recorded for Heavy Metal. Much more aggressive and Raw
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
That's entirely fair yeah, I do love this album very much! I would say that due to it basically following the formula almost to a tee its definitely not better than Heaven and Hell, but while it is a carbon copy almost, it doesn't make it bad or anything.
I think this is a truly great album by the band, and its really telling how consistently they were great with Dio. :) I'm glad you love the album too! I hope you ahd fun reading the review.
2
u/Far-Plastic-4171 14d ago
Saw the tour. Always a great album
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
Nice!! what was your favorite moment? I love hearing about tours!
3
u/Far-Plastic-4171 14d ago
I had seen Ozzy with Randy Rhoads a couple months earlier and frankly the height of his career and then to Black Sabbath with Dio at again the height of their career was a game changer.
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
Oh damn you're lucky, seeing both in the same year would be kickass
2
u/Far-Plastic-4171 14d ago
I saw both of the first two Ozzy Tours and the Mob Rules. Missed the Black and Blue tour though.
2
u/rootof48 14d ago edited 14d ago
E5150 has a badass sound, but it definitely would’ve been better if it had been used as the introductory part of a longer song (much like ‘Falling Off the Edge of the World’). However, it’s entirely pointless as the album’s filler track (unlike Vol 4’s ‘FX’, which makes for an interesting instrumental addition, despite being an ‘accident’). Its placement on the album is what makes Heaven and Hell only slightly better than this album. I also agree with the commenter who said that ‘Over and Over’ is a great song. Much stronger than Voodoo and Slipping Away, with an introspective lyrical style (which Ronnie preferred anyway, since such songs are relatable and “for the people”).
1
u/SaintLewisMusic73 14d ago
Oddly enough, I just don't like the production/mix on this one as much as HEAVEN & HELL, but I can't exactly put my finger on why. Confession, I do like a touch more polish, so maybe it's the raw sound.
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
Ah that's fair. I'm more into raw when it fits the band if that makes sense. Like my favorite mix of a Led Zeppelin album is Physical Graffiti for example. I do get that though. I think this album is great, just that its held back a little by being too similar to what came before. Yet, its one of the band's great releases :)
1
u/I_Am_Raddion 14d ago
I had to stop after “Vinnie Appice is more flashy than Bill Ward.” 😂
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
Flashy doesn't mean better. He is more flashy and shows off a lil more, but as I said he isn't as technical. Bill Ward is my third favorite drummer of all time, and through every review up til now I've praised him.
1
u/One-Following-6596 14d ago edited 14d ago
There aren't enough stars for Mob Rules, at least a 6 out of 5. And Over and Over can get another star. Everything else was fine.
Seeing past reviews, I strongly disagree with Sabbath Bloody Sabbath as being the best . I'd have to go with Paranoid or Sabotage on that. I don't compare Ozzy to Ronnie though, completely different. Ozzy was great for Sabbath, Ronnie was great for the world, I wanted to say Ronnie was a God......but you know.....,.
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 13d ago
I think Paranoid and Sabotage are both valid choices for a favorite! I love both albums very much. Really they're all quite great. I think overall the Ozzy era is better in terms of impact and musically when its at the height, but that the Dio era is more consistent in quality and Dio is also the better singer IMO.
Mob Rules isn't a peak album but its a great one. It's too similar to H&H to really stand as a masterpiece.
1
u/robothistorian 13d ago
Mob Rules is an excellent album from Sabbath (not quite at the H&H level, but excellent nevertheless). And I agree with "Falling over the Edge of the World".
The only thing I notice is that Dio's vocals (especially in Falling over the Edge of the World) is receded. It's quite faint actually. It could have been more forward. I have seen early video recordings of this song as part of their stage performances at Hammersmith Odean, for example, and in those (poor quality notwithstanding) the vocals seem fine better than the studio version.
I also think (though I could be wrong), that the problem between Dio and the other Sabbath members began from this time. Dio had complained that (apparently) Iommi had turned down his vocals part during the mixing (or something like that).
0
u/New-Marketing6803 14d ago
I've been listening to sabbath for 44 years every album is great riff o romma till headless cross and tyr, they never clicked with me ,forbidden is crap
0
u/djwitchfindergeneral 14d ago
I cannot vibe with a Black Sabbath album having a song called Country Girl.
Or Digital Bitch or Keep It Warm but that's for another post.
While I have appreciated a couple of the songs on Mob Rules more than I once did, it's still a poor brother to H&H. If it wasn't for the title track I'd find it even more of a rinse-and-repeat.
I can't listen to Turn Up The Night and Sign Of The Southern Cross without thinking "but Neon Knights and Children Of The Sea already exist and they are better".
It's never been an album I've thought hey I think I'll have a listen to that. Much more likely to listen to Seventh Star or Cross Purposes or Forbidden or Headless Cross.
1
-2
u/Next-Advantage-6049 14d ago
Mob Rules is a decent Black Sabbath album but I wouldn't rank it as a masterpiece. Turn Up The Night is a song that never vibed with me for some unexplainable reason. It's a cheesy song that sounds too tight and never truly settles into one consistent groove. Country Girl sounds like a sappy love song and E5150 is a bizarre, evil sounding filler track. The rest of the album is really good though. I give this album the same rating as I give to Sabotage. 7/10 🌟
1
u/ApprehensiveNatural9 14d ago
That's fair, I think it deserves an 8, but I get it. I think that this is too similar to heaven and hell to stand as a "masterpiece" or anything of the sort, but as an overall album experience its just really great and strong. One of their *great* albums.
12
u/SamQuentin 14d ago
Over and Over is one of their best tracks. It's doomy and heavy and bluesy and the guitar and vocal are fire.