Zakk Sabbath - Vertigo

Black Sabbath. About a dozen bands in the history of music have had such a lasting impact that continues to this very day. The founding fathers of Heavy Metal and Doom/Stoner Rock. Thousands of bands cite Sabbath has one of their top inspirations for wanting to join a band and make music. There’s no denying that the legacy Black Sabbath has forged for itself is legendary. This will be more of an article than a review; basically my thoughts and opinions on a life-long love for this band. Ever since I first heard “Paranoid” in my teens, I’ve been a Sabbath fan.

Let’s go back to the beginning, shall we? Black Sabbath’s first album, the self-titled masterpiece Black Sabbath, was released on Friday the 13th of February, 1970. It was recorded in a single day in October 1969. It’s widely regarded as the very first Heavy Metal album. Black Sabbath went on to become legends with albums such as Paranoid, Master of Reality and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The four blokes from Birmingham who used to go by the band name of “Earth” went on to become Metal/Doom pioneers. With Ozzy Osbourne on lead vocals, Tony Iommi’s slow, heavy guitar riffs, Geezer Butler’s doomy lyrics and pulse-pounding bass, and Bill Ward’s thunderous drumming, the band stood out as a force to be reckoned with.

Fast forward 50 years. Former Ozzy guitarist and Black Label Society singer/guitar God Zakk Wylde and his Sabbath cover band, Zakk Sabbath, decide to cover the entire Black Sabbath album from top to bottom, in sequence, no less. For the uninitiated, Zakk Sabbath was formed in 2014, features Zakk Wylde on guitar and vocals, and current members bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (who’s performed on Rob Zombie’s solo albums as well as currently being part of Ozzy’s band), and drummer Joey Castillo (of Danzig and Queens of the Stone Age, among many others). They’ve toured intermittently over the years and released a three-song EP exclusively available on vinyl titled “Live in Detroit” on the Southern Lord label in 2017. Wondering what to do next, the power trio thought it’d be a great way to celebrate Sabbath’s 50 years of Doom by covering their legendary eponymous album. They decided they would do it the same way it was originally recorded: in a single day! Since the original album was released through the UK record company Vertigo Records, launched in 1969 and specializing in Prog Rock, Zakk Sabbath’s tribute album would be appropriately titled Vertigo.

Indie New York Heavy Psych/Doom label Magnetic Eye Records would distribute it and it would be a strictly old-school affair: no digital release. The only way to get your hands on this bad boy is to purchase a physical copy, either on vinyl or on CD, to experience it the way we used to (still not so long ago) listen to music before the digital age of MP3s.

September 4th, 2020, Vertigo is released and, man, the fuzz is strong with this one! It’s basically a note-for-note remake of Sabbath’s debut album, and while that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s in line with what Zakk Sabbath have been doing live in concert since day one. They are, after all, a super group/cover band of Black Sabbath. So under those terms, I think recreating Black Sabbath’s eponymous album while only diverging ever so slightly from the source material is entirely justified, with Wylde adding a few notes, filling some space here and there on the guitar as he is known to do. Besides, I think it’s a great way for the new generation of kids/teens not so familiar with Sabbath’s first record to discover this outstanding album. Here’s a rundown of Vertigo’s five tracks with brief notes on each song.

1.    “Black Sabbath” – What an opener for my favorite Black Sabbath song of all-time! Wylde sounds very soulful here and his vocals are eerily similar to Ozzy’s. The mood of this song is just as palpable as the original. This rendition is now tied as best cover of the titular song with Type O Negative’s 1994 version found on the superb Nativity in Black tribute album.

2.    “The Wizard” – Another great piece, which Wylde had already covered on his Pride & Glory album (on the 1999 reissue, not the original 1994 release). The band’s playing is really tight on this one. The Zakk Sabbath version is superior to that of Pride & Glory’s in my opinion.

3.     “Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B.” – The second longest song of the album running at 10 minutes, a medley of sorts culminating with the loud, doomy “N.I.B.” I’ve always loved that long bass intro to “N.I.B.” and it’s just as powerful here. My name is Lucifer, please take my hand will stay in your head for hours afterwards. A stellar rendition of its original counterpart.

4.    “Wicked World” – It’s always been a fun song but nothing special and my least favorite of the album, if I had to pick one. This cover is once again very faithful to the original, but doesn’t make me love it more.

5.    “A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning” – Final track and longest one, another medley, clocking in at 15 minutes. I love Wylde’s soloing throughout this one. This song to me has always felt like a long improvised jam and you get that same vibe here. The trio skillfully complement themselves to bring the ceremony to a close.

I may be biased as Black Sabbath’s first album is my second favorite of theirs (behind Master of Reality) and the title track is my favorite Sabbath song (okay, maybe tied with “Children of the Grave”). I’m also a huge fan of Zakk Wylde’s music output in all its shapes and forms, but this is a gem of a cover album, folks. For hardcore Black Sabbath and Black Label Society fans, I’d say this is absolutely worth the trouble of purchasing a vinyl or a CD (even if, like me, you hadn’t bought a CD in five years). Wylde is in terrific form when it comes to swinging his proverbial axe and taking care of vocal duties. Blasko and Castillo are a thunderous rhythm section, Sabbath-worthy of Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. Together Zakk Sabbath breathe new life into a fantastic classic album, one you might enjoy re-discovering (or discovering) through a fresh set of ears.

Magnetic Eye Records’ Zakk Sabbath Bandcamp page: https://store.merhq.com/album/vertigo

Zakk Sabbath’s Bandcamp page: https://zakksabbath.bandcamp.com/

Surf Sabbath Covers Black Sabbath

When it comes to Doom music, anything related to Black Sabbath immediately sparks my interest. This weekend I stumbled upon a really cool tribute album of sorts dedicated to the beloved founding fathers of Doom. It’s a Surf music band aptly named Surf Sabbath. In the interest of talking/reviewing all things Sabbath-related, I thought it’d be a fun thing to share with you. They have an EP/album titled Surf Sabbath available as a free download on Bandcamp as well as a “Name Your Price” double single of two more Sabbath songs for a combined total of eight songs.

If you’re a Sabbath fan and enjoy instrumental Surf music like I do, then this is right up your alley. Think Dick Dale & The Deltones, or The Ventures, or better yet, Link Wray meets Black Sabbath and you get a good idea of the kind of vibe this album evokes. It features instrumental covers of “Children of the Grave”, “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (a bodacious rendition!), “Hole in the Sky”, “Into the Void” (possibly my favorite cover), “Paranoid”, and “Sweet Penetration” which covers part of Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf” and part of “Penetration”, a Surf song from vintage California Surf band The Pyramids. The double single consists of long instrumental versions of “Symptom of the Universe” and “Wicked World”. The 6-song album was released in 2016 while the double single was released in March of this year and in my opinion shows the band’s evolution and sounds awesome. You can tell these three surfer dudes (they apparently don’t surf!) had a blast doing this project. When they’re not putting on wigs and paying tribute to the almighty Sabbath, they’re a legit Surf band from Burlington, Vermont that goes by the name The High Breaks with a good number of albums/singles out. I sampled some of their music on Bandcamp and it’s definitely worth a spin, so you might wanna check them out as well.

Dare I say these Surf Sabbath releases are worth the price when they’re pretty much free of charge? Trust me, click on the links below and hit that download button and throw a couple of bucks their way, you’ll be glad you did. It might also be something fun to put on in the background and share with your girlfriend/significant other who might not necessarily be into heavier/gloomier music like Sabbath and the likes. 

Surf Sabbath’s Bandcamp page: https://surfsabbath.bandcamp.com/

Check out their Surf music page as The High Breaks: https://thehighbreaks.bandcamp.com/music

Crystal Spiders - Molt

Before we go any further, let’s get one thing out of the way: this album is absolute fire! Just how I like them; a ‘70s-inspired doom/rock n’ roll affair. Helmed by singer/bassist Brenna Leath (of Lightning Born fame), drummer Tradd Yancey, and featuring Mike Deloatch and Mike Dean on guitars, Crystal Spiders give us their first full-length album. This is one of those albums that had me at hello. Full disclosure: I have a penchant for female fronted occult doom/heavy psych bands. Brenna’s vocals feel like she’s a mermaid whose singing would have driven sailors mad and have them crashing their ships against the rocks on the shore. And crashing, my friends, has never felt so sweet!

The album opens with “Trapped”, a hypnotic and heavy tune storming guns-blazing out of the gate. On to the next track, the album-titled track, “Molt”, a straight-up punk/rock number reminiscent of Joan Jett’s former band, The Runaways, only heavier and faster. Next up is “Tigerlilly”, a head-bopping kind of song. Next up is “Chronic Sick”, a slow, sludgy, doomy, slow-burn type of song. Track number five is “C.U.N. Hell”, one of the singles off the album. It’s easily one of the catchiest songs on the record with its hard-driving riffs. We move to “Gutter”, and this one’s a keeper; a smoking-hot song with a very hypnotic, highly addictive quality to it. “The Call” is rock n’ roll galore! If you wanna get your rocks off, this is the perfect song for it. “Headhunters” feels more like an interlude than a song but I’m really digging the vibe. We save the best for last, or at least my personal favorite: “Fog”. This right here is epic-sounding heavy psych/doom at its best, the kind of song you put on repeat on Halloween night while the kids gather to ring your doorbell to get some candy or to welcome your guests to a horror movie marathon.

The verdict is quite simple; as I said from the get-go, this album is hotter than Hades. It’s a must-have in every sense of the word; very accessible, mainstream yet independent, delivers the goods in spades if you’re into doom/psych/occult/old school rock. Unless you really don’t like female lead vocals, I’d say this is a must-buy. Yep, it goes into the 2020 best of the year candidates for me. I truly hope this isn’t just a project and that we wind up seeing many more releases/albums from this incarnation/lineup in the near future.

Crystal Spiders’ Bandcamp page: https://crystalspiders.bandcamp.com/album/molt

Ripple Music’s Crystal Spiders page: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/molt

Mos Eisley Spaceport - The Best of Their Early Year

Every now and then you stumble upon a band’s album cover art that just blows you away and raises your expectations about its content only to be sorely disappointed when you take it for a spin. This is certainly not the case for Mos Eisley Spaceport; you can safely judge the book by its cover when it comes to this band. Not only that but the band’s name evokes so much imagery and memories for Star Wars fans that it automatically makes you wish for something special. Thankfully, the Tatooine-born trio has come to our galaxy and relocated to Bremen, Germany to deliver a classic blend of psych/stoner/blues rock.

The Best of Their Early Year, as the EP’s title suggests, is a collection of what the band has recorded so far in less than a year. They already have such a polished sound and command of what they’re going for; you can tell that this band is a tight outfit. You could probably fool someone into believing this album is a lost gem that fell through the cracks and was recorded sometime around the release of Star Wars in 1977 or 1978. The festivities begin with the tribal drumming of “Further When I’m Far” which takes you on a swirling guitar-driven adventure. It’s followed by the groovy “Mojo Filter” and what to me is the highlight of the album, “Space Shift”, which opens with a Star Wars sampling of Obi-Wan talking about Mos Eisley Spaceport. The use of the organ for this song gives it a Deep Purple vibe and channels all that was magical about ‘70s classic rock. Then we move on to “Drop Out”, a ditty that will stay in your head long after the band has stopped playing. Things come to a close with the humorous and super fun sing-along song “My Bicycle Won’t Fly”.

Cool vocals, check. Awesome guitar solos, check. Vintage, bluesy classic rock sound, check. Accomplished musicianship, check. I just love this EP (and this band) and if this is what they can do so early in the game, we should rejoice to hear what their second and third years will sound like. I have it on good authority that they’re already back on Tatooine working on a soon-to-be-released track titled “Interstellar Mantis”. Give this band some love and pick up a digital copy of their debut EP on Bandcamp; it’s a “Name Your Price” release.

Mos Eisley Spaceport’s Bandcamp page: https://moseisleyspaceport.bandcamp.com/releases

HAZEMAZE - The Paranoid Sessions

The year 2020 celebrates a landmark in the Doom genre: it is the 50th anniversary of the release of Black Sabbath’s first two albums which would forever cement their status as the godfathers of Doom and Metal. Their first album, the self-titled Metal masterpiece, was released on Friday the 13th in February of 1970, followed by the behemoth that would become Paranoid on September 18th. Zakk Wylde’s Zakk Sabbath band took care of covering the eponymous album in its entirety earlier in September (which I’ll review at a later date). Swedish Doom trio HAZEMAZE decided to cover part of Paranoid and have given us The Paranoid Sessions EP which consists of covers of three of the original album’s eight songs. And they released it on the exact date to coincide with when Paranoid saw the light of day 50 years ago. How cool is that?

HAZEMAZE have rapidly become one of my favorite Doom Rock bands. I have an affinity for vintage-sounding Doom/Heavy Psych bands and with their ‘70s-inspired sound, incredibly atmospheric songs, they satisfy my musical needs to the highest degree. You could already hear Sabbath’s strong influence on their two albums; their self-titled debut in 2018 and their follow-up, Hymns of the Damned in 2019 (both albums will be reviewed here soon). HAZEMAZE’s guitar sound has a very Iommian quality to it, so covering Sabbath songs was no hard task for them. Now, there are two ways to go about covering a song: you can put a whole new spin on it and make it yours, sometimes completely changing the genre of music of the song you’re covering. Or you can do a very faithful cover that bears strong resemblance to the original and preserves its essence. The latter is what HAZEMAZE have chosen to do here and rightfully so for this celebratory occasion. 

The guys picked three songs to cover and I’m very happy with their choice: 1) Iron Man, 2) Electric Funeral, and 3) Hand of Doom. You have to cover at least one of the huge hits, for sure, but they could have easily done just that and instead of the two latter tracks also covered the song "Paranoid", and the mighty "War Pigs", which have been covered ad nauseam. Focusing instead on two of the deeper cuts of the album was a great idea. They follow Sabbath’s template yet manage to inject new life into "Iron Man", making it one of the best renditions of this song I’ve heard in years. "Electric Funeral" sounds fresh and vintage at the same time. The gem of the EP in my opinion is the closing song, "Hand of Doom". A pitch-perfect cover that ends the EP on a strong note and would make Ozzy, Iommi, Geezer, and Ward proud. It makes you crave more and wish they’d pulled a Zakk Sabbath and covered the whole album in sequence.

I see nothing but good things in store for HAZEMAZE’s future; this band is heavy, melodic, and has the perfect mix of vintage with a modern twist. I am eagerly awaiting their third full length album. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and pick up this Sabbathian EP. The Sabbath lover in you will thank you.

HAZEMAZE’s Bandcamp page: https://hazemazeband.bandcamp.com/

Harbinger of D.O.O.M. has launched!

Greetings fellow doomers! I am officially launching my Doom/Stoner Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Occult Rock music review blog today: Harbinger of D.O.O.M. (Distinct Opinions On Music). I'll be reviewing albums on a regular basis and sometimes writing articles and publishing interviews with bands. If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list to receive notifications whenever I update the blog, you can do so at the bottom of this page by submitting your email address. If you're a band and you'd like to submit your album for consideration to be reviewed, drop me a line and a link to a song or sample of your music so I can get a better idea whether it's something I'd like to review. I can be reached at doomharbinger@outlook.com. I'll have more info about myself and a first review up very soon. Stay tuned!