The shows starts with an impressive opening cinematic experience unleashing the beast that is Black Sabbath and we’re straight into their eponymous track. Its sets the scene for the next 100 minutes with the musical onslaught of power riffs, throbbing bass, pounding drums, Ozzy’s voice (still really strong) and an amazing light show.
What you notice with Sabbath songs is that’s there at least one other song buried in there too with alternative riffs and charges of pace throughout. The set tonight unchanged throughout the tour mainly draws from the first four albums and each one is introduced by just its name. There’s little banter from Ozzy apart from encouraging the fans to clap their hands, make some noise and go crazy which we duly oblige.
Considering their years the noise is relentless. Iommi proving what a master guitarist he is, switching pace multiple times though a song with his precise style providing those well-known riffs to the classics. Butler’s fingers don’t stop moving through the show on the bass. There’s no plectrum in sight as he finger picks and his short solo makes great use of the effects pedal to showcase the outer limits of the instrument. Clufetos on drums is a nonstop Tasmanian devil of a drummer with a sound that suggests at least four hands are on the kit coupled with his double bass drums too. His extended drum solo is impressive, allows the three old timers a much needed few minutes rest and is suitably lit with strobing lights. I was breathless just watching.
The highlight for me of which there were many was ‘War Pigs’. It’s a classic but brought to life with a fantastic light show. The set ends as you expect with ‘Paranoid’ but the band are obscured for the most part with some unnecessary balloons and ticker tape.
Great to see them again after all these years as I rolled back to my fifteen year old self reminding me of why I got into music originally, kick ass rock n roll. As a show and spectacular it was incredible filling the behemoth of the O2 with both sound and light.
Keep on heavy metal rockin’ y’all.