Black Sabbath Revival
Black Sabbath's grandeous European tour leg passes as a hurricane over the biggest cities of the old continent. Packed venues, complete sold out gigs. This is Sabbath revival.
After the big success in Sweden, our boys played a great gig in Berlin. After Soundgarden's opening act, familiar sound of sirens and church bells and massive Iommi riff exploded the Kindl Buhne arena. One of Sabbath's main characteristics alive is their superfine sound, extremely heavy and cristal clean. No other band on Earth have such a sound, that lets the fans on the first rows enjoy its incredible heaviness without suffering hearing damage. Black Sabbath's live sound engineering is remarkable.
Majestic stage presence is another quality proper of Sabbath boys. Charismatic Ozzy Osbourne, Prince of Darkness, lordly Geezer Butler and divine, regal Tony Iommi make a complete picture. Scary sound and doomy atmosphere, images of mentally ill beating in convulsions, suicide nuns, burning churches... it's more actual than ever, it's mature Sabbath, wise Sabbath, experienced Sabbath.
Being myself present at Berlin gig, I was particularly struck by reaction of the people that attended the concert for the first time in their life. They were absolutely shocked! Their faces were overwhelmed by happiness and, I would say almost, ecstatic astonishment.
Our lovely friend and member of community Agnieszka Kras assisted to the gig in Lodz, Poland, 11 June. She was so kind to write a review of the concert, which we happy to publish here, as well as her great pictures of Tony:
"It's hard to describe how I feel after long hours of waiting for Black Sabbath next to Atlas Arena in Łódź. Four hours in sun with a little bottle of water and after that next three hours waiting for support which I didn't like really.
Sabbs started their gig at 21:00 GMT+1, as everybody know the setlist is unchangable on that tour but it's perfect anyway. When I heard the sirens it was one of the best moments in my life, then guys started War Pigs, curtain came up and the show has begun. Crowd was insane everyone were screaming with Ozzy "Generals gathered in their masseeees!!!".
After that came time for superheavy Into The Void. I just love Tony's poses when he plays riffs of it. Mesmerizing... Next was Under The Sun – m a d n e s s! Everyone were jumping and „going f*ckin' crazy!!!” as Ozzy would say. Snowblind was a poetry, I sang along with Ozzy and with Tony's riffs. Great work of guys responsible for lights, headlights were imitating the sun and when I was looking up I really felt like „lying snowblind in the sun”. Then came a time for Age Of Reason – when Tony started a riff it was like real strike of thunder and his solo, amazing!!!
Next song was evil Black Sabbath... My hand couldnt resist and I played my air guitar with Tony... and again! His solo just made me high! Had the goosebumps when Ozzy was screaming „OH NO PLEASE GOD HELP ME!!!”. After that – Behind The Wall of sleep. Tony laughed because people were singing the riff with him playing, so adorable.
NIB was for me one of the best performances ever! Epic intro of Geez with a part played higher, genial! People were screaming with Ozzy and having a great time. Next was End Of The Beginning... Tony again blew my head away. After jumping on a second riff of it, solo was just incredible. Fairies Wear Boots – next stop, as a one person from the barrier, 1st row I can say that my neck achieved weird level of flexibility, the greatest headbang ever! Rat Salad mixed with Supernaut and finished as massive Tommy's drum solo was spectacular, really I woulnd't be ashamed to say that Tommy is 2nd John Bohnam, I'm sorry those who complain about him but guys... how can you complain about such a great drummer!?
Next was Iron Man. I can't describe how I felt when Tommy started hitting the rythm. Tony walked through the stage brandishing his hand in the air and smiling widely. I could write about that performance giant essay... it was just a majestic earthquake! The same I would say about glorious God Is Dead? It was so powerfull and when the faster riff came people were insane. Great solo of Tony without wahwah. Talking about solos... but the greatest of them all for me was Dirty Women. I have no idea how Tony did it. I stayed in front of him during it and I was just speechless. Only things I could say were... “how the f...”. I have recorded it so soon you'll can see it from my perspective.
Children Of The Grave – feel the power of headbang! People were singing along to riff making Tony laugh. After that they left the stage. Crowd went insane again everyone were screaming “ONE MORE SONG!!!” and guys came out back to play Paranoid with intro of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.
On any gig on which I was before I hadn't had such a great fun. Sabbath have great contact with audience and do everything with pure passion. Seeing Tony smiling through the all gig was just heartmelting.
Before the gig I prepared a fast “flag” which I've cut from the back of my old white tshirt. I haven't had much time so did it quick. Wrote with a marker “DR. IOMMI IS MY IRON MAN”... You can not imagine how I felt when I expanded it during hearing the sirene and when the curtain came up and a first thing what Tony saw was me with that. He smiled widely and pointed at me! I expanded it also later on Iron Man and Ozzy pointed at me too.
About Ozzy... everyone knows his bucket. I tried to take a photo of Tony because he standed so close and was looking at me. Then I felt something weird... people were looking on the left and just when I turned my head I saw the water flying out of his bucket straight on me and a person next to me. I got baptised by Ozz!!! It was such a great feeling after whole day of waiting in terrible heat. After Paranoid Tony threw his picks to us. He did a funny thing because when he was throwing next to me he actualy... threw them all to me! Looked at me smiled and just threw. Picks were flying around, 4 or five bounced from me and I tought that I'll die. I didnt catch any of them! They all landed under security's shoes. Guys were nice and gave them to us. Tall men next to me got 2 and gave me one. Good guy! I hugged him and even kissed his cheek, he laughed and said “You're welcome.”, I walked around and singing Zeitgeist to find Geezer's picks too but people sweeped the floor.
To sum up: Black Sabbath gave incredible show in Łódź. Ozzy said someting about NEXT gig in Poland, so we all now have a hope that Hyde Park won't be their last show, we pray for that. Gig in Atlas Arena was the best gig of my life and I will never forget that massive vibe and passion of guys on the stage. That was an earthquake, huge earthquake! 13 in Richter's magnitude scale!"
What we can add? How lucky we all are to have an awesome opportunity to assist to such high quality music performances in our decadent times! It's a real joy to see huge crowds of young generations of Sabbath fans, and fathers and grandfathers bringing youngsters to see their eternal idols. Black Sabbath gig isn't only an epic experience, but a lifechanging moment for many people. Without doubt, Sabbath is the most influential, enduring and spellbinding musical phenomenon in heavy music of all time. From here to eternity - Sabbath rules!
14 June 2014
Photos by Agnieszka Kras
