When I first heard the new Black Sabbath album, “13”, I was like… eh? It’s okay but could have been better but now I think this album is the best album released this year. It’s definitely a grower for sure. I can’t stop listening to this album. I’m always throwing it on my CD player and keep coming back to it. This is the best thing that Ozzy has done in a long long time and I’m very proud of him. Really, I am. Ozzy’s solo career haven’t been that great over the years and now that Sabbath is back — he’s back to making kick ass music again. The songwriting is really good on this album. Tony still has the great riffs and the sick guitar solos. Sabbath still has the vintage heavy sound they’ve always had; however, they have a more modern sound this time around. They want to fit with the current metal sound a little bit which is a good idea. They don’t sound as scary and dark anymore like they used to but this album is still a pretty sick album. Loved it. Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer still has it.

As far as Bill Ward goes, who needs him? Sabbath has went through like 20 different drummers over the years, and don’t blame the band for the Bill Ward departure. Black Sabbath said repeatedly in interviews that they really wanted Bill to be a part of this reunion but Bill wanted no part of it. It was all Bill’s decision alone that he wanted out. It’s lame blaming Sharon Osbourne for this too. Band lineups changes over the years, it happens. Despite Bill not being in the band, their new album, “13”, was no. 1 in various charts all over the world… and that includes the Billboard Top 200 in the US. So the album is successful without Bill, anyways, so who needs him, right?

Congratulations to Black Sabbath. After a 30-50 year career… everyone still loves Sabbath.

I don’t see this album being the final Sabbath album ’cause the guys have been talking about doing more after this one. As long as Tony is still alive, they’ll keep doing what they do. I’ve always loved Sabbath with Ozzy fronting. Dio-Sabbath was cool too, though.

Black Sabbath being successful proves that metal can get big again. I wish metal would take over the mainstream again.

Kev