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This month, both Nige and Simon have reviewed this CD/DVD, and as ever, they are both published here!!
›Heaven and Hell – Live at Radio City Music Hall
›SPV Steamhammer
The best gig I have ever been too was back on Thursday 4th December 1997 at the Birmingham NEC. I was completely blown away by four men from Aston, Birmingham who were old enough to be my fathers. The band of course was the original line up of the mighty Black Sabbath who had at long last got back together to play some gigs, and I and the rest of that sold out NEC were treated to a few hours of mind melting heavy metal.
So now you know that, you probably expect to see this review go down hill from here. You’re wrong. Although the Ozzy line-up was my first love, the Dio fronted Sabbath, or Heaven and Hell as they are known here, are the producers of my favourite album ever Heaven and Hell itself, so when the news got out that this incarnation of Sabbath was getting back on the road I was just as excited as I was back in 1997.
Live at Radio City Hall sees Sabbath playing in New York in the early part of the reunion tour but just on the evidence supplied here, I know that when I do eventually get to see the band in November I’m certainly not going to be disappointed. Riffmiester General Iommi peels off crushing riff after riff, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice lay a foundation of solid metal and Ronnie James Dio, well Ronnie James Dio just is! The bloke has just an astonishing set of lungs on him and his voice still sounds as powerful as if ever has done. From the intro of E5150 right through to the closing number of Neon Knights you find yourself pushed back into your arm chair in awe as this line up of Sabbath kicks out classic after classic. Even when the new tracks from the Dio Years Sabbath collection are aired you don’t feel the need to skip on to the next track, as unlike with the studio tracks tagged onto the end of the Ozzy fronted Reunion live album, these tracks fucking rock just as much as the rest of the DVD.
The only reason why this DVD doesn’t get the full ten marks is because of the lack of movement on the stage, yeah that might just be me being picky, but it is noticeable, however when Heaven and Hell roll into a town near you in November that really won’t matter as the shear power of the music will be more than enough to keep you happy. Heavy Metal as it should be! .
9/10
Nige.
› Heaven And Hell Live at Radio City Hall
With 2007 seemingly the year of reunions this is reunion no one would’ve predicted could or would’ve happened. As everyone knows despite the name this is Black Sabbath circa Mob Rules. The line up is Dio/Iommi/Bulter/Apaicee. The DVD comes in two formats. The basic package containing just the concert on DVD itself and the deluxe version with the DVD and the concert on two CDs. The packaging is gorgeous and the name Heaven And Hell looks really good.
As for the preference the band are easily as good as they were in the ‘80’s if not better. The stage set is the gates of a gothic castle with two stained glass windows that artwork is projected on. The set list is everything thing that you’d expect. The only thing I find strange is them opening with ‘After All’ and then go into ‘Mob Rules’. I’m surprised they didn’t swap the songs around. All of the three albums that Dio sang on are represented and with the Ozzy era being totally over looked it means they can play rarely played songs such as ‘Lady Evil’. You can almost hear the crowd breath a sigh of relive as ‘The sign Of The Southern Cross’ is played in its entirety. The three new songs that Dio sang on hold their own amidst the classics. It shows how much faith Heaven and Hell have in the new songs to include them in the set.
I’d recommend this set to anyone that’s a Sabbath fan. One thing about this is it’s a great representation of the tour. If Heaven And Hell are to be believed this is going to be a one off tour. So miss it at your peril. On the evidence of this DVD and live album you won’t be disappointed!
9/10
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