Black Sabbath - Mob Rules (1981)

After the doom smog created by Ozzy and company, it's hard to imagine a latter decade of Sabbath, but if one man was going to keep the flame alive then Ronnie James Dio was it. Sure, I worshipped Ozzy and most of the records he recorded with Sabbath remain unsurpassed. However, 'Mob Rules', and the previous 'heaven And Hell' are still metal master classes holding devil horns high and conjuring storms like no other. 'Turn Up The Night' and 'Voodoo' display Dio's magical vocal talents as he delves into dark tales of witchery and doom-ridden landscapes. The monstrous 'The Sign Of The Southern Cross' floats effortlessly on Iommi's wistful acoustics, conjuring images of diabolical villages riddled with witchcraft.

'Mob Rules' DOES lack Ozzy's maniacal presence, but 'The Mob Rules' still, despite Iommi's more melodic guitar epics, crushes trees under its elephantine feet. Appice on the sticks rattles the roof, and the gloom doom stomp of 'Country Girl' sends the ravens all a flutter. It's still Sabbath, just not as black, but it's a natural progression even if the Dio years were short. Album closer 'Over And Over' is a true Sabbath masterpiece, gargantuan as it rises from the soil like some concrete golem intent on destroying all in its wake.

Although the Ozzy years cemented Sabbath as metal's greatest band don't be put off by his lack of wail on the following couple of records because Mr Dio (RIP) does a mighty find job of bringing the goblins along to the party in the dark.

8/10