For rockers of a certain vintage, Black Sabbath’s early output will forever represent the creative highpoint of that most maligned of musical genres, heavy metal. This current tour, suitably titled ‘The End’, brings down the curtain on a storied career that redefined the rock music landscape indefinitely and influenced many era-defining bands such as Metallica and Nirvana. Mercifully, Birmingham’s finest finally returned to Dublin for the first time since 1983, allowing their loyal Irish faithful a belated opportunity to say ‘thanks’.
That instantly recognisable, opening ‘devils chord’ tritone of ‘Black Sabbath’ begins a journey through their classic early seventies releases, focusing almost exclusively on their self-titled debut, Paranoid, Masters of Reality and Volume. 4. Despite the supposed ravages inflicted by his legendary debauched lifestyle, the ‘Prince of Darkness’ himself, Ozzy Osbourne, exudes a level of energy and charisma throughout that any upstart frontman would kill for.
Iommi’s unmistakable guitar tones, allied to the virtuosic bass runs of Geezer Butler form the central core of each track, including that epic ode to narcotic overindulgence ‘Snowblind’ and the haunting, warped blues of ‘War Pigs’. Drummer Tommy Clufetos, guesting in the absence of estranged founder member Bill Ward, provides the night’s only bum note courtesy of a meandering drum solo. However, this unfocused racket is quickly consigned to memory as Messrs Iommi, Butler and Osbourne lead us through an unforgettable final finale of all-time metal classics. By the time ‘Iron Man’ gets its customary airing, Ozzy is now conducting the bellowing crowd, whilst Iommi’s blistering solo at the tail-end of ‘Children of the Grave’ nearly lifts the roof clean off the 3 Arena. The timeless ‘Paranoid’ provides the encore as the band gratefully receive the crowd’s outpouring of love, one final time.
There will never be their likes again.