Legendary music is alive

Throughout the history of metal, there are bands who have impacted the world with skull-crushing instrumentation and vocals. In 1968, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Lommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward joined forces to become one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all-time. Black Sabbath blazed the world with powerful music, and now guitarist Zakk Wylde (formerly Osbourne’s lead guitarist and the frontman of Black Label Society), bass guitarist Rob “Blasko ” Nicholson and drummer Joey Castillo bring their talents together as Zakk Sabbath to create cover songs of the iconic metal outfit. Wylde brings energizing vocals and guitar playing, Nicholson’s bass guitar shakes the background with thunderous riffs and Castillo’s drum beats fill the atmosphere with jolting sounds. On Vertigo, Zakk Sabbath does a great job of showing how Black Sabbath’s music still lives in the hearts of those who listen to it.

The original version of sizzling “Wicked World” is great due to how the guitar playing by Lommi is being played on a slower music scale, and the riffs shake the background with ear bleeding sound. Zakk Sabbath’s cover is wonderful because Wylde’s guitar skills shine on this track with astounding riffs. For some who may not know, Wylde is known for being the lead guitarist for Osbourne, and his guitar playing on “Wicked World” is far better than on the original due to how each note is being played on a higher and louder musical scale. If people want to hear vein-shaking guitar playing, “Wicked World” will satisfy that need.

Rocking “The Wizard” is a great tune because of how the drum playing creates a musical vibe that shows the softer side of Black Sabbath and Zakk Sabbath. On the original, Ward’s drum playing is well done because the sounds of his drum sticks smashing the heads and cymbals brings a signature sound of rock music, while playing on a steady musical flow. On the cover, Castillo’s drum playing stays on the same musical flow, but his drum beats have more swagger due to how he creates a rockabilly sound every time he hits his drum heads. Ward and Castillo play their hearts out on “The Wizard,” and both drummers are talented musicians.

Heart pounding “Wasp / Behind The Wall Of Sleep / N.I.B” is a fun tune full of hard-hitting metal sounds, but the difference between the original and cover versions is in the sounds of the instrumentation. On the original, the instruments are being played on a lower musical scale because the guitar riffs are shallow enough to clog people’s ears, Ward’s drumming is played on a slower tempo with rhythmic drum beats and Osbourne’s vocals are soft with a sound of havoc. On the cover song, Zakk Sabbath is playing at a higher tempo because Wylde’s voice and guitar playing are heavy and authoritative, Nicholson is shredding notes in the background and Castillo’s drum playing is loud and erratic. “Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / N.I.B” is a classic tune.

Timeless “Black Sabbath” is a good piece, and the original and cover songs are worth listening to because Osbourne and Wylde’s vocals bring raw emotion to the compositions. On the original, Osbourne’s vocal range is low with a steady sound of gloom and hopelessness. On the cover song, Wylde’s vocal range is different from Osbourne’s because of how high Wylde sings on this track, and his vocals sound darker and richer while he sings the lyrics. Original or cover song, “Black Sabbath” has wonderful vocalization.

The dark “A Bit of a Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning” is a dynamic piece because it shows who Black Sabbath is through their music. On the original, Black Sabbath play their hearts out, performing clear cutting music. The band’s signature sound comes from the booming guitar playing by Lommi and Butler, and Osbourne’s vocals keep the music together by how he harmonizes the words in musical form. On the cover version, Wylde’s vocals are just as harmonic, but with deeper sounds, the guitar playing is on the same musical structure and the magic of music can be felt while Wylde and Nicholson jam together. “A Bit of a Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning” is a treasured song, and both versions are well played.

Zakk Sabbath did a phenomenal job with Vertigo, and fans of Black Sabbath will appreciate the effort Zakk Sabbath puts forth.