Black Sabbath β Tyr
- intothewellsabyss
- Aug 20, 2023
- 3 min read
π πππ πππ ππππππ - πππππππππππ ππππ πππππ ππππππππ π’π§ ππ‘π πππππππ π¨πΒ ππππ ππππ & πππππ πππππβ¦
August 20, 1990 β Black Sabbath released their fifteenth studio album, ααα± via I.R.S. Records. (Listen)
Background:
The album title, and several song titles, allude to Norse mythology, which led many to call ααα± a concept album, although bassist Neil Murray dispelled that in 2005, stating that while many of the songs may seem loosely related, very little of the album has to do with mythology and it was not intended to be a concept recording.
Recorded and mixed February - June 1990 at Rockfield and Woodcray Studios, Berkshire.
Pre-production at Rich Bitch Studios.
Mastered at the Townhouse.
More About ααα±:
The album's departure from the darker lyrics of Headless Cross was discussed by Tony Iommi in his 2012 autobiography Iron Man;
"π΅ππ πππ πππ‘π πππππ, ααα±, π π π πππ ππππ ππ πππ ππππππππ’ πππππππ ππ π΅πππππππ’ π·πΏπΏπΆ, π πππ ππ πππ π²ππ£π’ πππππππππ ππ πππππ. πΎπ π·πππππππ π²ππππ, ππππ’ πΌπππππ πππ ππππ ππππ ππππ πππ ππππ πππ ππ πππππππ, ππ, π±ππππ πππππππ, ππβπ πππ πππππ πππ π³ππππ, ππ πππ ππ’ππππ π πππ ππππ ππ πππ π³ππππ πππ πππππ. πΈπ π ππ πππ ππππ ππ π’πππ ππππ. ππ ππππ πππ ππ ππ π πππ ππππ ππππππ πππππ ππ, ππ πππ ααα± ππ πππ πππ πππππ ππ’ππππ πππππ π½πππππ ππππ πππ π ππππππ. πΈπ ππππ ππ π π ππππ ππ πππ ππ’ ππππ ππππππ ππππ."
This album represents possibly the most dramatic departure from Black Sabbath's traditional sound, with only traces of it found in the occasional riff.
The production has been criticised by some (who claim Cozy Powell's drums drown out most of the other instruments) and praised by others, who note that this is one of Sabbath's heaviest albums and perhaps the most prominently reliant on keyboards by the perennial fifth member, Geoff Nicholls.
As a result, much of the music is a lot darker than previous Sabbath works, closely resembling the previous album Headless Cross.
The band have stated that while they do not disown or regret the song Feels Good to Me, it was put on the album solely to be released as a single and does not fit in musically with the rest of the record.
A music video was also filmed to promote the single. (Watch video)
In Norse mythology, ααα± is the god of single combat and heroic glory, and the son of Odin. The runes on the cover, α, α, and α± are taken from the RΓΆk runestone in Sweden. The middle rune, algiz, is transcribed as the modern letter x or z, not y.
ααα±Β Tour:
The first show of the tour had several songs that were never played again live β Feels Good to Me, Sign of the Southern Cross, Heart Like a Wheel, Odinβs Court.
Touring Personnel:
Tony Martin β Vocals
Tony Iommi β Guitar
Neil Murray β Bass
Cozy Powell β Drums
Geoff Nicholls β Keyboards
Geezer Butler, Ian GillanΒ and Brian MayΒ made guest appearances on the European leg of the ααα±Β Tour; ButlerΒ and MayΒ appearing during the encore of the show performed on September 8, 1990 at the Hammersmith OdeonΒ in London.
Typical Set List:
Anno Mundi (The Vision)
Neon Knights
Headless Cross
When Death Calls
War Pigs
The Shining
Guitar Solo
The Law Maker
The Sabbath Stones
1812 Drum Solo
Die Young
Heaven And Hell
Iron Man
Children Of The Grave
Bass Solo
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Instrumental)
Black Sabbath
Electric Funeral (guitar version)
Scarlet Pimpernel
Die Young (intro)
N.I.B. (bass version)
Strangers In The Night (bass solo)
Supernaut (Inc. in a guitar solo)
Alternate Set List (Sep 10, 1990):
Intro β The Omen (tape)
The Gates of Hell
Neon Knights
Iron Man
Anno Mundi
Children of the grave
Headless Cross
When death calls
War Pigs
The Shining
Lawmaker
Neil Murray bass solo
Tony Iommi guitar solo (inc excerpts from Sabbath bloody Sabbath & Sign of the southern cross)
Cozy Powell drum solo (to backing track of Holstβs Mars from the planets suite)
Tony Iommi guitar solo
Heart like a wheel
Black Sabbath
Die young
Heaven and Hell
Paranoid & Heaven and Hell reprise
Fluff (tape)
The only track to feature on post-ααα± tours was Anno Mundi, e.g. on the Cross Purposes Live VHS/DVD.
Tony Martin re-recorded Jerusalem for his 1992 solo album Back Where I Belong. The Black Sabbath line-up that recorded ααα± would reunite to record their eighteenth studio album, Forbidden, in 1995.
Frontman Heri Joensen of Viking Metal band TΓ½r claims to have been influenced by the album cover when designing his own band's logo.
Notice: Any reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. β E.N. Wells
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