Black Sabbath, Past Lives (Castle)

FIRST released in 1980 as Live At Last, this two-CD reissue is the famous live disc in its entirety. It has been remastered and remixed to remove the "flatness". It is a psychedelic homage to the band's heavy metal roots in the early years. Listen for wrong notes, tempo tantrums and a stoned Ozzy Osbourne, high as a kite but full of the raw energy that powered these decibel demons. This is the original Sabbath line-up of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. Iommi is razor sharp throughout despite Ozzy's best efforts to scupper the album with a useless rendition of Megalomania as he struggles to stay in tune. It is Sabbath at its peak in the Seventies. The 18 tracks include the infamous Vietnam War rant against the US military top brass, War Pigs, Children Of The Grave, and Killing Yourself To Live, among other dark dirges. No prisoners!