November is Doom - Black Sabbath - "Vol 4"

This album found the drugs in high swing, and with it came a progressive, jammy feel that defies boxing them in as a doomy metal band. Granted, there is a drugged lethargy that haunts the riff to "Wheel of Confusion, which is what inspired many of the grunge bands in the 90s. The throb of what might be a blues boogie in the hands of less altered minds turns into an angular throb, before they jam off into the distance with it. Bill Ward's drumming keeps things on track. The production was pushing their sound into a more psychedelic direction here. As Ozzy says, they were not a rock band that did drugs; they were a drug band that did rock. By the time you get ot the guitar solo, it is clear this band is at their creative pinnacle.

The stoner boogie that brings the rumble of "Tomorrow's Dream" alive has kept bong-laden rockers inspired for decades. The 10,000 Homo Dj's cover of "Supernaut" brought the song to prominence, but in the form presented on this album, it has one of Ozzy's strongest vocal performances on this album, as it carries more of a jammy boogie.  The iconic ode to cocaine, "Snowblind" is perhaps one of the album's highest and most melodic moments, with a perfect vocal performance from Ozzy. Though in hindsight, it does not capture the feeling of the drug as it romanticizes it. Lyrically, lines like "sun no longer sets me free" have a hidden brilliance to them.

"Cornucopia" feels like more of a jam, though there is some solid riffing, and I have always liked Ozzy's vocals on the chorus."St Vitus Dance' is a little more aggressive, but the lyrics have always felt weird for the music he is singing them over. "Under the Sun" is heavier and the lyrics feel likea better fit.But aside from some of the lyrical awkwardness in places it all balances out to secure it's place as a classic album I will give it a 10.

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