November is Doom - Black Sabbath : "Technical Ecstasy"

By 1976, the band had become unsure of their place in the musical climate of the day, with the rise of punk emerging. Geezer Butler even went on record as saying the album was the band's response to punk, as they fell between the punk and prog audiences. I would say a song like "You Won't Change Me" falls clsoer to the bounds of prog than punk, the same can be said of the opening track, though it flirts with a more Zeppelin-like sound. Less depressive and more manic thanks to the increase in cocaine and booze.  There are only background hints of the darker band they once were here.

I think the first mistake as a band was letting Bill Ward sing the Paul McCartney-sounding 'It's All Right" as it steps too far out of what the band should have been doing. "Gypsy" finds Ward doing what is is better which is drumming, though the song feels more like the Who to some extent. I think Ozzy was sure of himself as a singer, and I like how his vocals are produced on this album. I am not against these guys experimenting as it pays off with the groove of "All Moving Parts Stand Still". 

"Rock N Roll Doctor" has more of a boogie to it, but for what it is the song works pretty well, as it is one of the catchier choruses on the album. "She's Gone" is another ballad, this time with Ozzy on the mic. His voice just naturally carries an innate sorrow. It feels like it could have come off the "Bark at the Moon" album. "Dirty Women" feels more Blue Öyster Cult, but it's also darker, so that works for me. I will give this album a 9.5; it's better than most of their peers, but the Bill Ward song is not the band at their most inspired and the first time you see a chink in the armor. 

 

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