Review : HEAVEN AND HELL – “The Devil You Know”

Heaven And Hell – “The Devil You Know”
released May 5, 2009 on Rhino

I don’t know whether to thank God or Satan for this, but the rebranded Black Sabbath boys are back to teach us all a lesson in heavy. I say ‘boys,’ but the theater-perfect voice of elder statesman Ronnie James Dio is now aged 66 Earth years. Drummer Vinny Appice (the youngest of the group and showing no signs of wear) has been thundering behind him across projects for a Saturnian cycle. And two of the world’s most deadly and delicate axemen–Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi–also have three score under their belts, with 2/3 of that time dedicated to laying the bricks upon which the metal world treads.  Their legacy cannot be understated, but how is the current output?  Every bit as powerful as you can hope.  The menacing swipes in their first two attacks give way to the acoustically bookended “Bible Black,” possibly the finest song here. An intriguing tale of masochism (with a sick bass intro!) continues the journey, which then works through a pair of uneven tracks, only to then unleash the blistering “Eating The Cannibals.” It’s only really here and “Neverwhere” that the momentum shifts into high gear, but I doubt you’ll complain. The ominous lead into “Follow The Tears” would frighten Boris Karloff himself, and the execution of “Breaking Into Heaven” is brilliant textbook doom. Their familiar cautionary harbingers (with occasional dark Christian themes) are painted with master strokes, with attention to light and shade subtle and everpresent. Certainly a pick for Best Of 2009.

FCC OK.
Try 1, 2, *3*, 4, 7, *8*, 9, 10

01. Atom and Evil
02. Fear
03. Bible Black
04. Double the Pain
05. Rock & Roll Angel
06. The Turn of the Screw
07. Eating the Cannibals
08. Follow the Tears
09. Neverwhere
10. Breaking into Heaven

Rating:  

~ Matt Longo

See larger image The Devil You Know (MP3 Download) New From: $9.90 In Stock Release date April 28, 2009.