The Devil You Know
Artist: Heaven & Hell
5 out of 5
(3 customer reviews) | Write a review
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Play.com Review
The Devil You Know is the debut album from Heaven and Hell, the members of which were also the Black Sabbath line-up that gave us, Mob Rules, Live Evil and Dehumanizer. With this hall of fame-esq collection of rockers, expectations should, quite rightly, be set high. With a pedigree to match, these guys were never going to disappoint.
Tony Iommi has spent over 40 years proving that he knows how to write high calibre guitar riffs - he practically invented the mammoth, driving grooves of heavy metal. So, the fact that the riffs on The Devil You Know are good is no surprise. What is slightly surprising, is how sharp and fresh they are. Alongside Iommi is Geezer Butler on Bass guitar, once more renewing a duo that has developed an intricate understanding over their long careers. This is perfectly demonstrated on tracks such as 'Bible Black' and 'Follow The Tears', where Butler's crunching bass provides the perfect groove for Iommi's soaring riffs to glide over. Vinny Appice provides the rhythm for the frenetic fret work, superbly complimenting the more extravagant elements of the band's sound. The crisp production and thunderous volume of these three is the ideal backdrop for Ronnie James Dio to do what he does best. Make no mistake about it, he's most definitely at his finest here, combing darkly poetic lyrics with his voice's gorgeously passionate, theatrical enunciation. 'Double the Pain' allows Dio to show off the higher end of his vocal abilities - perhaps, more akin to his solo work - whilst up-tempo numbers like 'Eating the Cannibals' display his devilish aggression and ability to keep pace with the ferocity of the music.
The Devil You Know most definitely sounds like an album the band wanted to make, as opposed to a muted, half-hearted attempt to recapture former glories - a curse that so many heritage bands fall foul of. Whilst it is apparent from the album's opener, 'Atom and Evil, that down-tempo, doomy metal is the prevailing sound, it is done with such majesty and skill that a lack of fast rockin' anthems is not a drawback. Afterall, these are four of the men that pioneered the style, and it's riff-tastic to have them back together and back to their best.
The Devil You Know is available in a Limited Edition CD & DVD.
- Atom And Evil
- Fear
- Bible Black
- Double The Pain
- Rock And Roll Angel
- The Turn Of The Screw
- Eating The Cannibals
- Follow The Tears
- Neverhwere
- Breaking Into Heaven
Play.com Review
The Devil You Know is the debut album from Heaven and Hell, the members of which were also the Black Sabbath line-up that gave us, Mob Rules, Live Evil and Dehumanizer. With this hall of fame-esq collection of rockers, expectations should, quite rightly, be set high. With a pedigree to match, these guys were never going to disappoint.
Tony Iommi has spent over 40 years proving that he knows how to write high calibre guitar riffs - he practically invented the mammoth, driving grooves of heavy metal. So, the fact that the riffs on The Devil You Know are good is no surprise. What is slightly surprising, is how sharp and fresh they are. Alongside Iommi is Geezer Butler on Bass guitar, once more renewing a duo that has developed an intricate understanding over their long careers. This is perfectly demonstrated on tracks such as 'Bible Black' and 'Follow The Tears', where Butler's crunching bass provides the perfect groove for Iommi's soaring riffs to glide over. Vinny Appice provides the rhythm for the frenetic fret work, superbly complimenting the more extravagant elements of the band's sound. The crisp production and thunderous volume of these three is the ideal backdrop for Ronnie James Dio to do what he does best. Make no mistake about it, he's most definitely at his finest here, combing darkly poetic lyrics with his voice's gorgeously passionate, theatrical enunciation. 'Double the Pain' allows Dio to show off the higher end of his vocal abilities - perhaps, more akin to his solo work - whilst up-tempo numbers like 'Eating the Cannibals' display his devilish aggression and ability to keep pace with the ferocity of the music.
The Devil You Know most definitely sounds like an album the band wanted to make, as opposed to a muted, half-hearted attempt to recapture former glories - a curse that so many heritage bands fall foul of. Whilst it is apparent from the album's opener, 'Atom and Evil, that down-tempo, doomy metal is the prevailing sound, it is done with such majesty and skill that a lack of fast rockin' anthems is not a drawback. Afterall, these are four of the men that pioneered the style, and it's riff-tastic to have them back together and back to their best.
The Devil You Know is available in a Limited Edition CD & DVD.
Average rating (3 reviews)
As a huge fan of Black Sabbath and no they were not the same when Ozzy went and they managed to draft in Dio later which was a good move. This album shows that after mob rules and heaven and hell albums all those years ago Iommi, Butler, Appice and Dio have not lost their tightness as a unit. And reformed to offer a masterpiece of an album anyone who is fond of the aforementioned albums should buy this as there is not one bad song on the album. Is a tour on the cards!? I sure hope so.
just received the album as a xmas present from my daughter (taught her well)
well what can you say that hasn't already been said ,just like being back on the mob rules tour
great riffs,thundering bass lines and dio at his demonic best
cant wait for a tour and more releases from these guys
Definately one of the best albums this year. With W.A.S.P.'s new album Babylon and this The Devil You Know are both really awesome albums. Really reccommended for people who are into good music, and love 70's and 80's Rock Bands. Specially Dio and Black Sabbath.
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