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Black Sabbath exudes basic raw metal rockConcertReviewOnly 4,725 gathered Monday night at the Five Seasons Center to celebrate with Black Sabbath, high priests of heavy metal rock.The show opened with prerecorded menacing, ear-piercing special effects and when the curtain flew open, a lighted backdrop scene of a graveyard greeted the crowd. Shortly afterward, three black-clad members of the band, singer Honny Dio, bassist Geezer Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi stepped out of the darkness. The fourth member, drummer Vinnie Appice, already had ascended to a high drum platform and began the sbow with a booming burst.Dio’s vocals were inaudible for the first two numbers and improved afterwards, but usually one had to stjain to understand the lyrics. But Black Sabbath’s style of satanic, heavy metal rock relies mostly on a basic animalistic beat for its appeal.‘ But after about a half-hour»there’s a marked similarity to the songs. Many of the group’s songs deal with satan, voodoo and that ilk. Many times during his singing, Dio would flash the satan sign and many in the crowd returned it. That’s done by holding a hand with the first finger and little finger extended upward. (In Texas sports circles, that’s known as hook ’em horns.)With Appice paving the way with booming drum rhythms, Iommi and Butler join in with usually bass-dominated runs as the slow, methodic beat catches up the crowd. Sometimes the beat increases and sometimes Iommi leaves the lower register of his guitar and reaches for ear-searing high notes. Whatever, it’s raw basics of heavy metal rock.All three instrumentalists in Black Sabbath appear to be very★ ★ ★capable, while Dio can sing, growl and shriek with anybody. Appice and Dio are new to the group, while Butler and Iommi were founding members when Black Sabbath was formed about 11 years ago. Ozzy Osbourne, who’s been making headlines of late with his alleged bat-biting routine, used to be a member of the group.Top numbers of the night were Voodoo,” Iron Man,” Black Sabbath,” and The Sign of the Southern Cross.” Iron Man” is the bands best known single, hitting high on the charts about 10 years ago. The first and last song mentioned are from the group’s new album Mob Rules.”The band turned in an 80-minute performance and let the crowd clamor for more for five minutes before returning for and encore.Opening the show was Wrabit, a six-piece outfit from Canada. The group is making its first noise with a new self-titled album and hit single from the album called, AnywayAnytime.”Monday night Wrabit spent most of its 45 minutes making noise, sometimes well, sometimes not so well. Members served-up several cuts from their album, but the record sounds better than their overall live performance did Monday night. Much of the problem stemmed from a poor vocal mix.Anyplace Anytime” was the best song of the set. The song sounds very much like one of Journey’s rockier numbers.★ ★ ★15 concert-related arrestsCedar Rapids police had their hands full during the Black Sabbath concert, removing disorderly and intoxicated concert-goers even before the music began.At least 15 persons were arrested in and around Five Seasons Center Monday evening, but police paperwork couldn’t immediately keep up with the number of arrests. 'Diree persons were transported to Mercy Hospital’s detoxification center, police saidOfficers said there was the usual variety of arrest charges, with intoxication and possession of a controlled substance being the most common. Others were charged with disorderly conduct and drug-related violations.When asked how many arrests were directly related to the concert, one officer said he hadn’t been able to keep score. There’s been a bunch,” he wearily said.
Newspaper Details
Cedar Rapids Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
Tue, Mar 16, 1982
Page 23
Full Page
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USA 15 Mar 2022
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