Heaven & Hell - The Devil You Know (Rhino) *****

I remember asking Vinnie Appice backstage if there is a chance of a studio record on the second leg of Heaven & Hell tour. Appice did confirm that the band will be working on a record. Before you know it, the new Heaven & Hell record became a reality.

The Devil You Know feels like a punch, a perfect execution on all levels. It’s a proper follow up to 1992’s Dehumanizer. A criminally overlooked record if I may add. In comparison to some rather commercial output from Black Sabbath in the mid 90’s, this is harsh and uncompromising sounding material. It is difficult to narrow it down to what the standout tracks are. Each listen pulls the listener in different direction. But some memorable moments include Atom and Evil, Bible Black, Double The Pain, and Follow The Tears.

The material is simply strong; the band focuses on staying heavy like it should. There are plenty of melodic hooks, but they are not as obvious. The record demands a self-discovery on the part of the listener. And the rewards are abundant. From the first track the bar is raised high, and it pretty much stays that way until the end. Despite the uncontrollable amount of heaviness, it’s a very smooth sounding album.

Much has to be said about the musical performance. The instrumentalists are in top notch form, just tearing it up at ease. Iommi’s guitar has regained the crunch not heard since the early 90s (in the studio of course), and soloing is very imaginable and creative. Butler’s bass as penetrating as ever, complementing Iommi at every step of the way. Appice’s drumming solid and stylish. Drums provide incredibly solid backbone here. All of which sets the stage for Dio to shine. And he does. The vocal performance is mesmerizing; filled with darkness and evil subjects, yet presented with vast amount of beauty. A front man very few can compete with.

The Devil You Know is an album filled with incredible vision and clarity. It is a focused record. The songwriting and the execution of the material reflects the times it was meant for.

Mark Kadzielawa