![]() ![]() ![]() It starts, of course, with the monstrous Wheels Of Confusion, one of the band’s darkest moments and a truly epic eight minutes of peerless riffing. It’s helped, too, by a flawless pressing that exudes not a single crackle but, on the whole, the effort seems to have been spent on cleaning the presentation up, rather than on attempting any sort of major sonic overhaul. Overall, the remaster (handled by Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham, who were also responsible for the 2009 remaster) feels less aggressive than its forebear, with the cymbals a touch crisper, the bass a little tighter and the overall volume a little lower, allowing for more dynamic across the board. The remastering, if we’re honest, is not massively revelatory but then, when it comes to classic albums, subtle evolution is often preferable to revolution and Vol 4 is no exception. In a sense, the album sees Sabbath come of age, offering a diverse, mature set, whilst still maintaining the feeling of impending doom that hangs, like a pall, over the preceding efforts. Vol 4 stands as a powerful entry in the band’s catalogue and, if it is overshadowed by the first three albums, this says more about the exceptional quality of those records (and the sense of nostalgic awe in which they’re held) than it does about Vol 4. There’s no other ephemera with which to contend, but the quality of the book and vinyl sleeves makes such trinkets redundant, and it is a genuine pleasure to ease the freshly-remastered album from its poly-lined sleeve and then sit back with the book as the needle hits the groove. The book, which is packed with fascinating insights collated by the ever-reliable Hugh Gilmour, and an array of period photos, is a particular delight and stands in contrast to the shiny, easily damaged texts that blighted the (similarly priced) Pink Floyd Immersion editions. ![]() Inside, you find the 5 LPs (three in heavy duty, tip-on sleeves the final pair in a beautiful gatefold enclosure), a super-sized poster and, the icing on the cake, a hard backed book detailing the making of the album. Printed in matte, with the track listing on the reverse, the box is a thing of beauty and there’s no mistaking the thrill that comes from removing the shrink wrap to experience the album anew. The LP edition (reviewed here) is housed in a sturdy box with lift-off lid. Available either as a 5 LP or 4 CD set, this Super Deluxe Edition allows fans an insight into the creative process behind a masterpiece and it exudes quality. The Packageįortunately, BMG have form in curating box sets that offer real value to fans and this lavish entry is no exception. As such, there’s an argument to be made that, of all the Sabbath albums, Vol 4 is the most deserving of the Super Deluxe treatment now being visited upon it. Yet, if the stress of self-producing an album for the first time was compounded by the spiralling addiction issues that would eventually rip the band to pieces, that same tension (at least initially) served to heighten Sabbath’s faculties, resulting in one of their most devastatingly heavy, yet varied, albums to that point. Perhaps the tension that emerged in later years spoilt the band’s collective recollection and encouraged a certain reticence with regard these releases. When the Black Sabbath catalogue was reissued in 2009, the post- Master Of Reality Ozzy years were given scant attention compared to the double-disc sets issued in support of other albums within the band’s catalogue. Despite a certain critical acclaim (mirrored in the admiration of such high-profile artists as Thomas Gabriel Fischer and John Bonham), Vol 4 never received the attention it deserved from the band. ![]()
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