Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy Super-Deluxe.

Black Sabbath
Technical Ecstasy - Super Deluxe
(BMG)
8/10
By Paul Davies

Lumbered with a tag generally reserved for that ‘second album syndrome’, Sabbath’s seventh album release proved to be especially difficult from its very beginning to the end. As a numerical sign of the turmoil surrounding Technical Ecstasy, it climbed up the UK charts to ominously rest at number 13! With more use of synthesisers and Bill Ward stepping up to the mic to sing lead on the self-penned It’s Alright, all appeared strange in Sabbath’s camp. With punk blowing in its raging wind of change, Sabbath seemed to be aimlessly drifting away unsure of their musical direction and purpose and inevitably disbanding one album release later.

Yet, upon reflection, there is much to praise as this next in line super-deluxe box brings together the original album, a new album mix, outtakes and alternative mixes plus ten previously unreleased live tracks from the 1976-77 T.E. world tour to place a rounded perspective on this 'experimental' album. There are some bangers that explode with trademark Iommi riffs as evidenced on Back Street Kids, Gypsy, Rock 'n' Roll Doctor, and Dirty Women. All Moving Parts Stand Still manages to be more than the sum of its parts on the new Steven Wilson mix that elevates this underrated release.

Extensive and highly informative liner notes divulge the backstory to the making of this album as the band came off another world tour and headed to Miami's famed Criterion Studios. Burn out, rock 'n' roll excesses, shifting musical sands, a willingness to include more synths on record, uncertain of their position and status moving forward and a changing of the music journalism guard all warped the perception most punters have on this record. This expanded release somewhat sets the record straight.