Shittiest SabbathDome: Never Say Die vs. Technical Ecstasy

[Arson Smith]

Technical Ecstasy has better songs

I like "Backstreet Kids" enough. I think it's one of the strongest songs off the album. It might've, maybe, good enough for Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, in some strange universe.

I don't think any of these songs are particularly bad

[Domagoj]

Never Say Die contains more songs in proper Black Sabbath vein and better Iommi riffs, so the content must be slightly stronger. Technical Ecstasy is unpleasantly surprising album in its variety of styles - from "It's All Right" (it is dearest Mr. Ward, it is, but it ain't Sabbath) to "She's Gone" (ugh, and I can enjoy "Changes").

Real Black Sabbath somehow needs Ozzy in front of the band and Ward in the back. Right? Right.

I do not feel Ozzy's vocal performance on Never Say Die at all. He bugs me the most, like he was jaded version of his former self. I dig Ward groove.

Additionally, I remember NSD as muddier studio recording. I prefer mid-1970s sound of the previous record and general shitty vibe including ugly cover.

I am not in the right mood to defend remnants of redeeming qualities in Technical Ecstasy but in overall I'd pick it as Black Sabbath's troubled swan song and then welcome Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath II. Once Bill Ward is out of the game I lose interest in Black Sabbath records.

Cut the verbiage crap boy.

TE.

[superslacker]

i've always liked "dirty women" -the riff at 3:16 is pretty killer and the opening rhythm is good too.

i like the production of NSD better, it has a nice room-y sound to it that other albums were lacking, but i tend to go back to technical ecstasy more, so it gets my vote.

[davesec]

whooooooo can we get on the caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase?!

we need perrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr y
maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa son

[El Protoolio]

Is it just me or is Never Say Die way too trebly? It sounds like they were all so jacked up on coke that they made the engineer shelf up everything after 5k by about 12dB so they could hear the "sheen".

[mazacultura]

No way am I listening to either of these records.

[The MayorofRockNRoll]

The guitar hook to NSDs title track sounds like Thin Lizz with fire under its ass. So that one.

[crustandcrumb]

Bill Ward's drumming is so close to a Jaki Liebezeit panache

no.

[Major]

Never Say Die is a great record.

[Pure L]

Is it just me or is Never Say Die way too trebly? It sounds like they were all so jacked up on coke that they made the engineer shelf up everything after 5k by about 12dB so they could hear the "sheen".

Totally. Seems like there are phase issues with Geezer's bass in the song 'Never Say Die' too.

[Andy]

Another case of Spotify falling down. It has neither album, although I regrettably own a copy Technical Ecstasy. However, if you want to stream Dehumanizer or the first two tracks only of the first album, Spotify'll hook you up.

[D'Piucchstre]

Never Say Die isn't a bad album at all. I liken it as the first 'Ozzy' album, but with Black Sabbath backing him. Technical Ecstasy OTOH is shit .

[edventure]

Haven't heard much from either album but I'll say this performance is pretty great (to see Ozzy channeling Meat Loaf at the very least):



Definitely warrants the Thin Lizzy comparison.

[Marsupialized]

Some halfway listenable live versions

[Redline]

Technical Ecstasy is a pile of garbage...straight up.

He's right, you know.

Never Say Die at least as a few good songs, and a better album cover.

[sulfur)addict]

Ian Gillan singing "Rock 'n Roll Doctor" is actually really good! Which is weird, because that's one of the dumbest songs Sabbath ever put to record. I'd say this live version is the best thing to result from whatever the hell Sabbath was thinking when recording these two.

Really, I think the most disappointing thing about these two albums is that they sound absolutely nothing like Black Sabbath. Not one single heavy moment. It's more like Foghat or better version of Foreigner or something.

[subprime]

Never listened to any past the first five, never will.

[Arson Smith]

Ian Gillan singing "Rock 'n Roll Doctor" is actually really good!

Uh... I definitely would not go so far as to say "really good"... maybe just "less bad"?

Which is weird, because that's one of the dumbest songs Sabbath ever put to record.

Absolutely.

I'd say this live version is the best thing to result from whatever the hell Sabbath was thinking when recording these two.

Sure. Because you can close your eyes and pretend it is a boogie-woogie Deep Purple track, and not Black Sabbath - that is how it could almost possibly make a little sense.

Really, I think the most disappointing thing about these two albums is that they sound absolutely nothing like Black Sabbath. Not one single heavy moment. It's more like Foghat or better version of Foreigner or something.

I feel you.

[Arson Smith]

Never listened to any past the first five, never will.

OK, so lemme get this straight... you are then, with a straight face, insinuating that 'Sabotage' belongs on the other side of the line (i.e. grouped with 'Technical Ecstasy)?

?!

[Gary]

Haha, I just found out that they actually made a music video for "It's Alright"