Album Review: Black Sabbath – The End (Live) (Eagle Records)

Recorded on the last date of their mammoth final tour, The End is 17 tracks spread across Ozzy-era Black Sabbath history. The importance of Sabbath can’t be under-stated & without them we wouldn’t have most of the bands we do now. Nearly everyone can cite Sabbath as an influence in some way or another.

This live release is pure fan service & a nice accompaniment for those who were part of the final tour. A nostalgic trip too seeing as their isn’t a single track post 1978.

Live albums can be tricky. Do you filter out as much of the crowd as possible so you can enjoy the band? Or do you make sure those in attendance are roaring as loud as possible? For me personally it’s the latter. I can hear these songs without any crowd noise by sticking on one of Sabbath’s CDs. If I’m listening to a live album I want to be there, I want to hear the roar of the crowd, the sound of thousands of people singing in unison, the way I would be if I was there. That’s the live experience which The End (Live) does not replicate well.

Except for a brief smattering of cheers & applause at the end of most tracks you’d be hard pressed to know this was a live album & not just a ‘best of’ album. The only time we get a crowd in full voice is with the more famous Sabbath tunes such as Iron Man, War Pigs & Paranoid. These, added with some fun Ozzy pandering make for an enjoyable listen.

As a final add-on to a stunning career, The End (Live) is a great accompaniment & a lot of the issues with Ozzy’s voice are hidden well by having his vocals sit lower in the mix. It’s not going to be in many top 10 live album lists but still a pleasing listen. It’s Black Sabbath after all.

Black Sabbath – The End (Live) Full Track Listing:

1. Black Sabbath (Live)
2. Fairies Wear Boots (Live)
3. Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes (Live)
4. After Forever (Live)
5. Into the Void (Live)
6. Snowblind (Live)
7. Band Introductions (Live)
8. War Pigs (Live)
9. Behind the Wall of Sleep (Live)
10. Bassically/N.I.B. (Live)
11. Hand of Doom (Live)
12. Supernaut/Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Live)
13. Rat Salad/Drum Solo (Live)
14. Iron Man (Live)
15. Dirty Women (Live)
16. Children of the Grave (Live)
17. Paranoid (Live)

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Check it out yourself via all major streaming services including Apple Music below.