ZAKK SABBATH – Vertigo

The Backstory

Guitarist and vocalist Zakk Wylde, bassist Blasko, and drummer Joey Castillo have been touring since 2014 with their Black Sabbath tribute band Zakk Sabbath. Their Hard Rock and Heavy Metal pedigrees speak for themselves. In 2016 Zakk Sabbth released their Live in Detroit EP. The band wanted to follow up that release with something special, but what’s a cover band to do? It just so happens that 2020 is the 50th anniversary of the release of Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album. Zakk Sabbath hit the studio to record that historic album in its entirely, while adding their stamp to it at the same time. The result is Vertigo. To keep the vinyl vibe alive that was the standard 50 years ago, the album will not be available in digital format.

The Album

The album starts off with the same dark and dreary rainstorm as the original. Wylde’s voice is just as ominous and eerie as Ozzy’s. The song stays pretty true to form until the later half of the song where the tempo speeds up. You can clearly hear Zakk’s signature guitar wails and runs. It’s all about Castillo’s pounding on “The Wizard. Wylde’s guitars cut through when necessary. Next up is the “Wasp / Behind The Wall of Sleep / N.I.B.” medley. Blasko’s chunky bass lines are on prominent display throughout each portion of the song. “Wicked World” gives the band a chance to mix up the tempo, much like a live show. The echoed sound of just Wylde playing guitar solidifies that vinyl vibe the band was going for. “A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning” closes out the album with a 15+ minute jam session where each member is trying to out perform the other.

The Verdict

Black Sabbath’s debut album wasn’t exactly full of hits for the band. It was mostly dark B-Side material. With Vertigo, Zakk Sabbath puts a modern sonic sheen to material that was pushed to the background as the original creators’ music catalog grew. It’s clear that Wylde and company truly enjoy the sections in which each of them get to display their signature musical trademarks.

Tracklist

1. Black Sabbath
2. The Wizard
3. Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / N.I.B.
4. Wicked World
5. A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning