“Steel City Blues” is the thirteenth from a series of “legalized bootleg” live albums by British heavy metal legends BLACK SABBATH, released on 6th March 2024.
Recorded for live FM radio broadcast at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena on 2nd September 1978, the show captures the heavy metal Kings at a pivotal period in their career. At the time, they had already released seven albums since their 1969 inception, and were in the studio recording their eighth, Never Say Die, the same month as this performance.
With Ozzy Osbourne having re-joined the band in January ’78 after a several month hiatus, Sabbath sounds energetic and more than capable of delivering a noteworthy show full of their signature raw energy, screaming guitar and howling lyrics.
Here they are – Black Sabbath in all their savage glory, laying it all out for a raucous Pittsburgh crowd – captured for the terror and delight of all. Sound quality is very good.
As a band with an album-oriented sound, in 1978 they were in the shadow of internal conflict, as musical directions were shifting with Tommy Iommi and Ozzy at odds over the future sound of Sabbath – Ozzy sticking fast to bleak, piercing heavy rock and Iommi striving to implement new elements like horns and keyboard technique.
Nine months after this show, Ozzy would leave the band to embark on a solo career and Black Sabbath would take on a new vocalist and a different approach to their albums.
Here, however, the band presents their signature Ozzy-infiltrated, raw heavy metal sound – much to the delight of a full-house Pittsburgh crowd.
This recording really lends itself to a live Black Sabbath experience. They start things off with the ferocious slow tempo, ominous guitar and visceral vocals of ‘Snowblind.’ Next, the appreciative audience yells and whistles while Ozzy delivers a 10-year anniversary speech to the crowd.
Other highlights include a 10-minute ‘Rock and Roll Doctor’ featuring an extended drum solo by Bill Ward. A shrieking rendition of ‘Iron Man’ and the set-closing ‘Paranoid’ showcase their bleak intensity within the framework of a hit composition.
Highly Recommended
Tracklist:
01. Snowblind (06:34)
02. Black Sabbath (07:26)
03. Dirty Women (06:58)
04. Rock 'N' Roll Doctor (10:12)
05. Wasp/Behind The Wall Of Sleep/Basically/N.I.B. (07:13)
06. Electric Funeral (03:10)
07. Iron Man (07:20)
08. Fairies Wear Boots (06:16)
09. Children Of The Grave (06:05)
10. Paranoid (03:11)
Black Sabbath – Steel City Blues (2024)
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