Swinging the Chain: Black Sabbath’s Never Say Die! at 45
Looking back on the last studio album from the original lineup
Sometimes an album can’t be fully appreciated until enough time has passed.
Released on September 29th, 1978, Never Say Die! by Black Sabbath would prove to be a transitional album not fully appreciated by the fans, critics, or the band themselves. Yet, hindsight is 20/20 and it’s a much better release than its reputation.
If 1976’s Technical Ecstasy saw Sabbath starting to deviate from the proto-doom metal of their early albums, Never Say Die! looks like a true stylistic break. Recorded in Toronto under less-than-ideal circumstances, the band knew that things were coming to an end. Firmly in the throes of drug and alcohol abuse, they let themselves wander stylistically in the tunes like never before. In fact, at the beginning of the songwriting process, it was assumed that Ozzy Osbourne was no longer in the band. The remaining members of Sabbath began to work with Dave Walker of Fleetwood Mac and Savoy Brown, but that partnership was short lived and Ozzy returned to the fold.
The title track opens the album and begins to establish the new identity of the band. The tune ties their metal sound with a more arena-friendly chorus, in many ways foreshadowing Judas Priest’s “Living After Midnight” which would arrive two years later. But it also feels like a product of their time playing in front of larger audiences.
Despite the almost Rush-like keyboard intro, “Johnny Blade” hints more at the darkness of the previous albums, if not a little more uptempo in execution. There’s certainly some classic Tony Iommi riffing going on here. Yet, the character study lyrics also nod to David Bowie as well.
Like many songs on Never Say Die!, “Junior’s Eyes” provides a glimpse of Ozzy’s solo career. A bit moodier than the other songs, it still possesses a huge hook that plays equally well on Headbanger’s Ball as it would on regular MTV. It’s hard not to hear future songs like “Breakin’ All the Rules” and “Shot in the Dark” here.
“A Hard Road” is a bluesy rock number with a Beatles-inspired vocal that is decent but might be the least interesting tune on the album. This is followed by “Shock Wave, ” another arena-ready number but one that is exceptionally well-crafted. One good riff follows another and Ozzy nails the melody at every twist and turn.
Perhaps the most unexpected song is “Air Dance,” an almost progressive rock ballad. It’s a welcome relief from their normal ballads, songs like the saccharine “Changes” that had a tendency to kill the mood on previous albums. Instead, the listener is treated to a labyrinth composition that feels inspired by Yes, King Crimson and Mahavishnu Orchestra, albeit in a more simplified form. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to hear Sabbath stretch themselves. This is followed by “Over to You,” a more traditional rock song, yet the organ and piano sections seem to be a holdover from the previous song.
VIDEO: Black Sabbath “Never Say Die”
The final two songs aren’t lacking in surprises either, but they also contain evidence of the demise of this lineup of Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne might have returned for Never Say Die!, but he refused to sing any material written with Dave Walker and the rest of the band refused to let them go. “Breakout” exists here as an instrumental and the riffing actually resembles the crushing doom sound that the band pioneered. That is until the entrance of the horn section and saxophone solo that overlay the whole song. It’s not bad, but certainly unexpected.
“Swinging the Chain” closes the album and its a great song, a blues rocker that can stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the band’s contemporaries. The only issue is that because the song was written with Dave Walker drummer Bill Ward sings it instead. He does a good job but lacks the distinctive sound of Ozzy.
Never Say Die! proved an ironic title, something they were well aware of at the time. Ozzy was out by the following year but only after hitting the road with Van Halen in support of the album. Some dates even featured The Ramones as an opener (can you imagine being at one of those shows?). Ozzy Osbourne would go on with his solo career while Black Sabbath recruited Ronnie James Dio to take his place. Both would prove to continue to be vital to the development of heavy metal.
Never Say Die! was decisive upon its release and Ozzy in particular has been very open about his feelings. Yet many have come around to the album. Admittedly it makes more sense in the context of what came after than what came before. And more importantly, when the album is taken on its own terms, it is a killer collection of songs.
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