Zakk Sabbath and Blasko Release “Vertigo”
If you’re a heavy metal fan, you’re going to dig this. Black Label Society and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde has released a new album with his Black Sabbath tribute band called Zakk Sabbath. Vertigo honors the pioneering band’s debut album, which was recorded in a single day in 1969, by attempting a faithful recreation of it. Bassist Rob “Blasko” Nicholson explains how it came together.
“We recorded a live EP and were wondering what we could do next as a cover band, so the 50th album anniversary came just at the right time”, he says. “Compared to ‘Paranoid’, which is almost like a best-of record, the bulk of the material on ‘Black Sabbath’ is deep-cut, really experimental stuff that was never thoroughly explored, so that was a challenge, not to forget that we wanted to meet our own high standards.”
They recorded the album live with minimal overdubs to keep it as raw as the original. The band has also eschewed a digital release, and the album is available solely on CD and vinyl. “[We wanted] to make the release feel authentic to the time when vinyl ruled the earth,” Wylde explains. “It was such a cool time for those of us that grew up during that time. The fan experience with the physical product is irreplaceable with digital and streaming. We wanted to capture that authenticity.”
Although you’ll have to buy a physical copy to hear it all, the group did put out a track as a teaser.
Vertigo is available now on CD with the vinyl edition shipping in October. The CD version comes with a hardcover artbook with the CD and a bonus DVD with a “making of” documentary.
Vertigo Track List:
- Black Sabbath
- The Wizard
- Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / N.I.B
- Wicked World
- A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning
