Catacombs Of The Black Vatican

Black Label Society have well and truly earned their stripes in the rock and metal world. In the early days, frontman Zakk Wyld sent his demo tape to Ozzy Osbourne, a move that consequently kick-started their career. Fast-forward to now and we have Catacombs Of The Black Vatican, a record that makes it clear to see why they’ve made a name for themselves ever since.

The best thing about this LP is that no song is the same. One minute there’s the iconic, hard rock tune ‘Damn The Flood’, suitable for smashing dinner plates to, while the next welcomes the more down-tempo, blues driven, and lyrically beautiful ‘Scars’. But then, just to add another dimension, the swampy and Grunge-esque ‘Fields Of Forgiveness’ makes an appearance.

Despite the variation, the tracks seem to flow together successfully. In fact, by the end of the record you’ll be hitting the repeat button just to get on the rollercoaster once more.

‘Believe’, track number three, is bound to stick in the listener’s head long after it’s over. “To live forever, just take my hand” will convey a different message to everyone; however, regardless of what the lyrics mean to each listener, the impact is likely to strike a cord due to singer’s solid delivery.

While Black Label Society aren’t reinventing the wheel with Catacombs Of The Black Vatican, the album is an impressive offering.

Listen to ‘My Dying Time’ from Catacombs Of The Black Vatican here:

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