Welcome to the third and final part of our Black Sabbath expedition with Rick Bruce from Moonshine Docks and formerly of Coffin Mulch! We dive deep into the tumultuous yet fascinating journey of Sabbath's later years and the cap it off by discussing the often-maligned 'Never Say Die' album. From Ozzy Osbourne's erratic behaviour and his temporary exit, to Sabbath's experimentation with new soundscapes and their revolving door of members throughout the 80s and 90, nothing is off limits. We've got a few hilarious and poignant anecdotes, tackle critical reviews, and even compare Sabbath's work to culinary experiences. Tune in for a spirited debate about one of rock's most controversial albums and find out if 'Never Say Die' deserves its spot in the rock pantheon or the bargain bin.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:05 Black Sabbath Expedition Begins
01:08 Diverging Opinions on Black Sabbath's Evolution
01:41 Ozzy's Departure and Band Dynamics
03:03 Ronnie James Dio Era
10:21 Heaven and Hell Album Discussion
19:44 Mob Rules Album Insights
22:42 Born Again and Beyond
33:40 Headless Cross Era: A Stodgy Comeback
34:47 The Tony Martin Reappraisal
35:31 Tear and Headless Cross: A New Sound
38:57 Dehumanizer: The 80s Band Reunites
43:38 Cross Purposes and the Grunge Era
49:32 Forbidden: The Misstep
56:55 Never Say Die: The Final Ozzy Album
01:12:34 Nosey and the 70s Sound
01:12:50 Sabbath's Unique Riffs and Drumming
01:13:16 Influences and Inspirations
01:14:17 Critiques and Musical Textures
01:15:30 Hard Road and Vocal Performances
01:16:49 Medieval Covers and Side 2
01:19:23 Shockwave and Air Dance
01:24:08 Over to You and Breakout
01:27:04 Swingin' the Chain and Album Conclusion
01:35:14 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Well now. It turns out that 19 albums (technically 20 if you include Heaven & Hell's only album, The Devil You Know) is rather a lot. So our two parter has become a three parter. Whoops.

But we tackle their discography with someone who knows the band inside out - Richard Bruce, from the band Moonshine Docks and formerly of Coffin Mulch. His encyclopedic knowledge of the band stands us in very good stead as we go about the business of talking about the band and their albums in detail.

In this episode we chat about the band's history and then dive into all the Ozzy records, essentially covering all of the band's 1970s output. It's a pretty fascinating journey, and we really enjoyed getting to grips with the "classic" Sabbath material.

Next week - Dio, Gillian, Hughes and Martin all come to the Sabbath party.

Reaction to Aron interview = 13:05
Lyrical duties = 19:29
Ozzy solo charade and cutting folk out of credits = 20:09
the Beatles influence and pre mobile phone tours = 29:26
KIss is the American Slade = 34:27
West Midlands hard music and WC blokes plus G Harrison = 36:55
BUying the wrong Sabbath record = 40:46
Were Sabbath actually very satanic? Crowley, Witchfinder, Devil Rides out = 49:03
Naive lyrics and nursery rhymes = 57:04
Master of Reality defines stoner and doom = 58:16

It's 2025 and we're starting the year off with a bang. Regular fans will know that we always start the year off with a big artist, and there's very few metal bands bigger than Black Sabbath.

This week and next we'll be chatting all about them. Episode one is an in-depth interview with Aron Ward, son of Black Sabbath's original drummer, Bill Ward. Aron discusses his eclectic musical journey, influenced heavily by his father but also carved by his own diverse tastes. He talks about his own projects, such as Olanza, Harpoon, and Repoman, and his approach to DIY music production. Aron provides personal anecdotes from his childhood, touring with Black Sabbath, and learning the harsh realities of the music industry. He also shares his thoughts on various Sabbath albums and his dad's impact on his music career. Tune in for a fascinating chat filled with music history, personal stories, and candid insights.

NEXT WEEK we're bringing in ANOTHER guest to talk about the band, and focus on the record Never Say Die.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:08 Meet Aron Ward
01:46 Aron's Musical Journey
03:22 Growing Up with Black Sabbath
04:35 Influence of Black Sabbath
16:13 DIY Ethos and Industry Insights
20:13 Memories and Reflections
23:56 Favorite Albums and Musical Preferences
26:33 Interviewing Ian McKay: A Shared Experience
26:54 Heaven and Hell: A New Kind of Metal
27:29 Living in Bel Air: Ozzy's Absence
29:50 The Dio Era: A Divisive Time
32:25 Technical Ecstasy: A Beatles Influence
33:56 Never Say Die: A Confusing Time
39:07 The Influence of Sabbath on Modern Bands
45:03 Final Thoughts and Personal Projects