Live Review: Black Sabbath, Shihad

Considering they covered the headliners on their debut EP in excess of two decades ago, Kiwi rockers Shihad injected more of their trademark youthful enthusiasm than usual during a brief 30-minute foray. Frontman Jon Toogood still somehow made such a large stage his personal playground, deliriously delivering early riff-o-ramas You Again and Screwtop to a warm response. Even if they didn't sell a single T-shirt or win any new fans, the experience will have been worth it for these veterans. 

How to kick off this incarnation of Black Sabbath's first Sydney show in decades, then? Well, the rapturous ovation afforded time-honoured War Pigs is a pretty fair start. Into The Void and Electric Funeral's peerless riffs alone launched a million doom and stoner bands and the Brummie metal progenitors were therefore rightfully treated with a respect only afforded the true greats. This included newfound (again) teetotaller Ozzy Osbourne. Flickers of incomprehensible delivery are par for the course by now (hideously off-key Dirty Women included) although his apocalyptic wail was in better shape than his previous solo visit. Mumbling and stammering after losing the teleprompter during aforementioned Electric Funeral also provided unintentional comedy. When not tossing buckets of water on himself or the front rows, he stumbled about aimlessly but could do little wrong in the eyes of the faithful, cringe-inducing geriatric calisthenics included. His manic, nervous energy (“It's fun being crazy”) and flubbed moments only endeared him further to many, enhancing entertainment value. Punters of all ages were also more than willing to help him out during the likes of stomping, droning Iron Man.

Conversely, vastly underrated Geezer Butler's bass sound was thunderous and axeman Tony Iommi remained the composed, legendary figure, letting that tone speak for him. His ongoing serious illness possibly explained no solo spot and why stand-in drummer Tommy Clufetos was afforded an excruciatingly long one instead. Two new songs were also incorporated. End Of The Beginning (recalling previously aired Black Sabbath in many passages) was the stronger. God Is Dead? was somewhat meandering; Sabbath-by-numbers, if such a concept can apply after so long between drinks. Although not a patch performance-wise on the Ronnie James Dio-fronted version's 2007 visit, the atmosphere on this occasion was on a whole other level and slower, gloomier versions of many cuts intrigued. Paranoid inevitably closed a memorable two-hour display that, without being an all-time classic, still exceeded most or all expectations.