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Nativity In Black:  A Tribute To Black Sabbath
1994 Sony
Nativity In Black:  A Tribute To Black Sabbath

Track Listing:

1.  Biohazard – After Forever
2.  White Zombie – Children Of The Grave
3.  Megadeth – Paranoid
4.  1,000 Homo Dj’s – Supernaut
5.  Ozzy Osbourne with Therapy? – Iron Man
6.  Corrosion Of Conformity – Lord Of This World
7.  Sepultura – Symptom Of The Universe
8.  Bullring Brummies – The Wizard
9.  Bruce Dickinson with Godspeed – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
10. Ugly Kid Joe – Nativity In Black
11. Faith No More – War Pigs (live)
12. Type O Negative – Black Sabbath 

Line-Up:
various

Website:  www.blacksabbath.com

Shev's Rating:  B
Average Album Rating:  B

Shev's Review:
So if you’re tired of the endless sea of tribute albums, I suppose you can blame your woes on this.  Nativity In Black: A Tribute To Black Sabbath certainly wasn’t the first tribute album ever created, but it certainly was the one to get the most attention and place the tribute album next to the live albums and greatest hits. 

The CD and booklet is actually very nice, easy to read, well-drawn, and packed with quality quotes and history.  The major downfall to this tribute album is the lack of doom-oriented bands, but then again since this was meant to be a fairly mainstream tribute album it’s understandable why they didn’t invite the likes of Cathedral and Pentagram.  Overall, this is actually a pretty enjoyable listen if you don’t mind the mainstream aspect and their renditions to pay tribute to one of the most influential bands in metal history.  So with that, some quick notes on the songs…

Biohazard: Sweet Leaf – This is a generally good song ruined by this popular as it is pathetic hardcore outfit.

White Zombie: Children Of The Grave – Normally, I can’t stand White Zombie.  This industrial mix, however, makes for a great interpretation of an equally great song.

Megadeth: Paranoid – Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Megadeth are talented musicians who at least at one point also had a talent for writing good music, and they did a fantastic cover of this one.

1,000 Homo Dj’s: Supernaut – Al Jourgensen’s the man.  Enough said.

Ozzy Osbourne with Therapy?: Iron Man – Just like the original but with a new intro and slightly different music.  Obviously not the original, and really nothing to write home about.

Corrosion Of Conformity: Lord Of This World – It’s no secret that Black Sabbath were the most influential band towards the progression of doom and stoner metal, so it makes sense a band like Corrosion Of Conformity would pay homage.  Mainstream status aside…this rocks.

Sepultura: Symptoms Of The Universe – My personal favorite Black Sabbath song.  Basically, Sepultura does a fantastic job on the drums, but completely butchers everything else.  Especially the nice outro.  Bah!

Bullring Brummies: The Wizard – Remarkably brilliant…Ozzy should be paying tribute to Rob Halford.

Bruce Dickinson with Godspeed: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath – Musically, almost too good.  Vocally, Bruce utter destroys Ozzy.  You know what?  This is better than the original.

Ugly Kid Joe: Nativity In Black – This is actually a pretty good cover from a band I otherwise hate.  Kudos.

Faith No More: War Pigs – Awesome musicians that do this song great justice.  The fact that this has the live flair is icing on the cake.

Type O Negative: Black Sabbath – Mega-slow, crushing cover with typical Type O Negative flavoring before they became way too pop-goth.  Surprisingly awesome, especially towards the end when the rolling snowball picks up a little speed. 
Shev's Rating:  B

Also be sure to read:
Black Sabbath - Born Again by Horatio
Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality by Scoots
Black Sabbath - Seventh Star
by Horatio
Biohazard - Urban Discipline by Horatio
Megadeth - Cryptic Writings by Horatio
Megadeth - Rust In Peace by Horatio
Megadeth - So Far, So Good...So What? by Horatio
Megadeth - The System Has Failed by Horatio
Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For The Wicked by Uncle Meat
Sepultura - Chaos A.D. by Horatio
Sepultura - Dead Embryonic Cells by Uncle Meat
Sepultura - Morbid Visions & Bestial Devastation by Uncle Meat
Sepultura - Roots by Horatio & Shev