Is Heaven and Hell Geezer's best bass work?

[Dinosaur David B]

Your mileage may vary, but Heaven in Hell is arguably (IMO) the greatest metal album of all time. Every moment of it is fantastic, all around. But sitting here listening to it (high  ), I'm just reminded how incredible Geezer's bass work is on this album. Doesn't matter whether the song is slow or fast, he just crushes all of it. As an ex bass player, I love Geezer, and learning his bass lines on Heaven and Hell was a rite of passage, and a hell of a teaching moment. 

Geezer's great on ALL the Sabbath albums, but I think this may be his best work. 


Discuss!

 

[Vandenberg]

Listen to it Straight, then compare, a drug enhanced comparison is NOT the way to go, so.... take a break and another listen then make a post, do I agree with you, NO, however do I think it it one of the metal albums of all time, yes.... But sorry mate, for me personally a drug fuelled review don't cut it, not being pious, as I have been in many a state when listening to my tunes, but this is a HUGE statement you are making imho   

 

[Dinosaur David B]

Dude. Lose the judgement. I've heard this album a million times straight. I'd say the same thing sober. The difference is certain aspects of music sometimes stick out a little more, and I appreciate them more when I'm high. 

do I think it it one of the metal albums of all time, yes....

 

If you agree, how is a huge statement?  

I wasn't making a huge statement. I was posing a question about Geezer's bass work. One you didn't answer. 
 
 

[Vandenberg]

my answer is NO mate, Paranoid is Geezer's best bass work, Imho, and I have listened to that album countless times both straight and and mullered, that is Geezers defining moment even more so than Tony's imho.  

[Dinosaur David B]

that is Geezers defining moment even more so than Tony's imho.  
 

Thanks for answering the question. I see, and respect your opinion.

My response would be that an artist's defining moment isn't always that artist's best playing. Those things aren't always mutually exclusive. I'll fully grant you that Paranoid is their defining album across the board. But that doesn't automatically mean it contains Geezer's best bass lines, or even Tony's best lead work, for that matter. Whatever you want to say about their best songs and albums, they continued growing and improving as players.  

My first 6 years were on bass, and I learned most of Geezer's lines. From that perspective, the bass on Heaven and Hell was busier, more progressive, and challenging. FWIW, I think Geezer's playing (like all of Sabbath) changed when Ozzy left.  Tony said the difference was that Ozzy sang on the riff (think Iron Man), but Dio sang between the riffs. When this happened, Geezer didn't have to mirror Tony as closely as he did when Ozzy was there. Listen to Geezer Children of the Sea and Die Young, where Tony's playing is comparatively simple. Geezer goes full on Jack Bruce on that shit. 
 

[Tatosh Guitar]

Your mileage may vary, but Heaven in Hell is arguably (IMO) the greatest metal album of all time.

 

You are preaching to the choir here.

Not arguably. It IS the greatest metal album of all time.

That is a fact of life.

I have said this here before: I would not change a note on that album. Not a single one. It is perfection, period.

And yeah, Geezer is off-the-record amazing on it. It basically defined for me what a metal bass player should be.




 

[Dinosaur David B]

It basically defined for me what a metal bass player should be.



 

See, I think the H&H bass lines are much more adventurous and proggy than most metal bass. I think Geezer's more showing everyone what a metal bass player COULD be. Bass doesn't have to be as Ian Hill/Jimmy Bain basic as most metal bass is. 
 
 
 

[Bent out of shape]

won't comment on whether his best bass work but fully agree the LP is a total peak in rock/metal history,  

as you say Geezer is doing some amazing fills, particularly in COTS, underneath Tony's riffs. 
 

[Dinosaur David B]

won't comment on whether is best bass work but fully agree the LP is a total peak in rock/metal history,  

as you say Geezer is doing some amazing fills, particularly in COTS, underneath Tony's riffs. 

 

Was just asking for opinions. It's OK if you disagree.
 

[Tatosh Guitar]

it is more adventurous and proggy than most metal bass. I think Geezer's more showing everyone what a metal bass player COULD be. Bass doesn't have to be as Ian Hill/Jimmy Bain basic as most metal bass is. 
 
 
 

 

It is more adventurous and proggy. That is why I like it so much. The stuff he does on Children of the Sea obviously stands up, but the whole album is solid. I remember the first time I heard that particular song, it totally blew my mind, in a way not many bass playing does. I had a similar reaction the first time I first heard some of the stuff Entwistle used to do with The Who, but I liked Sabbath more, so that stuff knocked my socks off.