Everything that's wrong with most '70s-superstar resuscitations is extremely right about this two-CD document of the series of concerts performed in 1997 by Black Sabbath's original lineup. From the first anarchic chords of "War Pigs," these metal godfathers demonstrate that they haven't lost their knack for minting pure British steel. The Beavis-approved "Iron Man" rubs studded shoulders with lesser-known forays such as 1976's "Dirty Women" in a set list that's a treat for veteran and apprentice rivetheads alike.
Two new studio tracks -- "Psycho Man" and the thunderous "Selling My Soul" -- fit into the track listing like a fist in a fingerless glove. And extra props go to the liner notes, which don't gloss over the band's post-Ozzy Osbourne incarnations and its numerous offshoot projects. Secure in the knowledge that the classic formula they're offering is still the best, the Sabs can afford to be gracious toward the musical New Cokes in their past.
