3 out of 5

Label: Hydra Head

Producer: Steve Austin (Today is the Day), Ed Rose (Coalesce)

Hm.  So the first volume from this series packed both sides of the single with awesomeness – covers that were absolutely true to the originals, but allowed for each band’s personality to shine through.  This volume isn’t bad, Coalesce’s track is effing awesome, actually, it’s just woefully short… especially compared with Today is the Day’s filled-to-the-edge-of-the-single contribution “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.”  Which also isn’t bad, except that it totally has no personality of its own.  Sure, I don’t listen to Today is the Day, but cover song or no, maybe you want to give me a reason to listen to your group, and if you really sound this faceless (like “here’s a song, play it”), then why should I care?  Anyone could’ve played the track as such.  The “Bloody Sabbath” recording is also sorta pithy in comparison to Ed Rose’s capturing of Coalesce’s energy, so that doesn’t help, though it’s possible that the poor quality and reverb are meant to be a tribute and Today is actually the most dedicated, awesome, Black Sabbath loving band ever and they used all original-era equipment to make it happen or something or something…

So, y’know.  There’s nothing wrong with the A-Side, it’s just hard to care about it.  Which makes the perking up of the B-Side sort of a bummer when it stops making noise after a couple minutes of badass shredding.

Also: sweet, sweet packaging, and gorgeous marble vinyl.  My life for Aaron Turner’s design sense.