Zakk Wylde made his debut with Ozzy Osbourne as a ‘baby-faced’ kid on 1988’s ‘No Rest For The Wicked’ album and you’re aware, he went on to a lengthy career with ‘The Prince of Darkness.’ Wylde left a number of years ago to focus on Black Label Society. Since that time, he returned home in hopes to tour with Ozzy. Unfortunately such was not the case as Osbourne is physically unable to do it. Hot off the summer tour with Pantera, Wylde quickly shifted gears and went into Zakk Sabbath mode. A new Zakk Sabbath album is due during the first quarter of ‘24.
Zakk Sabbath includes Wylde on vocals and guitar,John DeServio (Black Label Society) on bass who is either sitting in or has taken over for Blasko and drummer Joey Castillo (Danzig, Queens Of The Stone Age). Having already had the Zakk Sabbath experience at the NAMM show in 2016 and again in PDX in 2017, I was absolutely thrilled for the opportunity of seeing Zakk Sabbath again.
But before Zakk Sabbath, The Native Howl from Detroit, Michigan took the stage. The Native Howl dubbed their sound as ‘Thrash Grass,’ what they refer to as a blend of thrash metal and bluegrass. Frankly, I hear more like a cross of Days of A New meets Hayseed Dixie, but if they want to call it ‘thrash’ who am I to debate the matter? While the merging of the two sub genres shouldn’t work,it does and makes for a unique sound. The Native Howl have created quite a buzz going into this fall tour with Zakk Sabbath. Judging from the crowd reaction, this just might blow a few more doors wide open for them.
The highlights were “Sons of Destruction,” “Thunderhead,” and “Harvester of Constant Sorrow,” which if you’re not aware is a ‘mashup’ Metallica’s “Harvester of Sorrow” and the bluegrass classic “Man of Constant Sorrow” with a vicious electrified banjo! This was the last date leading into the Christmas break in the tour. If you get a chance to see them supporting Zakk Sabbath for the remainder of the 2023/2024 dates do it.
The Zakk Sabbath show at The Roseland had been sold out for a few days leading to the 22nd of December, which increased the anticipation for this gig. For those that are not aware, Zakk Sabbath tackle the Sabbath classics with respect with the occasional Wylde going into ‘Berserker mode.’ The kilt made its return for this tour. Wylde takes some liberties with the solos by expanding upon the groundwork laid down by the mighty Tony Iommi. The band opened things up with “Supernaut” which got the sold out crowd worked up like a priest visiting a Sunday school. Unlike ‘The Sabbath,’ Zakk Sabbath dug deeper into the back catalog by blowing the dust off some classics that Sabbath hadn’t performed in a while. There were of course some of the usual suspects like “Children Of The Grave,” “Into The Void,” “Hand Of Doom,” “N.I.B.,” “Fairies Wear Boots,” “Into The Void,” which saw Wylde stepping into the crowd to play an extended guitar solo and the closer “War Pigs.”
It was extremely refreshing to not have to hear “Iron Man” or “Paranoid.” We could have probably done without “War Pigs” as well but it was expected that they’d end with a Sabbath ‘hit.’ Next time around, I’d love to see Zakk and co. go even deeper and include songs like “Never Say Die,” “Rock ‘N’ Roll Doctor,” and “Dirty Women.” Throughout the performance Wylde would raise his right fist toward the sky and the place would come unhinged. Zakk Sabbath absolutely destroyed. This band was initially formed in the name of fun and the love of Sabbath but it slowly gained momentum and took on a life of its own. With Black Sabbath now officially retired; the sky’s the limit for Zakk Sabbath.
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