"War Pigs" opens the set, and what is there really to say about the song that has not been said already. Certainly not the best rendition of the song on record, but not bad at all for a band that has been active for more than forty years in some capacity. Ozzy's interjections make the song enjoyable, but the song does sound a little sloppy in places. The sound of an aging Sabbath is still powerful and massive, but one does notice a big difference in quality between this version and the definitive version off the "Reunion" album. One positive is that you really feel in the crowd here, much more so than the slightly sterile "Reunion" album. "Loner" was my pick for the best track off 2012's "13". The studio version is certainly better, but it is nice to hear a new Sabbath track played live. Bassist Geezer Butler and touring drummer Tommy Clufetos have a nice rapport going on, and they form a mighty rhythm section. Iommi and Ozzy have moments of brilliance, but the once bright lights of these aging rock gods are definitely dimming. Ozzy seems to forget some of the lyrics, and Iommi's playing is not nearly as tight as it used to be. But who gives a crap really, these guys have nothing to prove at all.
"Black Sabbath" sounds as ominous as ever. A good version of the track that forged the sound of metal, Ozzy sounds surprisingly clear and powerful on this version, proving the Prince of Darkness still has some fire in him. I was glad that Sabbath included the new songs on this album. "Methademic" was included on the deluxe version of "13", and is a very underrated track. I love the massive riff and rapid-fire drumming from Clufetos, one of the highlights of the album. The new songs are really the best part of this album, as the band seems more into playing some new and fresh stuff than the old tunes. A great song, and a pretty good live version of it, despite Ozzy's vocals being fairly low in the mix."N.I.B." comes in next. I love how Geezer's bass solo changes ever time it's played, and this version is pretty good. A classic song to say the least, this version is more than adequate, but again not quite as good as the much younger Sabbath playing it on "Reunion".
"Iron Man" is a song that man Sabbath die-hards (like moi) actually don't really care for. I'm pretty much indifferent to the song at this point. It's nice to hear the crowd get fired up for the track, but I can honestly say that I don't listen to the song often. That being said, this version is quite good, especially due to Clufetos' brilliant drumming, which I was lucky to see in the flesh at the epic Lollapalooza 2012 show. "End of the Beginning" comes next. A underrated track from "13", it's a slow-burner of a song. This version is quite good, despite Ozzy having some timing issues. It was one of my favorite tracks from 13, and it's great to hear it played live. I was happy to hear the song played live at the Toronto show in August 2013, despite the lukewarm reaction of the crowd to the song.
"Fairies Wear Boots" is a timeless metal anthem, and the song needs little introduction. While Bill Ward is sorely missed, Clufetos' drumming is definitely the highlight of this version, a great drummer. Geezer also sounds great, having evolved his bass playing and sound over the years, adding a more modern element to the track. A pretty good version, I would actually say this version is better than "Reunion", more raw and jammy. "God Is Dead" was met with a mixed reaction from the public and press. The song has grown on me over the last year. This version is pretty good, and is the closest of the new tracks to studio-like quality.
"Paranoid" comes in to close off the album. But first, we are treated to a teasing of the introduction to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Sadly, the song is no longer played completely, due to it being far out of Ozzy's current vocal range. Not much to say about "Paranoid", easily one of the most played and important rock tracks of the 20th century, so sit back and listen. A great closer, especially Iommi's solos and Geezer's killer bass playing.
Black Sabbath might not make another go of it. But if so, "Gathered In Their Masses" is a fitting testament to the godfathers of metal. While they may be aging, the songs are still quite good facsimiles of the recordings that they have done. The inclusion of four new songs makes it worth it alone. When combined with the excellent and longer concert video, fans of Sabbath will certainly enjoy the package. Pick it up this holiday for your dad, brother, heck even yourself. Long live Sabbath.
Rating-7.5/10 (Audio CD)
8.5/10 (Complete Package)
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