Review: Sabbat – Mad Gods And Englishmen

Noise (May 19th, 2023)

Reviewer: Dan Mann

Sabbat are one of those bands that on paper I shouldn’t really like as they’re towards the edge of ‘heaviness’ that I like personally.

When their debut album ‘History Of A Time To Come‘ was originally released back in 1988 there was something about the snippets I heard that grabbed my attention. I’ve still got my original vinyl copy which I haven’t played in years and it really was a trip down memory lane listening to it again after all these years.

Re-listening has just highlighted the skill and talent of vocalist Martin Walkyier and the Judas Priest guitarist turned producer Andy Sneap. In fact listening to the band’s second album ‘Dreamweaver: ‘Reflections Of Our Yesterdays‘ (disc 2 of this 4 disc boxset) again has made me appreciate and enjoy it far more then when it was released.

Included in the ‘Mad Gods And Englishmen‘ 4-disc boxset is ‘Live In East Berlin 1990‘ (also as a DVD) and ‘BBC Radio 1 : Friday Rock Show Session‘. Both of these performances show a band whose musical talent extended to playing live.

I did get chance to see Sabbat live on one occasion, and what an occasion it was too! It was the now ‘infamous’ Astoria gig that nearly descended into a riot!

I’ve enjoyed this nostalgic re-visiting so much I haven’t stopped playing all four discs all week. If you’re not overly familiar with the band or their material, don’t ‘worry’ about the heaviness and instead enjoy the intelligent and skilful song writing and performance.

The LP Box Set Includes:
History Of A Time To Come
(1LP recycled vinyl)
Dreamweaver
(1LP recycled vinyl)
Live In East Berlin 1990
(2 x 1LP recycled vinyl- released in its entirety for the first time)
BBC Radio 1 : Friday Rock Show Session
(1LP recycled vinyl – previously unreleased)
The Beginning Of The End
(Released on DVD for the first time)
From Bard To Verse
(34 page lyric/photo book)
Double sided poster

The CD Box Set Includes:
History Of A Time To Come
(CD album)
Dreamweaver
(CD album)
Live In East Berlin 1990
(CD album- released in its entirety for the first time)
BBC Radio 1 : Friday Rock Show Session
(CD EP – previously unreleased)
The Beginning Of The End
(Released on DVD for the first time)
From Bard To Verse
(24 page lyric book)
Double sided poster

Tracklist:

Disc 1 ‘A History Of A Time To Come’

01  Intro

02 The Clerical Conspiracy

03  Hosanna In Excelsis

04  Do Dark Horses Dream of Nightmare

05  Behind the Crooked Cross

06  I for an Eye

07  Wildfire

08  The Best of Enemies

09 For Those Who Died

10  A Cautionary Tale

11  The Church Bizarre

Disc 2 ‘Dreamweaver: ‘Reflections Of Our Yesterdays‘

01  The Beginning Of The End

02  The Clerical Conspiracy

03  Advent Of Insanity

04  Do Dark Horses Dream Of Nightmare

05  The Best Of Enemies

06  How Have The Mighty Fallen

07  Wildfire

08  Mythistory

09  Happy Never After

Disc 3 ‘BBC Radio 1 : Friday Rock Show Session’

01  A Cautionary Tale (BBC Radio 1 Session)

02  For Those Who Died (BBC Radio 1 Session)

03  The 13th Disciple (BBC Radio 1 Session)

Disc 4 ‘Live In East Berlin 1990′

01  Intro

02  The Clerical Conspiracy

03  Hosanna In Excelsis

04  Do Dark Horses Dream of Nightmare

05  Behind the Crooked Cross

06  I for an Eye  Wildfire

07  The Best of Enemies

08  For Those Who Died

09  A Cautionary Tale

10  The Church Bizarre