Electric Funeral: Black Sabbath and the Cultural Landscape 1970-1975

“…all art, regardless of its form or content, is subjective. And if I could properly choose one offering from the art world that best describes the formative years of Black Sabbath, it would be Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. The painting is a masterclass in depicting the tragedy and pessimism that exists within the world we live in, yet it also manages to take a surreal form that exists within a reality that exists completely outside of our own. Upon the black canvas exists a moment frozen in time. The disembodied figures and screams of agony are potent, powerful and allow anyone viewing it a chance to look into the depths of a place where all hope is lost. This is where the abyss stares back into us. And while some might dismiss the imagery that’s presented to them as not having any form or value, others will look deeper to understand its meaning.”

Following up his debut book, Through the Mist and the Madness: A Critical Analysis of the First Three Metallica Albums, Jerome Reuter turns his eye towards the gods of heavy metal, Black Sabbath. But Electric Funeral: Black Sabbath and the Cultural Landscape 1970-1975 is about more than just the band and their music, as the title suggests. It is a deep dive into the historical context that informed the songs of Black Sabbath and how their music in turn shaped the future of heavy music. Poignant and insightful, Reuter brings a strong sense of passion and devotion to the subject at hand, crafting an informative and entertaining read.

by Jerome Reuter
118 pages