Producer Mihkel Raud and the members of the Early Music group Rondellus have indeed taken us through the centuries with this amazing concept album. Mihkel Raud, a popular Estonian guitarist and president of Beg the Bug Records, came up with the idea of producing an album of heavy metal music by the supergroup Black Sabbath with a twist: the music would be performed as though Black Sabbath had been formed and the music written in the 14th century. Thus we have Sabbatum, a collection of Sabbath tunes sung in Latin, with emphasis on melody and lyric rather than the roaring power of the music as played on guitar, bass, and drums.

(A side note here, dear readers...some online reviewers have referred to Rondellus as "a tribute band" or given credit for the concept to the band themselves rather than visionary Mihkel Raud. This is not only bad form, but shows a terrible lack of ambition. After all, the information is right there on the Web site.)

On the Web site Raud says "By taking these Black Sabbath songs back in time we wanted to prove that the word "power" is very often misunderstood. It's not always a massive wall of sound that makes music powerful. There can be a lot of energy in just one person singing." And the group proves this more than adequately beginning with the very first song "Verres militares - War Pigs." As as the sweet clear voices of Miriam Andersen and Maria Staak rise in the opening rounds of one of the most recognizable Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath tunes ever, it's obvious that this is not your daddy's Black Sabbath. With only the two voices accompanied by Robert Staak on the frame drum, this song resonates with the energy Raud was searching for.

The arrangement of the songs is original and unique.Without the hard driving characteristics of heavy metal, the melodies stand alone; the songs heard in Latin prove to musical purists and anti-heavy metal snarks that there is more to Sabbath music than just headbanging and raw noise. Not only have the lyrics been transcribed into Latin, but the music has been pared down and arranged in the medieval style. From the bare a capella sound of "Post aeternitatem - After Forever", to the minimalist style of voice and positive organ on "Solitudo - The Solitude," or voice and lute on "Architectus urbis caelistis - Spiral Architect", to the fuller more intensely instrumental sounds of "Oculi filioli - Junior's Eyes" or "Post murum somnii - Behind the Wall of Sleep" -- Sabbatum is 53 minutes of glorious sound and utter genius.

Rondellus hails from Tallinn, Estonia, and have been touring on the Early Music circuit since Robert and Maria Staak formed the group in 1993.The members of Rondellus are Maria Staak (vocals, hurdy gurdy, organistrum), Robert Staak (frame drum, percussion, lute, organistrum), Miriam Andersen (vocals, gothic harp), Veikko Christian Kiiver (vocals), and Tonu Joesaar (fiddle). Tuule Kann (organistrum, psaltery), Roland Lill (fiddle), Toivo Tulev (vocals), Taniel Kirikal (vocals), Catlin Jaago (bagpipe), Marju Riisikamp (positive organ) and even producer Mihkel Raud (bells) are guest players on Sabbatum. Each of these artists are accomplished in their own right -- the Staaks are both graduates of the Tallinn Music School, as well as having studied at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland (Maria) and taught at the Tallinn Academy of Music (Robert). Rondellus' has recorded 3 previous albums of medieval secular and sacred music: Secular Music in France from the XIVth-XVth Century, Sanctum Rosarium, and Carmina Sanctorium. Mihkel Raud is a well-known Estonian rock musician as well as a music producer.

If you're a fan of medieval music, this CD should be a lovely and unique experience for you, and a bit of an eye-opener if you understand the Latin lyrics. If you're a fan of Black Sabbath and heavy metal, this CD should be an eye-opener to an entirely new and fascinating musical form, as well as a nice alternative when you're heavily hung over or the grandparents are in town. I happen to be a fan of both musical styles, and I found Sabbatum to be a rich, lush treat; a tasty mix of the best and sweetest bits of both worlds.