.jpg)
Release Date: November 07th 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/VInyl
Unrest In The West - Tracklisting
01. Wheels of Confusion The Straightener
02. A National Acrobat
03. The Wizard
04. A Hard Road
05. Lord of This World
06. Hole in the Sky
07. Children of the Grave
08. Into the Void
Member
Alice Austin - Vocals
Emily Burton - Guitar
Melanie Makaiwi - Bass
Angie Scarpa - Drums
Review
Ripple Music have taken the big step of releasing a Black Sabbath cover band live album and it's a gamble that pays off huge rewards for them especially when the band in question is BLACK SABBITCH. Black Sabbitch are one of the most premiere Black Sabbath tribute bands since 2012. If you want to see their credentials then read the blurb below:
“Black Sabbitch has transcended the typical "tribute band" label, delivering electrifying performances that honor the spirit of Black Sabbath while adding their own unique energy and intensity. Their talent and dedication have earned them coveted spots at major festivals and events, including the inaugural Ozzfiesta at the personal invitation of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, performing at Cal Jam with Foo Fighters, and playing to a crowd of 80,000 at Wacken Open Air in Germany.
The band has also headlined Psycho Las Vegas and The Maryland Doom Fest, performed on The Kiss Kruise at the request of Paul Stanley, and collaborated with artists like Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Shepard Fairey, and Peaches”
If you're endorsed by the legendary Prince Of Darkness then you must be great at what you actually do and BLACK SABBITCH fully deliver on their Live Album - Unrest In The West - that sees this great band put their own spin on classic SABBATH tracks whilst staying close to the original track as possible. The amplified and seedy Blues Rock sounds are played to an appreciative audience with lead vocalist Alice Austin doing her own thing and not trying to mimic Ozzy at all.
Black Sabbitch blast their way through classic tracks Wheels Of Confusion: The Straightener, A National Acrobat, The Wizard and A Hard Road within the first half with a sultry and intense moody style that gives a more emotional energy to the tracks but as I said before still keeping as close as possible to the original versions. Though, that's not to say that Black Sabbitch don't experiment with their versions as the band do venture into areas of Prog Rock and Psych Rock which adds a deceptive Eighties Stadium Rock vision to the whole thing.
My only complaint is that I would have loved to hear their take on iconic tracks such as War Pigs, Iron Man, Fairies Wear Boots and Snowblind being included on this record. However, the tracks included here perhaps are better suited for Black Sabbitch to impress listeners with and when they move into areas of Jazzy interludes with brilliant individual musical performances by Emily Burton (Guitar), Melanie Makaiwi (Bass) and Angie Scarpa (Drums) allowing Black Sabbitch to be a force of HEAVY NATURE,
The second half of the record is even more impressive from Black Sabbitch just amplifying the excitement of classic SABBATH tracks Lord Of This World, Hole In The Sky and Into The Void being played to an appreciative audience.
I’ve heard a ton of Black Sabbath covers live records but I have to say that Unrest In The West is the best I’ve heard to date. As Black Sabbitch pays love and absolute respect to the founders of HEAVY METAL whilst doing their own thing with a classic selection of tracks. The record sounds superb from start to finish that makes the listener being front and centre of the actual concert this album was recorded from.
I’m hoping Ripple Music will release more albums by Black Sabbitch in the future as this is just genuine confirmation why they’re one of the most outstanding Black Sabbath covers bands in the world right now. No question!!!
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Unrest In The West is available to buy now on CD/DD.Vinyl via Ripple Music.
Black Sabbitch links
Ripple Music links