BLACK SABBATH

Heavy Metal • United Kingdom
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Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal, hard rock band, formed in Birmingham in 1968, by guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne, and drummer Bill Ward. The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. Originally formed in 1968 as a heavy blues rock band named Earth, the band began incorporating occult themes with horror-inspired lyrics and tuned-down guitars. Despite an association with occult and horror themes, Black Sabbath also composed songs dealing with social instability, political corruption, the dangers of drug abuse and apocalyptic prophecies of the horrors of war. Osbourne's heavy drug use led to his dismissal from the band in 1979, after which he began a successful solo career, selling over 100 million albums. He was replaced by former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. After a few albums with Dio's vocals and read more...
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BLACK SABBATH Discography

BLACK SABBATH albums / top albums

BLACK SABBATH Black Sabbath album cover 4.23 | 197 ratings
Black Sabbath
Heavy Metal 1970
BLACK SABBATH Paranoid album cover 4.52 | 238 ratings
Paranoid
Heavy Metal 1970
BLACK SABBATH Master Of Reality album cover 4.38 | 198 ratings
Master Of Reality
Heavy Metal 1971
BLACK SABBATH Vol 4 album cover 4.05 | 145 ratings
Vol 4
Heavy Metal 1972
BLACK SABBATH Sabbath Bloody Sabbath album cover 4.34 | 169 ratings
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Heavy Metal 1973
BLACK SABBATH Sabotage album cover 4.15 | 130 ratings
Sabotage
Heavy Metal 1975
BLACK SABBATH Technical Ecstasy album cover 3.04 | 88 ratings
Technical Ecstasy
Heavy Metal 1976
BLACK SABBATH Never Say Die! album cover 3.17 | 88 ratings
Never Say Die!
Heavy Metal 1978
BLACK SABBATH Heaven And Hell album cover 4.37 | 164 ratings
Heaven And Hell
Heavy Metal 1980
BLACK SABBATH Mob Rules album cover 3.99 | 117 ratings
Mob Rules
Heavy Metal 1981
BLACK SABBATH Born Again album cover 2.88 | 89 ratings
Born Again
Heavy Metal 1983
BLACK SABBATH Seventh Star album cover 2.96 | 70 ratings
Seventh Star
Heavy Metal 1986
BLACK SABBATH The Eternal Idol album cover 3.39 | 74 ratings
The Eternal Idol
Heavy Metal 1987
BLACK SABBATH Headless Cross album cover 3.76 | 76 ratings
Headless Cross
Heavy Metal 1989
BLACK SABBATH Tyr album cover 3.43 | 70 ratings
Tyr
Heavy Metal 1990
BLACK SABBATH Dehumanizer album cover 3.69 | 91 ratings
Dehumanizer
Heavy Metal 1992
BLACK SABBATH Cross Purposes album cover 3.34 | 63 ratings
Cross Purposes
Heavy Metal 1994
BLACK SABBATH Forbidden album cover 2.31 | 61 ratings
Forbidden
Heavy Metal 1995
BLACK SABBATH 13 album cover 3.66 | 69 ratings
13
Heavy Metal 2013

BLACK SABBATH EPs & splits

BLACK SABBATH Heavy Metal album cover 5.00 | 1 ratings
Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal 1984
BLACK SABBATH The End album cover 3.86 | 10 ratings
The End
Heavy Metal 2016

BLACK SABBATH live albums

BLACK SABBATH Live At Last album cover 3.05 | 26 ratings
Live At Last
Heavy Metal 1980
BLACK SABBATH Live Evil album cover 3.48 | 43 ratings
Live Evil
Heavy Metal 1982
BLACK SABBATH Cross Purposes: Live album cover 3.50 | 13 ratings
Cross Purposes: Live
Heavy Metal 1995
BLACK SABBATH Reunion album cover 3.90 | 27 ratings
Reunion
Heavy Metal 1998
BLACK SABBATH Past Lives album cover 3.68 | 22 ratings
Past Lives
Heavy Metal 2002
BLACK SABBATH Live At Hammersmith Odeon album cover 4.10 | 16 ratings
Live At Hammersmith Odeon
Heavy Metal 2007
BLACK SABBATH The End: 4 February 2017 Birmingham album cover 4.33 | 3 ratings
The End: 4 February 2017 Birmingham
Heavy Metal 2017

BLACK SABBATH demos, promos, fans club and other releases (no bootlegs)

BLACK SABBATH re-issues & compilations

BLACK SABBATH We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll album cover 4.36 | 18 ratings
We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll
Heavy Metal 1975
BLACK SABBATH The Collection album cover 0.00 | 0 ratings
The Collection
Heavy Metal 1992
BLACK SABBATH The Sabbath Stones album cover 5.00 | 2 ratings
The Sabbath Stones
Heavy Metal 1996
BLACK SABBATH The Best Of Black Sabbath album cover 4.79 | 7 ratings
The Best Of Black Sabbath
Heavy Metal 2000
BLACK SABBATH Symptom Of The Universe: 1970-1978 album cover 5.00 | 3 ratings
Symptom Of The Universe: 1970-1978
Heavy Metal 2002
BLACK SABBATH Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978) album cover 4.83 | 6 ratings
Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)
Heavy Metal 2004
BLACK SABBATH Greatest Hits 1970-1978 album cover 2.22 | 5 ratings
Greatest Hits 1970-1978
Heavy Metal 2006
BLACK SABBATH Black Sabbath: The Dio Years album cover 5.00 | 5 ratings
Black Sabbath: The Dio Years
Heavy Metal 2007
BLACK SABBATH The Rules Of Hell album cover 4.88 | 4 ratings
The Rules Of Hell
Heavy Metal 2008
BLACK SABBATH Greatest Hits album cover 4.00 | 2 ratings
Greatest Hits
Heavy Metal 2009
BLACK SABBATH Iron Man: The Best Of Black Sabbath album cover 4.00 | 2 ratings
Iron Man: The Best Of Black Sabbath
Heavy Metal 2012
BLACK SABBATH Anno Domini 1989-1995 album cover 4.00 | 1 ratings
Anno Domini 1989-1995
Heavy Metal 2024

BLACK SABBATH singles (34)

.. Album Cover
2.83 | 3 ratings
Evil Woman / Wicked World
Heavy Metal 1970
.. Album Cover
3.17 | 3 ratings
Paranoid
Heavy Metal 1970
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 3 ratings
Iron Man / Electric Funeral ‎
Heavy Metal 1970
.. Album Cover
3.00 | 3 ratings
The Wizard
Heavy Metal 1970
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 3 ratings
Children Of The Grave
Heavy Metal 1971
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
Wicked World
Heavy Metal 1971
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 3 ratings
Sweet Leaf
Heavy Metal 1971
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 3 ratings
After Forever
Heavy Metal 1971
.. Album Cover
3.17 | 3 ratings
Tomorrow's Dream
Heavy Metal 1972
.. Album Cover
2.33 | 3 ratings
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Heavy Metal 1973
.. Album Cover
2.25 | 2 ratings
Changes
Heavy Metal 1973
.. Album Cover
2.33 | 3 ratings
Am I Going Insane (Radio)
Heavy Metal 1975
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
Back Street Kids
Heavy Metal 1976
.. Album Cover
3.25 | 2 ratings
It's Alright
Heavy Metal 1976
.. Album Cover
3.00 | 2 ratings
Gypsy
Heavy Metal 1976
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
Never Say Die!
Heavy Metal 1978
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
A Hard Road
Heavy Metal 1978
.. Album Cover
3.25 | 2 ratings
Neon Knights
Heavy Metal 1980
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Die Young
Heavy Metal 1980
.. Album Cover
3.25 | 2 ratings
Lady Evil / Children Of The Sea
Heavy Metal 1980
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Lady Evil
Heavy Metal 1980
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
Mob Rules
Heavy Metal 1981
.. Album Cover
3.00 | 2 ratings
Turn Up The Night
Heavy Metal 1982
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
The Shining
Heavy Metal 1987
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
Headless Cross
Heavy Metal 1989
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Devil And Daughter
Heavy Metal 1989
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Call Of The Wild
Heavy Metal 1989
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Feels Good To Me
Heavy Metal 1990
.. Album Cover
3.50 | 2 ratings
TV Crimes
Heavy Metal 1992
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Master Of Insanity Part 1
Heavy Metal 1992
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Master Of Insanity Part 2
Heavy Metal 1992
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
Get A Grip
Heavy Metal 1995
.. Album Cover
2.00 | 1 ratings
The Devil Cried
Heavy Metal 2007
.. Album Cover
3.00 | 2 ratings
God Is Dead?
Heavy Metal 2013

BLACK SABBATH movies (DVD, Blu-Ray or VHS)

.. Album Cover
4.00 | 2 ratings
Black And Blue
Heavy Metal 1980
.. Album Cover
3.00 | 1 ratings
Cross Purposes: Live
Heavy Metal 1995
.. Album Cover
1.50 | 2 ratings
The Last Supper
Heavy Metal 1999
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 2 ratings
The Black Sabbath Story: Volume One 1970-1978
Heavy Metal 2002
.. Album Cover
3.86 | 3 ratings
The Black Sabbath Story: Volume Two 1978-1992
Heavy Metal 2002
.. Album Cover
3.67 | 5 ratings
Never Say Die: Live In 1978
Heavy Metal 2003
.. Album Cover
4.00 | 3 ratings
Classic Albums: Paranoid
Heavy Metal 2010
.. Album Cover
4.25 | 6 ratings
Live... Gathered in Their Masses
Heavy Metal 2013
.. Album Cover
4.14 | 3 ratings
The End: 4 February 2017 Birmingham
Heavy Metal 2017

BLACK SABBATH Reviews

BLACK SABBATH Sabotage

Album · 1975 · Heavy Metal
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Unitron
Sabbotage

Wish they kept that working title. To many people, Sabotage is the last of the great Sabbath albums. For me, Sabotage is the band getting back on track after what I see as the mediocre Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and producing one of their best albums ever. Sabotage acts as a perfect continuation of Vol. 4's experimentation and soulful songwriting, and is brimming with anger at managers and labels screwing the band over.

There's the fistful of power that's Hole in the Sky, which swaggers so hard that it could've left them in a power strut forever. Symptom of the Universe switches between proto-thrash shredding and super chill folk rock vibes but with a real swing. Supertzar is ominous and majestic, the combination of doom riffs and choral chants just makes sense. The finale The Writ kind of reprises Supertzar's great riff but extended and without the choral arrangement to give full stage to it.

Sabotage wasn't the last great album, the creativity continued on the following two albums, and despite increasing inner struggles between the band members they'd knock it out of the park a few years later.

BLACK SABBATH Technical Ecstasy

Album · 1976 · Heavy Metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
Unitron
For the most part, the albums made by the original Black Sabbath lineup are considered untouchable legends in the world of rock and metal, that is until Technical Ecstasy. There's this idea that they just went straight from hot shit to just shit, no gradual decrease of quality, just a complete 180. To each their own if one believes that, but I think a combination of the reputation Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die get and coming from the wrong place to listen really neglects how good these albums sound.

Sabbath was already getting a bit more experimental on Sabotage, and this just continues that on a grander scale. Opener Back Street Kids is maybe 70's Sabbath's most hyper and pumped up song, sounding closer to the faster and more melodic direction metal was going in. It's Alright is the first song Bill Ward sings on, and it's a nice unique song in the band's catalogue. It has a laidback rock vibe in the vein of The Guess Who, in contrast to the incredible energetic drums that open up the following Gypsy. Honestly Bill Ward was on fire on these last two 70's Sabbath albums.

The funky All Moving Parts (Stand Still) has such a great groove, and there's something about funky songs from heavy bands in the 70's that's just instantly addicting. Rock 'n' Roll Doctor is another ridiculously catchy groove, and is the best boogie rock out there. Usually the highlight of the album is considered to be the closing Dirty Women. Personally I'm not a fan of some of the changes in sound it goes through, but the middle section is maybe Ozzy's best vocal performance ever. He has this rough and gravely tone that I've never heard him do on any other song, and hearing him almost roar "Oh dirty women, they don't mess around" over this heavy ass riff that sounds right out of the breakdown in Jethro Tull's Minstrel in the Gallery is one of the coolest sections of any song.

So yeah, it's pretty damn good. The next album would be even better though and my favorite Ozzy-era Sabbath album. Also that cover rocks, more albums should use Rene Magritte-esque surrealism.

BLACK SABBATH Born Again

Album · 1983 · Heavy Metal
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SilentScream213
An absolute tragedy of an album. So much potential, almost all of it wasted.

Here we have all the ingredients for a great album. While most of these songs are pretty unconventional for Sabbath, they end up being some of the most unique and interesting they have ever written. The music here is great - the riffs, the atmosphere. Easily up there with Sabbath's best. Unfortunately, the production is awful. That isn't enough to completely ruin the songs, but it is not raw in an endearing way; there was a mistake in the studio apparently, and it shows. This was a mess.

Then, we have Ian Gillan. A fantastic vocalist, sure. But he just doesn't fit Sabbath. Ozzy isn't a great singer by any means, but he definitely has an ear for music, and his wails really fit Sabbath's style. Dio, there's really nothing that needs to be said; he can do just about anything. Both those vocalists wrote lyrics a little differently; Dio's lyrics were occasionally out of place in Sabbath, but his delivery was always on point, so it's forgivable. Ian has none of that. His lyrics are terrible; mostly about sex, getting drunk, rocking out, etc. On top of that, his delivery does not fit Sabbath at all. In Disturbing the Priest and Born Again, he does manage to sound somewhat menacing, but the rest of the time, he just sounds too damn happy. It doesn't fit at all.

Let it be said that there are no bad songs here, and one great one even in the title track. But the album could have been a masterpiece if handled better, and instead it's a mess full of unrealized potential.

BLACK SABBATH Sabotage

Album · 1975 · Heavy Metal
Cover art Buy this album from MMA partners
SilentScream213
What a mixed bag. I had already heard, and now agree, that Sabotage contains some of Sabbaths absolute best material, and some of their most lackluster. It starts very strong, with an A-side that is unyielding save for a weak acoustic instrumental track. Some of Toni’s best riffs accompany Ozzy’s most impassioned vocal performance yet.

The B-side isn’t bad, not at all. It’s just so completely inferior to the A-side. Mostly hard rock tracks lacking either memorable hooks or riffs carry the listener through the second half in minor disappointment. However, nothing can be said to overstate the comeback that is the final track, “The Writ.” “The Writ” blew my mind when I first heard it. Unmistakably, I recognized that track as the birth of true Doom; in contrast to the Traditional Doom sound Sabbath coined, this track was very moody, very slow, very heavy. It was melancholic, and passionate. Somewhat progressive and eclectic. This track, I believe, is what birthed melancholic Doom Metal as a separate style to the slow but epic style of Trad Doom, and consequently, led to Death Doom and Funeral Doom.

BLACK SABBATH Black Sabbath

Album · 1970 · Heavy Metal
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UMUR
"Black Sabbath" is the eponymously tited debut full-length studio album by UK, Birmingham based heavy metal act Black Sabbath. The album was released in Europe through Vertigo Records in February 1970. It saw a US release through Warner Bros. Records in June 1970. The US version features an alternative tracklist to the original European version, replacing the Crow cover track "Evil Woman" with an additional Black Sabbath original titled "Wicked World". The tracklist change makes sense as the band were never that happy with the inclusion of "Evil Woman", but they were pushed by their then manager to include the track, as he felt the album otherwise lacked a song with commercial appeal (and if he was shooting for a radio hit single, he was probably right).

The album was recorded in one 10-hours long session in October 1969, and it was predominantly recorded live in the studio, with lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne recording his vocal tracks simoultaniously with the recording of the instrumental tracks. The band then spend a few hours doing some overdubs (a few vocal overdubs, the bells, thunder and rain sound effects opening the title track, and the double-tracked guitar solos on "N.I.B." and "Sleeping Village"), and then the album was more or less done. Although the contemporary music press was largely unenthusiastic about the album, it was a commercial success for Black Sabbath and after its US release, sold more than a million copies.

"Black Sabbath" is in retrospect THE seminal release which started the heavy metal movement. Although at it´s core it´s pretty much a really heavy blues rock album, there is a dark occult atmosphere to the album (which is further enhanced by the creepy cover artwork and lyrics about Lucifer and other dark themes) and some very heavy distorted riffs and rhythms, which were more extreme than similar features on the output by other contemporary heavy rockers like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Uriah Heep. The most heavy and dark moments on this album simply transcend the term rock and belong to the then new born genre heavy metal (which it probably wasn´t labelled back then).

The album opens with the dark and doomy title track, which for contemporary ears must have been an extremely heavy track. But "The Wizard", "Behind The Wall Of Sleep", "N.I.B.", and "Sleeping Willage/Warning", are also quite dark and heavy tracks. Listening to "Evil Woman" it´s understandable the band didn´t feel it fit with the rest of the material, as it features a less heavy and lighter mood. "Wicked World" is arguably a better choice, featuring a similar heavy impact and dark atmosphere to the other tracks on the album. The album is packed in a dark, heavy, and organic sounding production, which suits the music perfectly. This one is not only a classic, it´s a great album featuring high level musical performances (real persons playing/singing, warts and all), a well sounding production, and powerful and creative songwriting. A 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.

BLACK SABBATH Movies Reviews

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stefanbedna wrote:
more than 2 years ago
be following last album Black Sabbath ALIAS Heaven&Hell-The Devil You Know released 2009 official album discography thanks stefanbedna
Pelata wrote:
more than 2 years ago
The importance of Black Sabbath cannot be understated. Without Black Sabbath, Heavy Metal as we know it would not exist...or perhaps not exist at all.

My favorite era is without a doubt the Dio era (including the Heaven & Hell band). The albums RJD was a part of are pure Metal magic!!

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