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User
Soundoffs 850
Album Ratings 3331
Objectivity 78%
Last Active 09-03-22 1:19 am
Joined 05-26-14
Review Comments 2,200
| Black Sabbath Albums: Worst to First
I'm sensing an influx of negative comments due to my placement of Sabbath Blood Sabbath. Bring it on. | | 20 |  | Black Sabbath
Forbidden
Yeah, I think everyone saw this coming. Most probably shut it off after the first track, which is a shame, because there are some deep cuts on here that are pretty great. I personally don’t think this is as dreadful as most think it is, but I’d be lying to myself if I said this was a good record.
Best Track: Guilty As Hell
Grade: F+ | | 19 |  | Black Sabbath
Technical Ecstasy
I can appreciate a band shaking up their sound, but the music Iommi and the boys wrote for this record is just so fucking boring. I can’t really say it’s bad, but it sure as hell isn’t worth listening to from start to finish.
Best Track: It’s Alright
Grade: D- | | 18 |  | Black Sabbath
Cross Purposes
Definitely not their best material with Tony Martin. For some ridiculous reason they regulated the best track on the record to a Japanese bonus track. There are a few highlights scattered throughout, but the full package is pretty underwhelming.
Best Track: What’s the Use (Bonus Track)
Grade: D | | 17 |  | Black Sabbath
Seventh Star
First half of the album is great. Second half, not so much. This one definitely gets too much hate, but I do have to admit that it’s far from their best work. Misunderstood, but by no means flawless.
Best Track: Seventh Star
Grade: D+ | | 16 |  | Black Sabbath
Never Say Die!
On its own merits, this is a pretty solid hard rock record. Definitely a step up from Technical Ecstasy, but doesn’t hold a candle to their early output.
Best Track: A Hard Road
Grade: C- | | 15 |  | Black Sabbath
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
I know it’s a classic, but I seriously can’t get into it. I’ve given it countless chances to win me over, but it never does. I like 3 of the songs, and the rest always fail to catch my interest. With that being said, the highlights on here do rank among the band’s best tracks.
Best Track: Sabbra Cadabra
Grade: C- | | 14 |  | Black Sabbath
The Eternal Idol
Sabbath’s first record with Tony Martin is definitely a grower. This album was once towards the very bottom for me, but over time I’ve really grown to enjoy it. Lots of really great riffs and vocal melodies on here.
Best Track: The Shining
Grade: C | | 13 |  | Black Sabbath
13
A solid album to end a career on. The fact Bill Ward didn’t perform on the record rubs me the wrong way though. Could have had a few more uptempo tracks, but it’s satisfying overall.
Best Track: Loner
Grade: C | | 12 |  | Black Sabbath
Born Again
I don’t get the hate for this one. Sure, the production is pretty wonky, but the songs are catchy, and the riffs are heavy. Gillan hands in one of his more demanding vocal performances and never sounds like he’s phoning it in. Give this one another shot, you may be surprised how much you like it.
Best Track: Digital Bitch
Grade: C+ | | 11 |  | Black Sabbath
Tyr
Surprisingly, the bands one and only power metal release was birthed from the loins of the Martin era, not the Dio era as many would likely expect. I’ll admit, it does really have any of the trademarks of classic Black Sabbath, but that honestly doesn’t bother me muchl. Definitely one of the most sonically daring and theatrical releases. As long as you don’t go in expecting traditional Sabbath doom metal, you might just walk away with a new appreciation for the Tony Martin era.
Best Track: Anno Mundi
Grade: B- | | 10 |  | Black Sabbath
Dehumanizer
This is kind of a weird one. With the same lineup that recorded Mob Rules, you’d probably expect them to pick up where they left off, but instead they went in a decidedly heavier doom-laden sound. While it isn’t quite as good as the first two records with Dio, it still is a welcomed addition to the Sabbath discography.
Best Track: I
Grade: B- | | 9 |  | Black Sabbath
Vol. 4
Volume 4 is the first time in Sabbath’s discography where the band didn’t didn’t improve upon the album that preceded it.. Topping Master of Reality would have been nearly impossible, so I really can’t complain too much. While this record was their weakest to that point, it’s still a fuckin’ classic. This album includes many of Iommi’s heaviest riffs that will be sure to put you on your ass. Just listen to Under the Sun if you need proof.
Best Track: Supernaut
Grade: B | | 8 |  | Heaven and Hell
The Devil You Know
Don’t let the name on the cover fool you, this is a Sabbath record. The same lineup that recorded Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, and Dehumanizer recorded this. A brilliant comeback record, and probably the single heaviest release in the band’s entire discography. If you’re gonna give the Sabbath discography a listen, DO NOT FORGET to listen to this.
Best Track: Rock and Roll Angel
Grade: B | | 7 |  | Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
The birth of metal as we know it. While it isn’t my favorite, I can’t stress just how important and influential this record is. You owe it to yourself to give this a listen.
Best Track: The Wizard
Grade: B+ | | 6 |  | Black Sabbath
Mob Rules
The evil twin of Heaven and Hell. The material present is similar to the material on the previous record, but is decidedly heavier, with a strong emphasis on evil riffs and darksome lyrics. Not quite as good as the album that preceded it, but not far behind it either.
Best Track: The Sign of the Southern Cross
Grade: A- | | 5 |  | Black Sabbath
Paranoid
A noted improvement over the already fantastic debut, and one of the defining moments in the history of metal. Sure, some of the songs have been played to death by rock radio stations, but when the songs are this good it doesn’t matter. Mandatory metal listening.
Best Track: Electric Funeral
Grade: A | | 4 |  | Black Sabbath
Headless Cross
If you refuse to listen to Headless Cross because Ozzy or Dio aren’t present, please reconsider your life choices. This absolute beast of an album is filled to the brim with thick atmospherics, incredible musicianship, catchy hooks and some of the greatest riffs Iommi has ever written. Do not. I repeat DO NOT sleep on this fucking album.
Best Track: Nightwing
Grade: A | | 3 |  | Black Sabbath
Heaven and Hell
Self explanatory. The title track is the very definition of a perfect song.
Best Track: Heaven and Hell
Grade: A | | 2 |  | Black Sabbath
Master of Reality
While the first two records established their sound, Master of Reality is where Sabbath finally perfected it. I struggle to find a single negative about this album. Listen to it.
Best Track: Into the Void
Grade: A+ | | 1 |  | Black Sabbath
Sabotage
Definitely my favorite Sabbath record. The album marks Sabbath’s creative peak, as it expertly covers a variety of sonic ideas with stellar results. Whether it’s the proto-thrash anthem Symptom of the Universe, the riff-heavy Hole in the Sky, the grandiose atmospherics of Megalomania and The Writ, or the radio rock sensibilities of I Think I’m Going Insane, there really is something on here for anyone.
Best Track: Symptom of the Universe
Grade: A+ | |
Trebor.
03.28.22 | You have the first record on here twice | sheelanagig
03.28.22 | To get that influx of négative comments, you havé to actually list it, you know?!
(I know it’s supposed to be at 15, and that is obviously to low) | Pikazilla
03.28.22 | 15 is supposed to be SBS, right? DISAGREED HARD | MetalMarcJK
03.28.22 | rockarollacola, I definitely respect your list. I disagree on some things, but some things you really got right. I will provide a thought or two tomorrow. | FR33L0RD
03.28.22 | Agree to disagree with ranking here, mainly about their debut album | Muzz79
03.28.22 | With Pika, SBS way way too low | ReturnToRock
03.28.22 | You have S/T on here twice, and yeah, no Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Which, if it IS 15, it's way too low. Oddly enough, your comments about SBS mirror my own thoughts about S/T - Wizard aside, I never did vibe with that f-ing album.
Otherwise, I would select Neon Knights as best for H&H, Sweet Leaf or Children of the Grave for Master and WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE DEEEEEAAAADDD as best for Dehumanizer. | Sabrutin
03.28.22 | damn dude we start to disagree right at 19 | rockarollacola
03.28.22 | I accidentally put the debut where SBS was supposed to be. That's kinda embarrassing | ArsMoriendi
03.28.22 | 1 is 1, 2 is 2
Good list | budgie
03.28.22 | aw C- for SBS is surprising | neekafat
03.28.22 | this is it
this is the worst one | ArsMoriendi
03.28.22 | SBS’s low ranking is the worst thing about this prob yeah | budgie
03.28.22 | nothing bad abt this really
gonna go listen to vol 4 bye | JDubb
03.28.22 | 2 is my 1. Good to see some love for 8. | charbyno
03.29.22 | I respect your list. Personally Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is my #1. The lineup on The Devil You Know actually isn’t the same lineup as Heaven and Hell. Bill Ward plays drums on Heaven and Hell and Vinny Appice plays on Devil You Know | Storm In A Teacup
03.29.22 | Bye budgie! 😘 | rockarollacola
03.29.22 | I understand that people love SBS, which is why I hesitated putting it so low. But I just had to be honest and rank it by my personal enjoyment. Every legendary band usually has one classic album I'm just meh on. SBS, Sabra Cadabra, and Killing Yourself to live are the only tracks I can say I genuinely enjoy.
I've really tried forcing myself to enjoy it more, but I just can't get into it like other classic Sabbath albums. Personally I find the story behind the album is much more interesting than the music itself. | Storm In A Teacup
03.29.22 | SBS can go fuck itself, I have no time for other sabbath albums when the first 3 exist and Geezer Butlers solo career exists. | Storm In A Teacup
03.29.22 | Also Dehumanizer rocks m/ | rockarollacola
03.29.22 | Thanks for sticking up for me big guy. And you're right about Dehumanizer; Buried Alive may have the single most intense vocal performance in Dio's career. | Pikazilla
03.29.22 | Damn, SBS title track is my favourite Sabbath song...
A shame we disagree, but kudos to being honest! Band rules hard anyway, and props for repping Devil You Know, that album is awesome. | rockarollacola
03.29.22 | The title track really is a fantastic song. Easily in my top 10 |
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