Ranked Worst to Best: Black Sabbath

 

Ranked Worst to Best: Black Sabbath

This one's been a long time coming. I started this 2 years ago but never finished it. After the writing itch returned and Ozzy's passing last year (will get to his discography at some point), it felt like the right time to finish this off and give my thoughts and rankings to all 19 studio releases from their debut which marked the beginning of heavy metal itself, up to what will likely be their final ever release in '13'. 

A band this legendary barely needs an introduction so let's get to it: 

19. Forbidden (1995)

Part of the reason why I wanted to do this list was to see if my opinion had any deviation from the norm when it comes to criticism of the band's later releases, especially this one as it's usually considered their worst. In this case my opinion isn't much different as it's my least favourite as well. 

I wouldn't say it's outright terrible but it's not that good either. The whole thing feels like a bit of a mess with throwing anything at the wall to see what sticks. Probably most controversial is opener 'Illusion of Power' which sounds like they're trying too hard to sound trendy to the 1995 audience including an out of place spoken word section by Ice T. 

Elsewhere the rest of the album is just kind of there with only a couple of highlights like rockers 'Guilty as Hell' and 'Shaking off the Chains', not to mention the title track which is the closest the album comes to sounding like classic Sabbath. 

In tracks like 'Get a Grip' and 'Rusty Angels', the band sound like they're trying to be Motley Crue and Bon Jovi respectively. Not terrible overall, just a bit of a dogs dinner not really worth revisiting.

Recommended tracks: Shaking off the Chains, Guilty as Hell, Forbidden

Rating: 5/10

18. Born Again (1983)

This was an interesting as I was looking around to see the general consensus around all albums and this one seemed to be the most mixed with some deeming it a lost masterpiece and others calling it one of their worst. As you can probably tell by my ranking, I fall into the latter category. 

The main issue outside of the subpar production making everything sound a bit too raw, is the (only) inclusion of Deep Purple's Ian Gillan on vocals just doesn't mesh with the band's sound, leading to tracks like 'Disturbing the Priest' to sound cheesy when they're trying to go for dark and atmospheric. 

After the first couple of tracks things do pick up a bit like with album highlight 'Zero the Hero', and Tony Iommi's usual excellent guitar work does help a lot as it mainly sounds like a band trying to find their footing after losing yet another vocalist in Dio. Not awful but not much to go on.

Recommended tracks: Zero the Hero, Born Again, Hot Line

Rating: 5.5/10

17. Never Say Die (1978)

Feel like I might get in some shit for putting an older Ozzy album all the way back here but this is a pretty bang average album from such a legendary lineup. 

It's the first album to not really have a 'classic' track on it outside of maybe the title track but I wouldn't go as far as to call it a classic even if it's the most memorable track on here. Shame that this one would end up being Ozzy's last until 2013. 

Unlike the previous two albums on the list, there's nothing outright bad on here, just not much to keep coming back to outside of 'Johnny Blade' with it's great guitar solo or a good rocker like 'A Hard Road'.

Recommended Tracks: Never Say Die, A Hard Road, Johnny Blade

Rating: 6/10

16. Technical Ecstasy (1976)

And another older Ozzy album lower on the list. That's gotta sting for someone. I put this one almost on the same level as Never Say Die, although this one is up sl

ightly higher thanks to it's final track 'Dirty Women' which is one of their better songs from the early days and one they played live even up their final shows around 2017. 

Other than that there's only a couple other memorable tracks such as 'You Won't Change Me' which is one of the only tracks that sounded more like traditional Sabbath, another good rocker in 'Rock N Doctor's, and a damn good ballad in 'She's Gone'. 

Not much else on offer here and it's the first weaker album they ever came out with. 

Recommended tracks: Dirty Women, Rock N Roll Doctor, You Won't Change Me

Rating: 6.5/10

15. Cross Purposes (1994)

This is another one that seems to be a contender for Sabbath's lost masterpiece, and whilst I wouldn't go that far, this is definitely the point in this list where the albums start going from just ok to good. 

Outside of Forbidden, this is the only other Tony Martin fronted Sabbath album I'd describe as less than great. It does have a couple of forgettable tracks like 'Psychophobia' and 'Immaculate Deception', but the catchy riffs of awesome opener 'I Witness', the doom laden 'Virtual Death' and 'Evil Eye's, and even a damn good ballad in 'Dying for Love' makes up for that.

Nowhere near bad and worth a look for sure. 

Recommended Tracks: I Witness, Evil Eye, Virtual Death

14. 13 (2013)

In going back to listen to this one for the list, I realised it's the first time I've listened to it since it first came out 13 years ago (Christ I'm old). 

I'm glad this one exists, because Forbidden being their last would be awful, but mainly because this feels like a celebration of the first dozen Sabbath albums with so many tracks borrowing from their classics. In saying that, it is a tad detrimental to the quality of the album as it doesn't feel like there's much "new" on offer. 

'God is Dead?' is the album highlight for me with it being the most doom metal the band has sounded in decades and it's near 9 minute runtime feels way shorter. 'Loner' sounds almost like a direct ripoff of 'N.I.B.' from their first album but I'll be damned if it isn't a toe tapper. 

Only a couple of skippable tracks here, but the fact the entire album ends with the rainstorm and church bells from the beginning of their first album puts a smile on my face. Does this album need to exist? Not really but I'm glad it does.

Rating: 7/10

Recommended tracks: God is Dead?, Loner, Live Forever

13. Seventh Star (1986)

So the story behind this one is that as founding member Tony Iommi was the only original member left after Geezer Butler left, this was meant to be a Tony solo project, but because record companies are arseholes, they made him release it as a Black Sabbath album since names sell albums. 

Going in with that knowledge makes it easier to enjoy this as more of a hard rock album than a Sabbath release. It's only 35 minutes long as well making for an easier listen. The closest the album comes to sounding like Sabbath (at least the Dio era) is the title track. Glenn Hughes took over vocal duties but he's pretty unremarkable.

Really there's not much to complain about here. 'Danger Zone' sounds like it belongs in an 80s movie montage and 'No Stranger to Love' is a pretty standard ballad but they're still enjoyable. Give this one a chance.

Rating: 7.5/10

Recommended Tracks: Seventh Star, Turn to Stone, In for the Kill 

12. The Eternal Idol (1987)

The first album of the Tony Martin era and whilst it took him another album to really find his voice, he does well here. Easily Sabbath's most underrated vocalist.

After how Seventh Star sounded, this was a bit of a return to form as it's closest to the Sabbath sound since Mob Rules. I went in expecting not to like this one and it surprised the hell out of me. 

There are a couple of bum tracks like the power metal sounding 'Glory Ride', and the boring 'Nightmare', but when it's good it's REALLY good. Opener 'The Shining' sets the tone and brings Sabbath back to its horror roots with this Stephen King inspired track, and the epic 'Ancient Warrior' sounds like a march to war. The doomy title track makes for a great closer too. Worth checking out.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended tracks: The Shining, Ancient Warrior, Lost Forever 

11. Mob Rules (1981)

Feels criminal to have this one this low but we're getting into the really good stuff now. To be fair it's the first Dio album that's appeared so that shows you the quality of all his Sabbath releases.

The pressure was on to deliver another banger album after how well Heaven and Hell was received, and whilst it doesn't quite reach the same levels, it's a damn solid release.

The main issue is that the album is very top heavy with the first half being excellent with tracks like the atmospheric 'The Sign of the Southern Cross' and the stomping 'Voodoo' delivering the goods, but disappointing tracks like 'Slipping Away' and the album closer letting the side down.

Still it's more than worth a look especially with Dio's always iconic vocals. 

Rating: 8/10

Recommended Tracks: The Sign of the Southern Cross, Voodoo, Turn up the Night

10. Sabotage (1975)

Another one that feels too low on the list but we are starting to get into the really good stuff now. This one is famous for being recorded whilst the band was in a legal battle with their former manager which influenced a bit of the songwriting (looking at you 'The Writ')

Another experimental album which is why some people have this as their favourite but I'd personally say this is the weakest of their first 5 years as a band. There are definitely some classics here to be fair, like the brilliant 'Symptom of the Universe' which sounds like a thrash song before thrash was even invented, and powerful opener 'Hole in the Sky' which sounded heavier than pretty much all of their previous release. 

There's nothing bad on here but the tracks do lose a bit of quality as the album roles on. Another solid as hell release.

Rating: 8/10

Recommended Tracks: Symptom of the Universe, Hole in the Sky, Megalomania 

9. Dehumanizer (1992)

After a run of albums with Tony Martin, Dio came back to the band to try to recapture the magic of the earlier Dio/Sabbath releases and they pretty much succeeded even if it ended up being a bit of a flop at the time. 

Opener 'Computer God' is fantastic and harkens back to the Heaven and Hell title track along with a lovely melodic midsection to keep things fresh. Really the only skippable track here is 'Letters to Earth' and even that's just fine. 'I' is a highlight as well as an absolute stomper of a track.

This one deserves another look if you haven't already. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Recommended Tracks: Computer God, I, TV Crimes

8. Tyr (1990)

It's weird, I first listened to this one a couple of years back when it was finally released to Spotify, and I really didn't think much of it outside of a couple of tracks, but on the relisten for this list, it really came together for me. 

It definitely resembles more of an atmospheric power metal album than a traditional Sabbath album but damn they make it work for them. Opener 'Anno Mundi' sets the tone with a nice 6 minute, mystical sounding epic before roaring into 'The Law Maker' which is a rocker even Iron Maiden would have been proud of. Tony Martin's vocals are at their best on this album especially on more power metal styled tracks like 'Jerusalem'.

'Sabbath Stones' is another epic that makes you feel like you're on the eve of a massive battle, and the "Nordic trilogy" which ranges from the beautiful 'Battle of Tyr', through to 'Odin's Court', and finishing with huge rocker 'Valhalla' makes for another big highlight. 

Rating: 9/10

Recommended tracks: Anno Mundi, The Law Maker, Sabbath Stones

7. Headless Cross (1989)

I love this album. It's the best Tony Martin album for me and the one I come back to most since my first listen a couple years back. It might even end up further up the list given more time with it. 

This is where Tony's vocals really hit their stride after an ok start on The Eternal Idol, and really meshes well with the rest of the band. The opening title track is the best track they'd released in years with a thundering chorus and a simple but effective guitar riff. 

'When Death Calls' is also one of the best tracks they've ever released with another huge chorus and a mind bending guitar solo from Tony. The first half of the album is definitely better than the last few tracks but there's virtually no filler to be found here at all. 

Rating: 9/10

Recommended tracks: Headless Cross, When Death Calls, Devil & Daughter

6. Vol 4 (1972)

 Now we're getting to the proper classics. This one's pretty much known as the "cocaine" album considering the band was getting a ton of it delivered to their studio whilst they recorded.

They even wrote a song about it in the classic 'Snowblind'! Works as one hell of a stoner track though. 'Supernaut' treated us to one of the best riffs that Tony Iommi has ever put out, and they were sure to keep the doomier side coming with closer 'Under the Sun'. We even got their first proper ballad in 'Changes' which I still think is underrated overall.

Not quite on the level of some of their other works but this is always a fun one to go back to.

Rating: 9/10

Recommended tracks: Supernaut, Snowblind, Changes 

5. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

So the story behind this one is that the band were in a bit of a creative slump after the drug fueled Vol 4, so they decided to record this one in an old English castle. The spooky surroundings led to the most experimental album the band had made up to this point. 

The opening title track is one of my Sabbath favourites with one of the more memorable guitar riffs Tony came up with, and some of the best vocals you'll ever hear out of Ozzy. 'Fluff' is a gorgeous instrumental piece leading into the surprisingly jazzy 'Sabbra Cadabra'. 

Only the repetitive 'Who Are You' is skippable to me but the rest of the album more than makes up for it especially with killer cuts like 'Spiral Architect' and 'Killing Yourself to Live'.

Rating: 9/10

Recommended tracks: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabbra Cadabra, Spiral Architect 

4. Heaven and Hell (1980)

And we come to the highest rated Sabbath album not to feature Ozzy as the vocalist. After Ozzy was kicked out the band, Dio was brought in as replacement. They really needed this to be a win and safe to say they succeeded.

As soon as opener 'Neon Knights' begins, you know you're in for a good time as it's one of the most energetic tracks they've ever recorded and Dio's soaring vocals show he means business. The title track is one of my all time favourite Sabbath tracks, and one I would show to anyone new to the genre to show them how great metal can be.

'Walk Away' is the only skippable track here and comes across more like a song KISS would come up with rather than Sabbath, but when you have tracks like the atmospheric 'Children of the Sea' and the brilliant 'Die Young', it more than makes up for it. 

Rating 9/10

Recommended Tracks: Heaven and Hell, Neon Knights, Children of the Sea

3. Black Sabbath (1970)

Back to where it all began. Not just for Sabbath themselves; but for heavy metal as a whole. I was pretty scared about potentially criticising this one at all given it's historical presence, but I needn't have worried, even 56 years later this is still a masterpiece. 

Listening to the title track opener is always a pleasure as it just feels like a whole new genre born into existence, and it's initial riff still feels raw and heavy all these years later. 'N.I.B' still has one of the catchiest guitar riffs ever recorded and is still a highlight of the album, and the same goes for 'Behind the Wall of Sleep'. 

There are a couple of covers but even those like the memorable 'Evil Woman', and epic 'Warning' bring the goods. Here's to another 50 odd years of metal.

Rating: 9.5/10

Recommended tracks: Black Sabbath, N.I.B, Behind the Wall of Sleep

2. Master of Reality (1971)

I went back and forth multiple times on the top two spots on the list and really they could be swapped around depending on what mood I'm in. It's generally agreed that this album paved the way for sludge and stoner metal and might still be the heaviest album Sabbath ever recorded. 

It has what's likely still the most iconic stoner track ever as it's opener in the brilliant 'Sweet Leaf' and with it you can see bands like Electric Wizard receiving their inspiration for their music. 'Children of the Grave' is another huge track with it's galloping rhythm likely inspiring bands like Iron Maiden a few years after this. Closer 'Into the Void' has such an incredible riff and is one of the best doom metal tracks ever. 

The whole album is over in 33 short minutes and not one of those minutes feels wasted with rockers 'After Forever' and 'Lord of this World' bringing the goods. It would easily be their best if not for...

Rating: 10/10

Recommended Tracks: Sweet Leaf, Children of the Grave, Into the Void

1. Paranoid (1970)

It was always an easy choice for number 1 as it's not really a hot take to say this is Sabbath's best, but you just can't deny the quality and influence of this album. The fact it was released the same year as their brilliant debut is absolutely wild. 

Opener 'War Pigs' might just be the best opening track in metal history, perfect for a concert sing along (even if masses rhymes with masses) and seems to be having a new lease of life after Ozzy passed away as you hear it everywhere now. 

The title track is easily the best filler track ever as the band famously only made it up on the spot to fill album time and ended up making their most popular song in the process. And I'm sure everyone and their mum's knows the iconic riff behind 'Iron Man's

Elsewhere 'Fairies Wears Boots' makes for an excellent, bluesy outro, 'Hand of Doom' talks about the horrors of the Vietnam war in an epic song, and 'Planet Caravan' really starts their experimental side in a haunting, mystical way. One of the best metal albums ever released and one that's near impossible to top.

Rating: 10/10

Recommended tracks: War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man

Thank you so much for reading all this. Until next time.