Black Sabbath - *The official thread*

I heard it last night and it sounded good to me. Nothing brain-melting, but it's more good stuff from Iommi and Butler.

I've heard this 6 times so far. Its a good album. Zeitgeist isn't so good to me but I am quite digging the rest of it! I wasn's a fan of Planet Caravan and hate it more now since Pantera covered it. Ozzy doesn't sound bad but he's never sounded great either. He still has character and a lot of heart. Listening to this new album, it shows.

S.D. wrote:

candlemass wrote:

No doubt "Fused" and "The Devil You Know" will prove to be much better!

I truly consider Black Sabbath with Ozzy and Black Sabbath with Dio to be completely different bands.

I agree. In my youth I favored the Dio era and merely respected the Ozzy era. That has changed now and consider both equally good and for different reasons.

As far as 13, I listened to the iTunes stream and found that I liked it. Not the same as the 70's output, but again I don't expect 30 plus years to just disappear. Ozzy sounds like he's in middle age and so does Tony and Geezer. I'm still going to get it when it comes out and think I'll enjoy it.

Was not my intention to haggle over what is "the real Sabbath", just think those last two lp's w/Tony Iommi will prove to be better. Don't understand why more wasn't made of "Fused", it's a great lp!

IF they decide to make a new album, I hope they make something that don't sound like this does. I like this album but I just think they have could have done better. Instead of making an album that would follow up Master of Reality, they could have continued the formula they were doing on The Devil You Know or something. It would have really fit. I guess this is wishful thinking though!

No they couldn't, that lp was made w/Dio, and w/his vocals in mind, couldn't see Ozzy singing "Bible Black!"

Stylistically this album is very much what I had hoped for and it's actually much better than I expected it to be. 70s Sabbath is some of my favorite music of all-time, I'm happy to hear them going back and exploring more of that sound again 38 years later.

I've listened to the album about 8 times now and it still gets better each time I play it.

"Black Sabbath" is Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne." --Ozzy on the "Last Supper" dvd

By his own definition, not even this is "the real Sabbath!"

I don't care what it is or isn't. I just like it, they are doing that old 70's sound for now and I'm really cool with it. I haven't been this impressed with an album carrying the Sabbath name in a long, long time. (probably Mob Rules)

exact33 wrote:

so the best buy version has an additional track in addition to the 3 bonus tracks. Going to best buy twice in two weeks i guess.

Here's the Best Buy 2 cd version for $15.99:

Disc 1
1. End of the Beginning
2. God Is Dead?
3. Loner
4. Zeitgeist
5. Age of Reason
6. Live Forever
7. Damaged Soul
8. Dear Father
Disc 2
1. Methademic
2. Peace of Mind
3. Pariah
4. Naïveté in Black*

*That's the exclusive Best Buy track.

There is also a bundle pack with the double disc and a t-shirt for $29.99

So I walked into a local record store about 4 days ago and guess what I see on the front shelf for sale..that's right, the store jumped the gun and was selling 13 on CD and Vinyl long before the release date.

Official video for 'God is Dead?'



Neat-o.

I think i'm agreeing with Lurideath so far. Good but not blowing me away and I think it's the lack of tempo change throughout most of the album. Live Forever is good, gets a little speedier but overall it's very slow chugga chugga. Almost like a Place of Skulls album.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I think i'm agreeing with Lurideath so far. Good but not blowing me away and I think it's the lack of tempo change throughout most of the album. Live Forever is good, gets a little speedier but overall it's very slow chugga chugga. Almost like a Place of Skulls album.

I haven't heard the new Sabbath yet, but I had the some complaint about the latest Alice in Chains album. Every song is the same slow, sludgy tempo.

Seems people are hearing a different album than the one I'm playing. There aren't any hyper-speed fast songs, but there are most definitely tempo and mood changes throughout the album. If people just sampled some of the intros they might think that, but they would be mistaken.

(there is a lot more variety to the tempo and rhythm changes on 13 than there was on The Devil You Know for example)

A couple of the bonus tracks are a little more upbeat but honestly aren't as successful.

Classic Sabbath was always much more about the HEAVY than the metal.

I still don't like the vox, but the music on 13 is great. Not to into the "Planet Caravan" type song(I don't like PC either), but digging the heavy sludge.

I'm also surprised that ITunes didn't release release a version with non-CD tracks.

It's a solid record for sure...I'm surprised at how good Ozzy actually sounds.

I have the deluxe version pre-ordered from Best Buy. Just waiting on it to arrive.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

It's a solid record for sure...I'm surprised at how good Ozzy actually sounds.

I was as well. His vocals are actually less processed on this album than they have been on any of his studio albums of the past 20 years.

Just got my copy (deluxe) this morning. This is THE album of the year, no matter what else is released this year. Every track is phenomenal. If I had to be critical of anything, it would probably be the opener being only slightly derivative of Black Sabbath (song). But that is by far a minor complaint when I've heard it three times now and love it more and more. Ozzy sounds great, the tempo changes are there, Tony's riffs are sludgy, catchy goodness, Geezer's tone hasn't changed, and the packaging is great (love the Vertigo label print). I went in with high expectations still those were topped.

Also, I rarely get emotional over a record but hearing Tony play his heart out like this brought some tears to my eyes. Really hope this guy beats the cancer.

I was just reading a guy on-line having a discussion with his teenage daughter who claims that One-Direction is musically superior to Black Sabbath? Hahahahaha! Well, I need a good laugh.

I just listened to my best buy extra track version and I have to say, this is an excellent Black Sabbath album. Ozzy sounds good. Tony is real emotional on this one. Geezer is right there with Tony and it is great. I'm impressed. No favs yet. I need to carve out some time to spin this some more. This cd sound great in the car.

Finished up listening to the CD and two of the bonus tracks - sounds like they could have released it in 1974 \m/

I need to listened to it more and let it sink in, but my initial reaction is that it's a good album.

Listened through once. Sounds great to me.