Black Sabbath - Forbidden

I'm listening to Forbidden now as I type this and it's not a bad album.

The problem as I see it, as I see with pretty much every Sabbath album that isn't Ozzy or Dio, is that it doesn't sound like a Black Sabbath album. Sure, there are a few Iommi signature riffs here and there, but if you didn't know who it was, you can't really tell it was a Sabbath album. At best, it sounds like someone trying to sound like Sabbath.

'Rusty Angels' sounds like a Dokken tune to me.

The first riff on the album may be the best BLACK SABBATH riff ever.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

The problem as I see it, as I see with pretty much every Sabbath album that isn't Ozzy or Dio, is that it doesn't sound like a Black Sabbath album.

About as close as they came was Cross Purposes because at least you had the Tony/Geezer tandem (which is the core of the Black Sabbath sound, those two guys playing together). However, the songwriting was a letdown on that record.

I really consider all the Tony Martin stuff to be Iommi solo albums (and Seventh Star of course which is a solo album), it's just not Black Sabbath as far as I'm concerned. I like a good bit of the material on those records but if someone asked me to play them some "definitive" Black Sabbath songs I would never choose anything from those albums.

I think it sounds better green, yet the dogs haven't driven home yet...

Personally, I like this album. They had absolutely nothing to lose and were able to do some experimenting.

I have more of an emotional attachment to the post-Ozzy Sabbath albums so those will always be my go-to albums when listening to Sabbath.

IMO, Dio was the voice of Sabbath, followed closely by Tony Martin, way down is Gillan and lastly Ozzy. I know that seems like it's biased by my dislike of Ozzy, but I totally think just about anyone could have sang on the 1970's albums and they would be considered classic. The band and the music is what makes them memorable, not the squealing over top of the music.

Forbidden is strange in that it is Sabbath going down a new road. I like the album, but it is probably their weakest. I didn't know the Body Count tie-in, but now it makes sense in what I was hearing and couldn't place it. Tony's guitar isn't sounding as "bada$$" as it usually does. Cross Purposes or Headless Cross are far better representations of the Martin era.

Born Again is one Black Sabbath that has a bad rep that isn't deserved.

This and Cross Purposes are actually the only Sabbath albums I haven't heard yet. I really do like TYR and Headless Cross, though. One of these days I'll eventually get around to jamming them.

Isn't it fair to say that the Dio records were a bit removed from early Sabbath as well? Sure you've got the styles of the original artists, and perhaps it sounds closest to the final two Ozzy albums, but they were far more rocking and had more of a radio-ready construction. Gone were all the prog and even slow dirge elements that were the staples of the Ozzy years, for the most part. And the overt drug references.

And as for Ozzy, he had charisma and melody. That last one I cannot emphasize enough.

Wurthless wrote:

This and Cross Purposes are actually the only Sabbath albums I haven't heard yet. I really do like TYR and Headless Cross, though. One of these days I'll eventually get around to jamming them.

I have never heard a note off of Cross Purposes, but since I really enjoy Tyr, Headless Cross, and The Eternal Idol, and have heard good things about it, then I should check it out.

My main complaint with the Forbidden album is that the production sucks!
The producer was Body Count's guitarist Ernie C.

Nobody else sounded like Ozzy in the 70s. As I've said about a million times now...was he a great singer? No. Was he completely unique and memorable? Yes.

Black Sabbath and vocalists to me....

#1 Ozzy. No contest.
#2 Dio (equally as memorable, but the sound of the band changed as well)
#3 Ian Gillan
#4 Ray Gillen (Eternal Idol demo)
#5 Tony Martin

I didn't include Glenn Hughes because Seventh Star is a solo album, only WB wanted it to be called a Black Sabbath record. However, if you have to include it then place Glenn Hughes above Tony Martin in the list.

It's definitely a grower. Not the type of album that you'd like instantly though

Temple of Blood wrote:

The first riff on the album may be the best BLACK SABBATH riff ever.

It may be. But I'm pretty sure it isn't.

S.D. wrote:

I really consider all the Tony Martin stuff to be Iommi solo albums (and Seventh Star of course which is a solo album), it's just not Black Sabbath as far as I'm concerned. I like a good bit of the material on those records but if someone asked me to play them some "definitive" Black Sabbath songs I would never choose anything from those albums.

My feelings exactly ! Like ya mentioned in another post, Geezer in the equation gives it an integral ingredient that makes it Sabbath.

Boris2008 wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

The first riff on the album may be the best BLACK SABBATH riff ever.

It may be. But I'm pretty sure it isn't.

candlemass wrote:

Bonus track on the import is not bad either...

Anyone have a good version of this song on mp3? Sure like to have me a copy...

As long as tony martin is behind the mic, I like.

Old thread, it seems...but it's okay. I really dig this record. I never understood the hate.

SpectreFate wrote:

I totally think just about anyone could have sang on the 1970's albums and they would be considered classic. The band and the music is what makes them memorable, not the squealing over top of the music.

EPIC FAIL!   

candlemass wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

I totally think just about anyone could have sang on the 1970's albums and they would be considered classic. The band and the music is what makes them memorable, not the squealing over top of the music.

EPIC FAIL!   

He hates Ozzy. He also doesn't post here any longer so your baiting will bear no fruit.

Wasn't really baiting him, just pointing out the absurdity!

I've always thought the album was decent and that it has an undeserved reputation. Not a classic but I wouldn't even say it's their worst album (I'd probably give that to Never Say Die or Technical Ecstasy).

I was recently reading about this album at Black Sabbath Online and the webmaster there considers "Kiss of Death" to be one of Sabbath's greatest songs. Thought that was interesting.

I don't even think that song is the best on that lp...

The best songs (as far as I'm concerned) are "Can't Get Close Enough" and "Kiss Of Death", the rest of the album I can live without.

Wow, really? I dig about everything on there...but I'm no idiot, don't think there's anything on there that would even crack their top 30!