BLACK SABBATH レコード& CD

Review: When people think Black Sabbath, they're most likely thinking of their initial tenure with the incomparable Ozzy Osbourne, while then there's the other camp who recognise the greatness of the Oz-Man but opt to worship at the shrine of Ronnie James Dio. Unfairly forgotten to time, however, is the 90s tenure of the metal giants' third vocalist Tony Martin, who would ultimately serve as their second-longest running frontman across 1989's Headless Cross, 1990's Tyr, 1994's Cross Purposes and 1995's Forbidden. Now, for the first time, this entire era comes home to vinyl via Anno Domini: 1989-1995, with remasters of the entire collection, and a fully remixed version of Forbidden handled by nine-fingered guitar hero Tony Iommi himself. Also included are a thick booklet, previously unseen photos, a poster from the Headless Cross tour as well as a replica concert book. For the often forgotten third subset of Sabbath diehards, Tony Martin finally has his flowers.

Review: While the tenure of both Ozzy Osborne and Ronnie James Dio as vocalists for metal giants Black Sabbath has been documented, praised and repressed ad nauseam, little discussion is often rewarded to Tony Martin, who actually served as the band's second-longest standing frontman. Finally catalogued in this new box set, Anno Domini: 1989-1995 offers up newly remastered versions of Headless Cross (1989), Tyr (1990), Cross Purposes (1994), and Forbidden (1995), with the latter being remixed entirely by guitarist Tony Iommi for the occasion. Complete with an additional booklet, never before seen photos, a Headless Cross poster and a replica concert book from the Headless Cross Tour; this is the ultimate Martin-era fan service that will be long overdue to many a veteran metalhead.

Review: Who'd have thought, some 54 or so years ago, that the Birmingham four piece called Black Sabbath would not only go on to enjoy success long into the next millennium but also create a style of music - heavy metal - that would spread globally and become one of culture's most dominant forces for decades to come. That's what happened though, and the strength of the material captured for radio broadcast at the iconic Olympia Theatre in Paris on December 20 1970 is a big clue, at least with the benefit of hindsight. As well as their genre-defining eponymous debut, the band dropped the Paranoid album this year too, showing not only how inspired but also prolific they were at the time, and naturally that anthemic song is present here, alongside colossal tunes like 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs' and 'Black Sabbath'. They sound uttterly unstoppable here, and, certainly for a fair few years to follow anyway, that's what they proved to be.

Review: The Black Sabbath Hand Of Doom box set provides the ultimate collection for fans who opt to live in a world where the group never had any other vocalist apart from Ozzy Osbourne. Providing picture disc represses of all eight LPs released during the original frontman's tenure from 1970 to 1978 (2013's reunion album 13 is not included), the collection boasts the self-titled 1970 debut, the same-year follow up Paranoid, as well as the iconic slew of Master Of Reality (1971), Vol 4 (1972), Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973), Sabotage (1975), Technical Ecstasy (1976) and Never Say Die! (1978). Limited to 3000 copies (which isn't a large amount when considering how vital Sabbath's early material still is to this day) and complete with a large coloured poster, fan service rarely gets as ideal or essential as Hand Of Doom.

Review: Captured at the Electric Circus in Lausanne, Switzerland on 29th April 1970, this live collection serves up a lightning in a bottle performance from the gargantuan metallic gods Black Sabbath, recorded directly in between their seminal self-titled debut LP and their genre-defining sophomore effort Paranoid. Featuring a set of cuts from these two aforementioned LPs, such as the epic 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep' and fan favourite 'N.I.B.', there's an undeniable, palpable sense of historic urgency when experiencing Ozzy and co unveiling anthems such as 'War Pigs' and 'Fairies Wear Boots' to first time ears, a full five months before these studio versions would be available for home digestion in September of that year.

Review: Recorded at the California Jam at Canada's Ontario Speedway on 6th April 1974, this live collection features metallic pioneers Black Sabbath almost a year into the promotional run for their acclaimed fifth full-length Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Featuring an absurd, retrospective fan-pandering set made up of all the essentials from 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid', and 'Iron Man', to later yet equally integral deep cuts such as 'Sweet Leaf' and 'Children Of The Grave', this set was originally released as part of a 2xCD set but now comes home to wax for the diehards who were there (and the younger generations who wish they were) to experience in all of its illustrious, fuzzy, bombastic, macabre glory.

Review: Taken from a performance at the Asbury Park Convention Hall in New Jersey on August 5th 1975, this live collection from pioneering metal granddaddies Black Sabbath came during the run for their often overlooked sixth LP Sabotage and boasts a set that simultaneously amplifies some of that project's most choice cuts such as 'Hole In The Sky', 'Symptom Of The Universe', and 'Megalomania', as well as some of their most essential bangers from 'War Pigs' to 'Iron Man' to 'Paranoid'. Originally part of a double CD set, this live album finally receives its own personal vinyl home, and offers a time capsule fly on the wall earful of the fathers of psych, doom, sludge (etc.) at the height of their drug-fueled, incomparable, sonic world domination.

Review: Caputing the band in live action during the early 80s, Black Sabbath's Born In Hell is culled from the short tenure of former Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan as lead vocalist, after the departiure of Ozzy Osbourne's replacemennt Ronnie James Dio. Therefore, among the run through the Brum band's overwhelmingly legendary back catalogue there nestles a very Sabbath take on 'Smoke On The Water'. Of course, the biggest selling-point here is simply Sabbath doing Sabbath, very loudly, although not quite as loud as the crowd's reaction at various points of the show. Not least Tony Iommi's insane solo as 'War Pigs' refuels in preparation for its monumental climax, worth the price of admission alone.

Review: Long before the 13 record was even considered, it took many a false start to get Ozzy back with Black Sabbath for a proper reunion tour, which began somewhat in earnest with their two hometown shows on 4th and 5th December 1997. These performances were captured for the now iconic, aptly titled live album Reunion. Marking the first official release with the original line up since 1978's Never Say Die! and garnering the band their first ever Grammy Award in 2000 for the live rendition of 'Iron Man' taken from this collection, the work is a flawless compilation of greatest hits and fan favourite deep cuts, performed with a veteran's vigor.

Review: From any one of their landmark genre-defining metal albums to the scores of live documents, there are many ways to approach the monumental legacy of Black Sabbath, but this box set is the perfect distillation of the best of the band honed into a two-disc collection. Focused on those breakthrough years with Ozzy Osborne, there are just too many classic tracks to count on here, whether it's the harmonica baiting sludge of 'The Wizard' or the motorik drive of 'Paranoid' you're after. A perfect primer for newcomers, or a handy capsule of all the best bits - it's Black Sabbath, need we say more?

Review: Capturing the era of Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio on vocals following Ozzy Osborne's departure, Live Evil was the first officially sanctioned live album from Birmingham's foremost heavy metal pioneers. The album came together in 1982, drawing on shows from Seattle, San Antonio and Dallas on the Mob Rules tour, and now it has been given the deluxe reissue treatment. As well as the original mix of the album, there's an entirely new mix of the album from the original analogue master tapes by long time band associate Wyn Daivs, complete with a 40-page hardback book featuring new liner notes and replicas of the original concert book and poster form the Mob Rules tour.

Review: 1975's Black Sabbath album, Sabotage, was written at a time when the band were caught up in an ongoing legal battle with their former manager. That is what gave the album its title and no doubt fuelled some of the more abrasive and angry tracks. The newly remastered reissue is now paired with a complete live show that was recorded during the band's 1975 tour. Of the 16 tracks, 13 have never before been released. As well as a special new booklet with further fan delights, two extra tracks feature on a bonus 7" with artwork that replicates a rare Japanese version of the single.

Review: RECOMMENDED
How can heavy metal-ers not get excited about this one? While sporting a pretty serious price tag, this Super Deluxe edition of Black Sabbath's seminal fourth album is certainly one for the collectors, who will delight in the 11 additional studio recordings featured in the huge amount of bonus material here, which include snippets of studio dialogue, false starts and more rough around the edges nuances that bring the work to life.

As for the LP itself, it was something of a landmark moment in the band's journey - shifting the intensity and ferocity up at least three gears and then sticking a brick on the throttle to hold it in place. Perhaps Mojo's take on things puts it best; ""If booze and dope had helped fuel Sabbath's earlier albums, Vol. 4 is their cocaine ... Despite their spiraling addictions, musically Vol. 4 is another ambitious outing". Enough said.