Up Next is another rewind review and no this is not a new album rewind but rather just a regular updated review. As of this review July 22, 2025, Ozzy Osbourne has officially passed away and the time seemed right to do a re-examination of Black Sabbath. No this review is not only the Ozzy albums but all of the Sabbath albums because remember ALL SABBATH ALBUMS MATTER!! So with that, let’s take a look………
Black Sabbath- what can I say that hasn’t been said about this album already? I mean, this is arguably the first heavy-metal record ever. Oh sure people will say things like the Beatles inspired heavy metal or Steppenwolf was metal but no, those people are wrong. This is the very first heavy metal record. I don’t care what anybody says and many would agree with me. Now the album itself it’s dark. It’s evil sounding and it’s just absolutely bad ass. But aside from that it’s also very blues sounding and the fact that it holds up today in 2025 says a lot.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: Black Sabbath, The Wizard, A Bit Of Finger/Sleeping Village/ Warning
Paranoid- again this one’s like the quintessential Black Sabbath album. Like this one might as well be considered a greatest hits album because it has a good chunk of their hits. You don’t need me to tell you how amazing this album is when so many people know so many songs off of this. It’s an absolute classic and an absolute must listen.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 6/10 (I’m just kidding. I can’t give this anything less than a 10/10)
Standouts: Rat Salad, Fairies Wear Boots, Electric Funeral
Master Of Reality- again, another absolute classic. This has so many great songs on it, and it still has that dark grittiness to it that was so prevalent on the first record. This one does have some medieval elements on it, and I can tell that a lot of bands that play doom metal were probably inspired by this particular album. Either way, another album that you cannot go wrong with.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: Children of the Grave, Sweet Leaf, After Forever
Vol. 4- that’s what I’d say kind of takes an experimental approach. I guess what I’m trying to say is that this one kind of has like a stoner rock feel to it. I have the four albums that they’ve done so far this one’s probably their most experimental. It does have a ballad-y type song on it that being Changes. Again now this is another absolute classic, and you really can’t go wrong with this one either. As I’ve said before, when it comes to this band, one of the first four records are just brilliant and they’re classics for a reason
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: Under the Sun, Supernaut, Snowblind
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath- of the albums that they have thus far I would say this one might be my least favorite, but not by much. Again, it does feel like they’re trying to go in somewhat of a different direction. It feels like they’re trying to be less dark and evil sounding but again it works. Some might say this is their most rock sounding album so far.
Previous Score: 9/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabra Cadabra, A National Acrobat
Sabotage- my opinion when it comes to this one I feel like this one doesn’t nearly get talked about enough. It has some great songs and in fact it’s got some of my favorite Sabbath songs. I feel like it is a step up from the previous album but just ever so slightly. Again, it’s not really a dark album like the first forward and it’s another experimental record there’s like some orchestral parts and almost some operatic elements. I really can’t describe it but it’s a really cool record.
Previous Score: 9.5/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: Hole in the Sky, Symptom of the Universe, Supertzar
Technical Ecstasy- well this one is certainly different. It starts off really strong, but then it kind of takes a bit of a nose dive halfway through. I don’t wanna say it’s a bad album but at the same time it’s not great. I feel like at this point they’re starting to lose steam and I just got bored with this one. There are some good moments but as a whole, it’s just OK.
Previous Score: 6/10
New Score: 6.5/10
Standouts: You Won’t Change Me, All Moving Parts (Stand Still), Dirty Women
Never Say Die!- again much like the last album it does start off pretty strong, but then it starts to go downhill. It does have some saxophone parts and I know the drummer. Bill Ward sings on the last song which is different to say the least. I don’t know I just again couldn’t get into it as much as I really wanted to. What I will give props to is that they are trying different things. There’s some blues some jazz, some electronica, and a dash of punk. I know this is one of the kind lesser talked about albums, and I was really hoping giving it a second chance I would feel differently but not really. Maybe if I smoked weed or something I might enjoy it a little better but I don’t know.
Previous Score: 5/10
New Score: 5.5/10
Standouts: Swinging the Chain, Shockwave, Never Say Die
Heaven And Hell- OK so now this is the first album without Ozzy Osbourne and the first album with Ronnie James Dio and again much like the first four albums this is another one of those classic albums. Now I’m pretty sure back when Dio was first playing live with Sabbath, there would be people that would chant Ozzy, but I’d like to think as time went on people grew to accept that this was a different lineup/era. Now there are those that would say this is does not sound like Black Sabbath into a certain degree it doesn’t, but you know, I just look at it as the band evolving. This album, though definitely brings the band back to more of a straightforward rock sound rather than the experimental stuff that they were doing on the last couple of records.
Previous Score: 9.5/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: Neon Knights, Wishing Well, Walk Away
The Mob Rules- I know that it when it comes to this era of Black Sabbath that the go to is Heaven And Hell but honestly out of the Dio era albums this one might be my favorite. It definitely feels like they’re more dialed in and I feel like this one’s maybe even a bit more cohesive. I will say there are moments where this record is a very 80s sounding record, but I don’t see that as a problem. Either way if it it’s been a while since you’ve listened to this record, give it another spin.
Previous Score: 10/10
New Score: 10/10
Standouts: The Mob Rules, Slipping Away, Turn Up The Night
Born Again- OK so now Ronnie James Dio is no longer in the band and instead we have Ian Gillan from Deep Purple. I gotta say there’s almost a certain rawness to this record that makes it stand out. You know I feel like this is the starting point of where there was different singers or at least one or two other singers and with this particular album it’s actually a really really good album. Musically it is kind of dark, but it’s also just a great straightforward rock album. It is a little dark, but there’s just this charm about it. I know people kind of clown on it because of the album cover or that it’s not Ozzy or Dio but again give this album a chance you’ll probably end up liking it.
Previous Score: 6.5/10
New Score: 8/10
Standouts: Trashed, Zero the Hero, Digital Bitch
Seventh Star- OK so we now have a new singer and in fact, we have pretty much a brand new band minus Tony Iommi. Now I do know that this was supposed to be a solo album, but I guess Tony was bound by his contract with Warner Brothers to release it under the Black Sabbath name that’s why you see it as Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi. But anyway, this time we have Glen Hughes on vocals and I must say he does a really good job. The album came out in 1986 and it very much sounds like an 80s rock album. Fun fact, Dave The Beast Spitz (brother or Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz) plays bass on this album. Again, this is another one of those albums that you should definitely check out because it is really good and it’s a shame that this one isn’t talked about enough.
Previous Score: 5/10
New Score: 8/10
Standouts: In For The Kill, Turn to Stone, Heart Like a Wheel
The Eternal Idol- now we are into the Tony Martin era and again I feel like this is an era that really doesn’t get talked about enough. This is one of those albums that again sounds very much like an 80s hard rock record and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It does have Tony’s trademark riffs and solos and you can kind of tell that this is a new chapter for this band. Again, it’s nothing mind blowing or spectacular but just a good straightforward hard rock record.
Previous Score: 6/10
New Score: 8.5/10
Standouts: Hard Life to Love, Lost Forever, Ancient Warrior
Headless Cross- you know when I hear this album and even the previous album I can’t help but think that a lot of these songs would be great in some of those old 80s slasher films. Like they are very 80s sounding albums, including this one, but they still managed to hold up. Again, nothing really mind blowing or game changing about this album, but it’s just an overall great rock record. I will say, though it is a little slower compared to the last few albums and there’s a couple songs that are almost very anthem-y. Again this is another one of those records that should not be skipped.
Previous Score: 8/10
New Score: 8.5/10
Standouts: Kill in the Spirit World, When Death Calls, Cloak and Dagger
Tyr- so when you listen to these songs and you look at the song titles, one would think that this is a concept album about norse mythology but according Neil Murray it’s not. I think that’s strange given that it is a Norse record title with a Norse album cover but whatever. Either way, check this one out and go in with an open mind because you might actually enjoy this one.
Previous Score: 7/10
New Score: 7.5/10
Standouts: The Lawmaker, Valhalla, Heaven in Black
Dehumanizer- so now Ronnie James Dio is back on vocals and this album does seem to pick up where The Mob Rules left off. No I will say upon listening to it a second time I forgot how much slower it is compared to Mob or even Heaven And Hell. I feel like with the last few albums. Tony’s riffs weren’t quite as memorable and here he kind of brought those sort of riffs back. Again, I know that Heaven And Hell is everyone everyone’s go to but this is definitely another close contender. You can tell with this record that the band needed a refresh, and they most certainly got it with this album.
Previous Score: 8.5/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: After All, I, Time Machine (Wayne’s World Soundtrack version)
Cross Purposes- ok so we’re back to having Tony Martin again on vocals and much like when this band changes singers, it feels like a refreshment. I would say out of all of the albums with Tony Martin on vocals this one might be their heaviest or pretty close to it. The riffs are a bit more memorable and the songs are a little faster too. Like I keep saying with this era of Sabbath, definitely check this one out, because you’ll probably really like it.
Previous Score: 8/10
New Score: 8.5/10
Standouts: I Witness, Virtual Death, Cardinal Sin
Forbidden- fun fact, the producer for this record was Ernie C who plays guitar for the band Body Count. In fact Ice-T raps on the song The Illusion Of Power which is interesting to say the least I mean, if you ever wanted to hear someone rap to Black Sabbath well there’s your song. But aside from that, the rest of the album is actually quite enjoyable. I honestly don’t get the amount of hate that this album gets because much like the other albums of this era it’s actually not bad and it’s got some really good songs. I also consider this one to be an important album because this was before the original Black Sabbath reunited for tours like Ozzfest. I actually had more fun with this album this time around than I did when I first listen to it so again, I implore those that are reading this review to please check this one out.
Previous Score: 8.5/10
New Score: 9/10
Standouts: Shaking Off The Chains, Can’t Get Close Enough, Rusty Angels
The Devil You Know- this would be the final album with Dio and I gotta say it’s good but it’s just missing that edge ever so slightly. Like the riffs are really good and powerful. The solos are great. The rest of the band is on point, but I just wish the songs were sped up just a tiny little bit. I am glad that they put out such a strong record before Dio passed away, and this would be a good last album for him. RIP Ronnie James Dio
Previous Score: 8/10
New Score: 8/10
Standouts- Rock and Roll Angel, Neverwhere, Follow the Tears
13- here we are people the very, very last Black Sabbath album with Ozzy Osbourne. Like this is it. This is the final album to feature Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler. On drums would be Brad Wilk and he does a phenomenal job. Now for the album itself……. It does sort of have some elements from previous albums like Master Of Reality and it’s just a little too slow for my taste however, I did enjoy it but there are other Sabbath albums I would listen to before this one. I will say, though I am glad that we were able to get one more Black Sabbath album out of Ozzy before his passing. RIP Ozzy Osbourne
Previous Score: 9/10
New Score: 8/10
Standouts- Loner, Methademic, Peace of Mind
As I always say ALL SABBATH ALBUMS MATTER!!!!!!!! I cannot emphasize enough to check out the albums that do not have Ozzy Osbourne or Ronnie James Dio because those are some really really good albums and you are doing yourself a disservice by not listening to those records. Now whether you’re into the Ozzy, Dio, Martin, or the couple of other albums, you cannot deny the influence that this band has had. I mean come on this is THE band that invented heavy metal. I love Ozzy’s quote which is heavy metal was invented by four guys Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Tony Iommi. I mean, what can I say about a band that has just been so influential that has given life to an entire genre and multiple sub genres of music? As I stated in my introduction at the time of this review July 22, 2025 Ozzy Osbourne has passed away and on July 5, 2025 Black Sabbath played their final three songs in Birmingham England and I have to say there is something poetic about that. Ozzy Osbourne went out gracefully and with a bang at the same time. Yes the world is a lesser place without him but he lives on through his numerous albums so with that thank you Ozzy and Black Sabbath!!! RIP Ozzy and Dio
Final Grade: A++
Previous Album Rankings:
1. Black Sabbath
2. Sabotage
3. Master of Reality
4. Mob Rules
5. Vol. 4
6. Paranoid
7. Heaven and Hell
8. 13
9. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
10. Dehumanizer
11. Forbidden
12. Headless Cross
13. Cross Purposes
14. The Devil You Know
15. The Eternal Idol
16. Tyr
17. Born Again
18. Technical Ecstasy
19. Seventh Star
20. Never Say Die!
New Album Rankings:
- Master Of Reality
- Sabotage
- Vol. 4
- Black Sabbath
- Paranoid
- The Mob Rules
- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
- Forbidden
- Dehumanizer
- Heaven And Hell
- The Eternal Idol
- Born Again
- Cross Purposes
- Seventh Star
- Headless Cross
- Tyr
- 13
- The Devil You Know
- Technical Ecstasy
- Never Say Die!
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