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Black Sabbath Albums Ranked Worst to Best

  • August 25, 2017
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Black Sabbath Albums Ranked Worst to Best

I questioned putting 13 in this list but because it is Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi it was definitely one to add to the list minus the fact that Bill Ward is not featured on their final album (due to contractual reasons). The album is dark, heavy, and everything we came to know and love about Black Sabbath but it sits at the top of this list due to the simple fact that without Bill Ward, is it truly Black Sabbath?

Some may argue this but this was the time the band was experiencing creative difficulties, disagreements, and just pure lack of freshness and excitement. Ozzy was on his way out and the rest of the band had other intentions at mind at this point. So while Never Say Die did have some gems “Never Say Die”, “Johnny Blade” and even and off-kilter “Air Dance”, it was largely an album that was just not “true” to their origins.

Recorded in Miami and completely produced by a frustrated Tony Iommi, Technical Ecstasy was the beginning of the end for Sabbath. While Butler, Ward, and Ozzy were off having fun on the beach, Iommi was stuck in the recording studio producing the album. Iommi recalls that they were trying to sound like the bands that they influenced (e.g., Foreigner, Queen, etc) at that time due to the punk movement! However, they did manage to get a few really awesome songs out of this album with “Backstreet Kids”, “Dirty Women”, and “It’s Alright.” So while it wasn’t the ecstasy of their previous stuff, it was still an integral part of metal history.

Vol 4 is often referred to by the band as their heaviest cocaine-use days, this is an album that was fueled by drugs and alcohol but despite that some of their greatest songs were born. Songs like “Changes”, “Snowblind”, and “Supernaut” were the fruit of their labor and Vol. 4 goes down as one of the greatest heavy metal albums in history.

The album that gave birth to heavy metal as we know it. Before 1970 there was no sound that came close to the sound that Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward created in 1970. From the chime of the bells rings on Black Sabbath and the sound of rain pours down we’re immediately transported into a very, very dark place and from there it just gets heavier and darker and establishes a genre of music that would influence millions and millions for years to come.

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was recorded in the very spooky atmosphere of Clearwater Castle where Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple had previously recorded in, the Castle was so spooky that some of the band members had trouble sleeping or would sleep with guns out of fear. Apparently, the atmosphere broke them out of writer’s block and inspired the music they created for Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Some of Sabbath’s greatest riffs and songs were born from this album including the title track, “National Acrobat”, “Spiral Architect” and Sabbra Cadabra.”

Master Of Reality starts out with an incessant cough (apparently that came from Iommi smoking a blunt that Osbourne gave him), which leads into “Sweet Leaf”, one of Sabbath’s all-time greatest tracks. As the album ensues it gets heavier and darker, which was a result of Iommi down-tuning his guitar so that it was easier for him to play. Tracks like “Children of the Grave”, “Lord Of This World, “Into the Void” and “After Forever” cement this one into the greatest heavy metal albums of all time.

Some may question why Sabotage is so high on this list but the fact of the matter is that this is one of the angriest and heaviest albums Sabbath produced. “Symptom Of The Universe” is considered the first thrash metal song ever and Osbourne’s angry, passionate, and emotional vocals on “The Writ” show the true power of his voice. While “Hole In The Sky” is the epitome of a heavy metal song with its screaming vocals, heavy guitars and rhythm section. Sabotage is by far one of Sabbath’s all-time greatest records and a diamond in the world of heavy metal.

And finally, we come to the all-time greatest heavy metal album of all time and one of the greatest albums ever created. Period. Paranoid did for heavy metal what Sgt. Peppers did for pop-rock-alternative-psychedelic music. The album that spawned “Iron Man”, “Paranoid”, “War Pigs”, “Fairies Wear Boots” and “Planet Caravan” (one of the most peaceful songs ever recorded). There is no arguing that this album is what turned Black Sabbath into the legends they are and always will be.

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Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is an accomplished promoter, event planner, producer, activist, counselor, poet and blogger. Within the course of two and a half years Chris Ryan has worked with some of NYC's most established promoters/event planners, been named 2007′s GaySocialite of the year, granted a promoter of the year award from NYC's most famous gay establishment, Splash. He's worked in some of NYC's top venues including; Avalon, Capitale, Cipriani, Cielo, Pacha, Element, Le Poisson Rouge, XL, G Lounge, Plumm, Hilton Hotel, Indigo Hotel, Spirit, Myst/Quo, Splash, The Ritz, Vlada, Roseland Ballroom, Heaven, etc. In 2008, Chris Ryan has begun to unveil some of the most innovative & unique parties New York City has ever seen. The Fusion events "fuse" together all disciplines of art into an event that remains diverse yet cohesive at the same time. ChrisRyanNYC.com won best gay promotions website from NYC Event Patrons in 2008 & he was granted an award from the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Gov. Patterson & Michelle Clunie (QAF) saluting him for his hard work in nightlife. Chris Ryan has also begun working with many renown companies, including; doctors, lawyers, physicians, modeling agencies & more. Chris Ryan has been responsible for wide-scale promotions for all these companies & generating tremendous business. Chris Ryan has even started to become National with events taking place in LA & Miami this year. In May of 2009 Chris Ryan received the very prestigious honor of being named a "40 Under 40″ Gays in America by the Advocate Magazine. He also created three successful parties that generated over 1,500 patrons each. In January of 2010 Chris Ryan was featured as one of the top promoters to look out for in Noize Magazine Chris Ryan joined forces with legendary promoter/event producer, Lee Chappell and created one of the most talked about events of all 2010, Desire @ Capitale. Chris Ryan and Lee featured one of the most outstanding artists NYC has ever seen, "Oh Land." Her performance coupled with an exquisite and unforgettable set design added to this extravagant event that held over 1,000 patrons in one of NYC's most successful PRIDE events! Chris Ryan then joined forces with legendary Pacha promoter, Rob Fernandez in addition to Jake Resnicow and Tommy Marinelli to bring one of the largest and most successful parties worldwide to NYC, MATINEE. The event on Governor's Island saw over 2,000+ attendees and one of the most ambitious productions ever. In 2011 Chris Ryan started Emerge Music Promotions with business partner Darren Melchiorre. Emerge Music promotions began signing artists with plans to develop and market the artists to the community at large. Emerge Music promotions has big events planned for 2012 and 2013. Chris Ryan debuted the IMAGE events which took place on top of two of NYC's most beautiful rooftop venues, Rare View and Indigo Hotel. The events were blogged everywhere and featured the fashion designs of several clothing designers, artists and photographers. Chris Ryan felt that fashion and art should be displayed at every event and attracted the likes of Malan Breton, Calvin Klein and even Katy Perry. Chris Ryan began an extremely successful event which incorporated the concept of a house party into a nightclub atmosphere. The event Twist'D at G Lounge has been one of the most talked about events in NYC and allows it's audience to play nearly-naked Twister, beer pong, flip cup & more with other attendees. Chris Ryan was granted an excellence in volunteering award from AVP (Anti-Violence Project) for all his efforts in supporting the organization. 2013 has a very promising landscape on the horizon and Chris Ryan is complacent in saying "you haven't seen anything yet!"

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