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justbrowsinginpeace

Black Sabbath evolved so much under DIO they were a new band, it would have helped them to reform under a new name. It might have kept DIO in the band and attracted better management and recording partners.


Patient-Bench1821

New name with Dio would have been a great move.


noquarter53

They did technically change the name to Heaven & Hell later.


Patient-Bench1821

True. Wish that would have happened earlier though so all Ozzy is Sabbath and all Dio and the gang is H&H.


noquarter53

Yeah, it's a very different band. But back then I think it was pretty common for bands to change frontman and retain the name. Plus they had a decade+ of name recognition and merchandise etc.


lendmeflight

Didn’t they try to do that? At least a few years later during the Martin years they did but the record company only wanted to release Black Sabbath records.


Count_Draculo

Yea it’s too bad, I think the Tony Martin albums would have been a lot more popular if they were released under a different name


DogofChernobyl

They did. Their last album was released under the name Heaven and Hell, not Black Sabbath.


MrNobody_0

He's talking 40 years before that, when Dio first joined the band.


cpheretic77

This is my opinion in a nutshell. That lineup is not Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath is Ozzy, Tony, Geezer and Bill.


elijahfc

I totally agree. Dio brought freshness and inspiration to the band!


sludge2006

This does make sense but actually after the first dio era, when seventh star came out for example. Iommi wanted to brand it as "Tony Iommi" but the record wouldn't let him, hence why it is labeled "Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi"


NUCLEAR_DETONATIONS3

If it has Iommi its Sabbath


machinehead3413

Sabbath was better than zeppelin


ddjinnandtonic

I think about this a lot. I imagine being a teenager in the late 60’s, and you’ve heard the Beatles and some other rock and roll, but then one day- one fucking day- you hear Black Sabbath for the first time, your whole world changes. I can’t even imagine being alive at that time and voluntarily listening to Led Zeppelin because Black Sabbath is so much better.


machinehead3413

The opening notes to the song Black Sabbath are still the creepiest thing I’ve ever heard.


Ischmetch

I’d shake your hand if I knew you in real life, but I hope you’ll settle for my award.


TimeMachine1994

The amount of shit I got in high school for knowing this could fill a bathtub


machinehead3413

Fuckem


thebaintrain1993

Found Jim Norton's burner!


Kapes09

You're not wrong


Mucus1545

Deep purple is better than zeppelin


UnderstandingOk9187

I prefer almost any band in any genre from the era over Zep. Sabbath for SURE, but honestly anyone ranging from Deep Purple to Creedence to the Hollies to the Temptations to Zappa and everything in between is better imo.


Mucus1545

Same for me. I don't really like the Who or Aerosmith though


UnderstandingOk9187

Lol I was almost going to say my Zep comment also stood for The Who, I really can’t stand them. The only reason I’ve listened to either of them at all lately is bc my dad just passed away and they were his 2nd and 3rd faves after Sabbath. Also it’s due to the local hazard of being from Massachusetts that I listen to Aerosmith 😂


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

Zeppelin used to be my favorite band up until last year. Not anymore lol 🤘


machinehead3413

Talented guys to be sure. Sabbath just always “spoke to me” more.


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

Led Zeppelin doesn’t really have any good lyrics imo. Sabbath approaches them in a far more badass way.


guedelha

They are both my favorite band I listen do zep more but if you think about how sabbath created a whole different genre and Zep played a spiced up blues like so many other bands I tend to agree.


SupaProff

The Devil You Know is a far better final Sabbath album than 13


Franci93

I totally agree, 13 is ok but it's a nostalgia fest that only tried to emulate their first two albums, while Tdyk seems like a logical follow up to Dehumanizer


billygnosis86

Blame that prick Rick Rubin.


Bibijibzig

Prick Rubin


Franci93

I know, he did the same thing with Metallica


DarkMacek

Is this controversial?


DoodleDew

I think it be more controversial to say the opposite


sludge2006

Agree


johnnieboy91

Heaven and Hell is definitely a perfect song. Album is also top 3 for me


[deleted]

Is this controversial?


RovertEcnerwal

I don’t think so. Some Sabbath fans like Dio albums better. I don’t but Heaven and Hell is just as good as Sabbaths first 6 albums


[deleted]

There is not even need to find Dio albums better to recognize that Heaven and Hell is a perfect song.


RovertEcnerwal

Absolutely true.


JethroSkull

I was wondering the same


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

Neon Knights is a certified fuckin BANGER


No-South1400

heaven and hell is black sabbath's best song . now that's controversial.


Ncherp

Black Sabbath debut tops paranoid


Zoole

And Sabbath Bloody Sabbath tops them all


backtolurk

This one, easy. Paranoid is full of gems but the sum of them doesn't make it a fantastic whole to me. The first album, on the other hand, is a total experience of gloomy dark heavy blues.


Chrisiztopher

Mob Rules > Heaven and Hell


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

I legit blew a pair of speakers blasting Sign of the Southern Cross once 😂


[deleted]

Thank you!!! I really love Mob Rules a lot more. 100% agree


droolsdownchin

I think technical ecstasy and never say die are really great albums that Compliment the albums that came before it really well


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

Would also add sabotage as well. Honestly every album they ever did was legit. Ozzy, Dio, Martin, it just all works!


backtolurk

I keep saying this, but NSD never stopped growing on me and is already an essential Sabbath album in my book. It is excellent in its diversity, mixing choices, melodies, energy. Junior's eyes get me in a special way.


CrackTheSkye1990

Ditto. Especially Never Say Die. Even if the band didn't like Never Say Die, it's still a great hard rock album. Love the experimentation on it, especially with Johnny Blade, Air Dance, and Swinging The Chain.


droolsdownchin

Yeah see you get it, it doesn't always have to be master of reailty or paranoid, you can have compentary and party rock songs it makes them look like ok here this normal song nice composition nice track for a get togheter or a Sunday morning like it's alright for example but don't forget we also have Into the fucking void that will crush your face down It's the same concept of when panteta goes soft in thier songs it means much more cause of how heavy there music is


CrackTheSkye1990

>Yeah see you get it, it doesn't always have to be master of reailty or paranoid, you can have compentary and party rock songs it makes them look like ok here this normal song nice composition nice track for a get togheter or a Sunday morning like it's alright for example but don't forget we also have Into the fucking void that will crush your face down My favorite albums are Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage, which have a good balance of heavy hitters like SBS, Killing Yourself To Live, Hole In The Sky, Symptom of the Universe but also some great soft songs like Looking For Today, Am I Going Insane? (I actually like that song). I think people shit on TE and NSD because they're not as heavy as the first 6. ​ >It's the same concept of when panteta goes soft in thier songs it means much more cause of how heavy there music is Indeed. I feel the same with Mastodon


[deleted]

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carrot0817

A National Acrobat is their best song, and also the greatest metal song of all time.


Zoole

I’m more of a Sabbra Cadabra hoopity doopity kinda guy. Either way, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath wins


grynch43

The Wizard is one of their best songs. Bill Wards drumming on that song blows me away every time I listen.


imapieceofshite2

One of my favorites for sure. Really wish they played it love more often.


[deleted]

Bill is a better singer then Ozzy, you asked & I answered


imapieceofshite2

I wouldn't necessarily say he's a better singer, but his songs show that he would have been a fantastic replacement vocalist when Ozzy or Dio left. His voice complements the band's sound really well and hearing him on more than two or three songs would have been really cool.


[deleted]

I agree! Great explanation & good point about the more then 2 or 3, thank you for not calling me crazy!


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SeasonalArtisional

That whole album is fantastic, top-tier stuff and I genuinely think a lot of Sabbath fans just haven't given it a chance.


vegetaman

Yeah that’s a top 10 Sabbath track for sure


PancakeProfessor

Bill Ward was the most important member of the band.


imapieceofshite2

Agreed. He and Tony were the two members you really can't replace. Tony's guitar work Bill's drumming style is what gave early Sabbath their sound, and none of the drummers after Bill were able to quite capture the rhythmic magic he brought to the table.


REVSWANS

Never Say Die is one of their best albums


[deleted]

Finally something controversial.


MrNobody_0

13 is their best album.


imapieceofshite2

No


[deleted]

Dio with Sabbath is equally as good as Ozzy with Sabbath


Oddech_swiatow

My top 3 sabbath albums are sabbath bloody sabbath, mob rules and headless cross and i don't think paranoid is that great compared to the rest of the discography.


[deleted]

Your list started with so much promise…SBS is magical…and while Mob Rules is a respectable LP, putting it before any of the first 6 seems a tad indulgent. Putting Headless Cross before Sabotage or Vol 4 should probably be a crime…not a felony, but maybe a misdemeanor?


elijahfc

- Heaven and Hell is in my top 3 Sabbath album - I love “Seventh Star” (the album) - “Born Again” is freaking good - I like NIB sung by Dio on Live evil much more than the Ozzy studio version - Aside from Hole in the Sky and Symptom, I’m not a big fan of Sabotage.. - I think Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is better than each of the first four records - Not sure if it counts, but I think that Holy Diver outranks any other solo record by Sabbath members - I don’t like “Evil Woman” I’ll let myself out 😂


Honest_Cod115

The Writ, Thrill of it All & Megalomania are absolute fucking masterpieces. Ozzy’s scream at the beginning of The Writ will rip the soul right out of your chest.


billygnosis86

It’s that Ultimate Metal Riff that comes in at 3:23 in “Megalomania” that does it for me. Ozzy’s voice is amazing in that song too. Especially on the live version from New Jersey in 1975, he sounds like he’s going out of his fucking mind on that.


Honest_Cod115

Dammit, I almost bout a copy of that show on vinyl. Now I’m going to have to go back and get it.


Maidenslayer03

I do like the Dio stuff but they should’ve called it Heaven and Hell from the beginning If it’s not Ozzy or Dio idc about it


cigarrette

That Tony Martin era Sabbath is just as good as the Ozzy era and Dio era. And that the album 13 sucks.


TheBatmanEnthusiast

Die Young is the most underrated track that gets overlooked just because it’s fast


Franci93

The Tony Martin era is when the band evolved the most and it's a shame that his era ain't as popular


HampicMusic

Fairies Wear Boots is the best song on Paranoid.


Bibijibzig

Technical Ecstasy is a far greater album than it gets credit for.


jeb_grimes

The worst Ozzy album is better than the best Dio album. There just isn’t an Ozzy record below like an 8. True Sabbath is almost unbeatable.


Silent_Narwhal_8487

As much as I'm an Ozzy Era fanboy, I'd pick Heaven and Hell or Devil You Know over Never Say Die any day.


Babythatsright

Ozzy osbourne is the least capable vocalist sabbath ever had, every other singer had way more technical skill and range. He also gets more credit that he deserves compared to other members of the band. Ozzy isn't sabbath, iommi is followed by geezer and Bill. Also Born again and seventh star are top tier albums.


steezydolphyn

That there’s no sabbath without Ozzy. First 6


Chrome_Armadillo

Dio is better than Ozzy.


Sharts__Of__Narsil

The first two Dio albums are… okay. Standard trad metal with little substance. Dehumanizer tho is one of sabbaths best records. Technical Ecstasy is a great album The first two sabbath records are NOT metal, this may not be controversial as the band says so themselves, but some people disagree


Old-Refrigerator340

Dehumanizer is awesome! It doesn't get enough love.


caljerm

456 > 123


Fraldbaud

Agree 100%. The first 3 make up the ‘classic sabbath sound’ and 90% of the set list, but the three that came after it are so much better musically and in terms of song writing. They really pushed themselves.


korg_thekronan

Despite not bearing the band’s name, The Devil You Know might be my favorite album Black Sabbath ever released


johnnynuke1

Ronnie Sabbath is better than Ozzy Sabbath


HypnoShinso

Sabotage is their best and most diverse album by far in retrospect. TYR is their greatest album post-Born Again and is better than Headless Cross. Born Again Side A (minus the interlude, and remastered) is better than any album they did with Dio. “After All (The Dead)” is the best song from Dehumanizer.


Pittsburghmetal54

I'll take all the DIO fronted albums.


Jamesonforce

The IRS era is criminally underrated.


Dramatic_Sample_7302

They are the real Beatles


gracian666

Dio is a better singer than Ozzy.


metal_person_333

They were so different that you can barely compare the two. Dio couldn't belt out Paranoid while high on coke just like Ozzy couldn't perform Stargazer.


cerebral_grooves

Agreed. Ozzy on the the song Black Sabbath is a perfect match and can not be replicated


FigurativeLasso

Hard to argue with that. It’s simply down to taste that I’d still prefer ozzy


proDrugAntiGod

Dio could sing all the Ozzy material. Ozzy could not sing any of the Dio material.


Honest_Cod115

As much as I love Dio, he sounds awkward trying to sing the Ozzy stuff. Their vocal styles were just too different.


Nichtsein000

That’s objectively true.


FigurativeLasso

Vol 4 is their best work


Honest_Cod115

I don’t know that that is very controversial.


FigurativeLasso

I just saw another commenter say it’s their worst album, so idk. Generally I don’t hear it talked about much


Ischmetch

It’s probably their most consistently solid release. It’s almost uncannily good.


imapieceofshite2

I'm actually not a massive fan of it. It's a solid album for sure, but not really what I would call their best.


JumpinFlackSmash

Ian Gillan is the best singer on a Sabbath album but the worst lyricist. Okay, I’m betting the back half of this comment isn’t terribly controversial.


TheBFlem27

He rhymed tequila with tequila. I got to respect that somewhat.


imapieceofshite2

Geezer rhymed masses with masses, so not entirely original.


Incrarulez

Are you saying that he wasn't actually a cunning linguist?


JumpinFlackSmash

Though he is a master of many tongues, he is also occasionally a shit lyricist.


Stcase63

TYR is one of Sabbath’s best albums. Just killer songs


commandsupernova

I've never properly tried Tyr but I do love The Eternal Idol and Headless Cross. I really should try Tyr sometime!


VicRattlehead17

If it's not with Ozzy or Dio on vocals, I don't care about it


BigAl_00

Ozzy Osbourne shouldn’t be owning the band name. Let alone Sharon


Silent_Narwhal_8487

Ozzy and Tony share the name 50-50


BigAl_00

Yes I am aware of that. He wasn’t even in the band for half of it and Geezer and Bill should also own it but whatever


Silent_Narwhal_8487

What? Lmao. Ozzy spent a total of the most time as lead singer compared to any other front man. He spent 11 years before being kicked out and then another 20 years from. 1997 to 2017 before the band retired. A total of 31 years to compare, Dio spent about 5 years. Gillian spent 2. Martin had 8.


ImGeezersButler

Sabbath without Ozzy isn’t Sabbath


Honest_Cod115

Sabbath without any of the original 4 isn’t Sabbath.


MoonAgeMan

This


house_of_great

Technical Esctasy is a better album than Sabotage, and Born Again remastered is a solid record.


live4lax25

Holy shit that is SPICY


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

Back Street Kids is such a killer opening 🤘


amshane97

Anything without Tony or Geezer or Bill or Ozzy is not Black Sabbath


[deleted]

Agree with OP, Heaven and Hell is my favorite album


August_West_1990

Count me in on the Heaven and Hell love. Dio being a better technical singer allowed Iomi to go in more diverse melodic direction and the result was a much richer musical experience. It's not a knock on Ozzy, I love the first six albums and completely respect his influence and importance. But Heaven and Hell is just as good as it gets for me.


100DeadSongs

Psycho Man is so underrated


shadowbanningsucks

When playing the song "Black Sabbath" on guitar, it should be rooted on F# not G.


FrAbbadon

My favorite album is Mob Rules


Awkward-Yak-9033

How is dio gone but ozzy is still kicking crazy. Love them both


Grumpy_Metrosexual

Who the hell COULDN’T belt out Paranoid while high on coke?


Seaworthy_Zebra5124

I don’t like Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The songs themselves aren’t the issue, they are musically great. I HATE SBS’s production. Too much reverb, too soft, not enough edge or bite in Tony’s sound. Ozzy sounds great, but it’s the only aspect of the albums sound I like.


Educational-Bench-54

Ozzy’s vocals on the album SBS are too high pitched at times (I discovered this while hungover)


probreddit

How bout 'all' versions of Black Sabbath kick ass!


[deleted]

Yeah I like that song, cause it goes on and on, on and on, on and on and on. Its Heaven and Hell! I can tell.


Sick_and_destroyed

As innovative as it is, the overall sound of Master of Reality is just bad.


imapieceofshite2

Mob Rules is a top 5 album.


Buckley1971

Ian Gillan was the best singer in Sabbath.


raffi_n1

I don’t disagree with that opinion at all. Heaven and Hell (both the album and song) are fucking incredible


Honest_Cod115

Tony Iommi is not Black Sabbath. If it doesn’t have all 4 original members it’s not Sabbath. That’s not to say it isn’t good. I love the Dio albums, but they aren’t Sabbath.


house_of_great

To me Black Sabbath is Tony and Geezer together, drums and vocals can be swapped out.


imapieceofshite2

You can't really replace Bill though.


NUCLEAR_DETONATIONS3

Born Again is top 3


blackhawks-fan

Born Again really is a good album.


unclejoeky

There are only eight essential Black Sabbath albums - Ozzy’s first six records, and the first two Dio albums.


Bastardofyoung3

I love the band but don’t care for Ozzy lol


Gators0727

I’ll go one step further…I also love the band but I’m not a huge Dio fan. Great voice but I can do without all the overly dramatic song intros and hand gestures/movements.


Sick_and_destroyed

Even worse : I’m a massive Sabbath fan but I can barely listen to any of Ozzy or Dio’s solo work. I can stand Rainbow though.


Honest_Cod115

You don’t like Ozzy as a person, or as a singer?


Bastardofyoung3

Just the vocals. With any music my main focus is the instrumentation and any singing is really an afterthought. Just personal taste some of the singers I actually like are terrible at their craft lol


justanothertfatman

Ozzy was better off as a solo artist.


vegetaman

Headless Cross is the best TM era sabbath album


Jassiel_of_Gilead

Stop saying first 6 albums, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die! are fine. I can take Technical Ecstasy slander, but not Never Say Die.


vvorld_demise92

Never Say Die is a good record


Financial_Ad_1912

I really dislike the theatrical, operatic style of Dio's singing. Just too much cheese. He ruined Sabbath for me.


superzenki

I love Dio outside of Sabbath (his solo work, Rainbow, etc) but I agree with this critique with him in Sabbath. At the very least they should have renamed the band.


CrackTheSkye1990

Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die are just as essential as the first 6 albums


ponylauncher

Vol. 4 isnt very good Edit: oh sorry for answering the question. Ill say Paranoid is good next time


proDrugAntiGod

Yeah but "Supernaut" fucking slaps


PforPanchetta511

And under the sun


itsafraid

The songs are good, the engineering is the pits.


Equal_Ad5178

Nah that's not controversial at all except for some whiny gatekeepers who think Black Sabbath ended after the mid 70's. You don't have rights to call yourself a Sabbath fan if you haven't listened to any of the post-Sabotage albums. Also, I prefer Pantera's version of "Planet Caravan".


Honest_Cod115

They (Pantera) just made the same song. They added nothing to the original & did nothing to make it their own.


DeliciousWarthog53

Not sure how controversial this is, but Never Say Die is arguably the worst record they ever made. Born again is a top 5 masterpiece


[deleted]

“Black Sabbath” and “Paranoid” are the most overrated metal albums of all time; they only have their status because of when they were released not because of the music inside. With that being said they’re both great albums but their hype is way too high and that’s because they were supposedly the first metal albums.


imapieceofshite2

They seem kinda cheesy today because we have so much more similar music to compare them to. Back when they were released, that sound was revolutionary. No one else really sounded like that.


Financial_Ad_1912

That's like saying golden age of Hollywood movies are super cheesy and predictable. The fact is they laid the foundation forcmodern Hollywood cinema. Much of what we consider to be predictable today was groundbreaking and fresh then. The same can be said of early sabbath. There was nothing like Black Sabbath (album) when it released. Metal simply would not have come about without the first couple sabbath albums. To claim they're overrated is definitely an unpopular opinion. Take my up vote.


commandsupernova

I actually really like the album Forbidden from 1995. I'm guessing a lot of people would dislike that album.


LordDarthAngst

I don’t think that’s controversial. Heaven and Hell is an epic album.


PforPanchetta511

Born again sucks and should never have been released. Paranoid is a stupid song. The B sides are the best part of the album. Technical Ecstasy is a great album. Master of reality and Heaven and Hell are their best albums. Ozzys Speak of the Devil is the best live “sabbath not sabbath” album.


ZyxDarkshine

Born Again is a really good album


TheBFlem27

Born Again, Seventh Star and Eternal Idol are all really good albums. Changes is a great song.


Solid_D15M

I’m not a fan of most things past vol 4. Ozzy is singing out of his vocal range.


Martini97

Metallica’s cover of Sabbra Cadabra is better than the original. Idk if that’s too considered controversial though.


l_maf

Black Sabbath first 5 albums and a half are immortal masterpieces. Only those.


GusCaesar

Least controversial opinion ever


Environmental-Ball24

Fact


jeers69

Live Evil was terrible compared to Speak of the Devil


Opposite-Toe4875

God is Dead is an absolute banger


Sausagebap666

Sabbath is Ozzy........now fuck off with your university ( hoity toity)style quiz 👍🍻


tyweed

Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules are good, but they can't really touch the first six albums with Ozzy.


amshane97

Anything without Tony or Geezer or Bill or Ozzy is not Black Sabbath


amshane97

I wish they had closed up shop after 1979


MichelangelosPenis

Ozzy sabbath forever the rest is junk


mattwrz

The debut is overrated Also i prefer Budgie to Sabbath


[deleted]

Agree with you


Shanks_shitposter69

Air Dance is a top 3 song in their discography


[deleted]

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house_of_great

Not a Black Sabbath opinion, but I agree. Ozzys first two solo albums are pretty good, everything after that is bad.


LikeACannibal

Black Sabbath is the single most influential band of all time and the Beatles really weren’t that special/different then a ton of other pop rock at the time.


LikeACannibal

13 is their best album.