The Contrarians Presents: BLACK SABBATH - Anno Domini: Our Top Five Tracks

The Contrarians is a show where one of us jumps in the hot seat picks a dark horse album from a band as that band's best album. The guest host will argue against them with facts, stats and all around truth, subjective and objective!
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[@pjones8404]

I have been screaming the value of the Tony Martin era since he joined the band. I never accepted the notion that they were a "joke" or not "legit". Nonsense! This was a band that can stand side by side with any era of Black Sabbath!! If the rest of the world is finally catching up, fine. Welcome to what many of us have known since they first came out. 5. Devil & Daughter - A crushing riff driven by the powerhouse drumming of the late Cozy Powell. Tony Martin is soaring with his most "Dio" like performance. He has beautiful sustain, a massive range and cutting diction. It's a full sonic assault. Iommi's solo is stunning while Cozy unleashes his double bass drumming. The breaks are awesome and once the final verse comes in, it is explosive. Tony Martin never has to take a back seat to ANY former Sabbath singer. 4. Odin's Court/Valhalla - What a gloriously gentle opening with an aerial atmosphere from Iommi. Tony Martin's vocals are so pure and perfect. The lyrics are wonderful, and it builds ever so slowly. Underneath, Iommi plays some very tasteful and subtle licks on the electric guitar which is a great contrast to the acoustic main guitar line. Once it reaches its peak, "Valhalla" just erupts! Cozy is nothing but pure thunder. Martin is once again soaring over the entire track. The guitar solo is blistering and so tasty. The final verse with the thick harmonies brings this epic track home. 3. Cross of Thorns - What a track!! Again, acoustic guitar and choral style keys support Martin's emotional singing. Martin is even more mature here and is able to deliver an even more musical vocal than on previous albums. Once the band kicks in, what a riff!! This sounds like something from "Mob Rules" with the thick keys underneath. The bridge is huge with killer bass playing from Geezer Butler. Bobby Rondinelli does a spectacular job on this entire album, but his fills are especially tasteful here. The guitar solo is vintage Iommi. The light and shade of this track is so powerful and enjoyable! What a freaking strong song!!! 2. Cardinal Sin - One of my favorite Black Sabbath songs! THIS is old school Black Sabbath!! The heavy keys work perfectly here as they plod along as only Sabbath can!!! Martin is gloriously driving the verses over this super thick backing track. Then the tempo explodes and Iommi takes over with a massive heavy and chugging lick. This is shades of "Master of Reality" and "Sabotage". Geezer is going nuts under Iommi's solo. Brilliant drumming from Rondinelli!!! Martin drives this full throttle to the end of the song. 1. Heaven In Black - Are you kidding me? That Cozy Powell intro alone makes this a top track!! It sounds like World War III!! Iommi's chugging is epic. Martin is so glorious here. Huge and so easy to listen to!!! But my God, Cozy Powell is just destroying it!!! It's like he is playing a solo throughout the entire song!! Iommi's solo is blistering hot and this a great way to end an extremely powerful album!!! And special shout out to Cozy Powell's china cymbal as it got a massive workout here!!! Super honorable mention: Call of the Wild - This is a Tony Martin tour de force. Holy smokes what singing!!! I could listen to him sing forever!!!! Why he doesn't get the respect he deserves is beyond me. Unrelenting drumming from Powell, Iommi's solo is just so good. " Princes and kings, and demons with wings Summon your fears from hell!!"

[@Scandolo]

My top 5: 5. Can't Get Close Enough (Forbidden) 4. Jerusalem (Tyr) 3. Virtual Death (Cross Purposes) 2. When Death Calls (Headless Cross) 1. Killed in the spirit world (Headless Cross)

[@nathanwelbourne116]

I love this era of Sabbath! These albums are great and the new box set is awesome! Here’s my top 5 from the Tony Martin. 1) Headless Cross (the best Tony Martin era song ever! It also has my favorite Cozy Powell drumming ever! He is just a super star and helps make Iommi & Martin shine! Tony Martin also gives one hell of a vocal performance on this tune and Tony Iommi does a face melting solo! 🤘🏻) 2) The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (mellow and then heavy! Iommi does an incredible solo. Bobby Rondinelli does some great drums on this!) 3) Kill In The Spirit World (crazy awesome drumming and a killer solo and riff. Also really love the bass playing!) 4) Guilty As Hell (nasty Iommi riff on this bad boy. Plus I love the grit and venom in Martin’s vocals) 5) Feels Good To Me (I love this tune and Dying For Love it was hard to pick but Powell’s drumming on Feels is just amazing! Also great solo from Tony)

[@thirdrailelectrocution]

Virtual Death, Heaven In Black, Headless Cross, Forbidden, The Lawmaker.

[@daanthing6002]

Still discovering these records. To early for a top 5. Like what i hear.

[@briandunlap8534]

The Dehumanizer demo track that became Psychophobia is called The Next Time. Its basically just the same riff under the verses. It is here on KZbin.

[@Gary-vv5bg]

That's the one!! Those demos rule, thankfully they sound like they were in the later stages of being done

[@pjtheory]

IMO, Headless Cross is a perfect metal album and 1 of the Top 3 albums in Black Sabbath's discography. Speaking of Headless Cross, I was surprised that the 2 panelists who included When Death Calls on their Top 5 songs list did not mention that Queen's Brian May plays the guitar solo on that track.

[@Gary-vv5bg]

@@pjtheory I meant to bring that up lol if it was in my list I definitely would've but it was just barely snubbed out, killer solo!

[@user-ov9sg5bs3e]

I wouldn't say it's a perfect heavy metal album from start to finish. The first side is awesome, every song is killer. I wish the second side was on the same level, but instead those songs sound like a Bon Jovi stuff to me.

[@Gary-vv5bg]

@@user-ov9sg5bs3e there's a couple songs on that album that I don't care for. (Call of the Wild, Kill in the Spirit World) they aren't awful but eh. I think Cloak & Dagger is a little better the only problem is since it's a bonus track it's tacked on the end after Nightwing lol. Nightwing is the ultimate way to end that album

[@CookieMonsterJams]

Amongst other unreleased demo tapes, they had the tape with Van Halen's solo on Evil Eye but Martin was told they are unable to release anything previously unreleased under the Sabbath name due to the usual Osbourne shenanigans. That's why this box set has so little of extra bonus stuff. Also, the replica tour book that comes with the set is that of the Headless Cross tour, not Forbidden tour as mentioned here.

[@jimekberg]

Top five Tony Martin era tracks: 1. The Shining 2. Headless Cross 3. Jerusalem 4. Kill in the Spirit World 5. Psychophobia

[@logancollins7097]

Psychphobia is awesome man great list

[@briandunlap8534]

When Death Calls Psychophobia The Sabbath Stones Black Moon Sick and Tired

[@livingdeadwax]

1.) Headless Cross 2.) The Sabbath Stones 3.) Cross of Thorns 4.) Anno Mundi 5.) Devil and Daughter So many underrated gems from severely underrated albums. Glad to see more people finally talking about them/discovering them.

[@williamgainford9332]

psychophobia / get a grip / cross of thorns / headless cross / rusty angels

[@samstirpe6774]

The bridge on the Forbidden title track is kinda awkward without keys, the rhythm guitar just chugging that one chord the whole time. Anyone notice that?

[@jensnilsson1507]

Yes. That’s my only criticism of the remix. I really like the keys on the forbidden track and they lowered them too much in the new mix.

[@blakksabb]

Yes. There is a edit done by a fan, "Forbidden - Return of original keys". They did an excellent job dubbing the keys back into Iommi's new remix

[@connororeilly2881]

Cool topic guys. While not my favorite Tony Martin era tune, the riff in the middle section of ‘Can’t Get Close Enough’ off of Forbidden makes me want to run through a concrete wall. Crushing riff! Box set is very cool. Forbidden is like a new album to my ears with the remix.

[@logancollins7097]

When Death Calls Ancient Warrior The Shining The Eternal Idol Into Glory Ride I love this period of Sabbath (especially Idol if you cant tell 😂😂😂😂) Tony Martin is a fantastic singer and deserves all the recognition that this boxset is giving this period! Great albums

[@ZRATAN69]

😎🫵👍👍👍👍💯

[@user-ov9sg5bs3e]

Unfortunately, The Eternal Idol is not presented in this discussion.

[@michaelfoulker5137]

I actually was one of those people who kept up with there albums. I loved all of these albums. But i do remember that they lost there fan base for a bit, but it did finally get the attention it deserved. Salute

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

With Osbourne played out and no love ever for Dio I am glad this has finally been released. When Death Calls (Headless Cross) Cross of Thorns (Cross Purposes) Shaking Off the Chains (Forbidden) The Sabbath Stones (Tyr) Evil Eye (Cross Purposes)

[@IraSiegel]

Really digging remixed Forbidden as a whole.

[@bmboldt]

I had all these CDs back in the day, but they all got sold in my late 90s purge. I did find a Forbidden CD a while back. I remember seeing that a bunch in the cutout bin when it came out. I should grab the new box. I also want the two CD Eternal Idol. My favorite Martin album.

[@patriotpizzaman]

Sharon Osbourne had Tony sign an agreement that made him unable to release anything that hasn't already been released. He made a statement about it on his channel.

[@connororeilly2881]

She’s insufferable

[@JIF882]

You guys should do what Sea Of Tranquility does for these types of shows. Post the songs in the comments. I don't have the box set, and I want to make a playlist of these songs.

[@samhouston1979]

i had to pause this & listen to “nightwing”

[@prosperoeaton8201]

This was a fun discussion. Here are my top five. 1. When Death Calls 2. Virtual Death 3. Anno Mundi 4. Illusion of Power- I'll probably get some grief for this one- lol. 5. Cross of Thorns

[@lostcauseforkl]

It's always very interesting to listen to Reed🎉

[@aidanlynn]

Headless Cross, Devil & Daughter, Odin’s Court / Valhalla, Cross of Thorns

[@mickward7769]

5. Back To Eden 4. Born To Lose 3. Won't Cry For You (2024) 2. Devil & Daughter 1. The Shinning Never had a problem with the Martin era and great show thanks folks \m/

[@benedictdonald4338]

My ranking of these albums: 1) Tyr 2) Cross Purposes 3) Eternal Idol 4) Headless Cross 5) Forbidden

[@patriotpizzaman]

Psychophobia is the one song that aggrevates me more than any other on this boxset. Dio was told to cut the shit with the Rainbows in his lyrics on Dehumanizer. Tony sings Kiss the rainbow goodbye on the next album. I always took that as a shot at Ronnie.

[@justsomedude5727]

Tracks: The Shining, The Eternal Idol, Kill In the Spirit World, Valhalla, Cross of Thorns.

[@inmyhouse11]

The whole box set is killer. Sabbath needs to reunite with Tony Martin and put out a new album and tour.

[@samhouston1979]

i bought that box set, but i’ll confess that i’ve yet to listen to it…i’m glad Tony Martin is finally getting his due though

[@Tompa8989]

I can't pick a top 5 from four albums that are all 9/10 or 10/10 in my opinion. My favourite era of Black Sabbath and has been since I first heard them as a kid in the late 90s/early 00s.

[@wadeharten6600]

Tony Martin in a recent interview with Phil Aston says it’s pronounced “Ter”

[@user-ov9sg5bs3e]

Great discussion guys! I wonder why The Eternal Idol is not included in this box-set (probably different label), and it's a shame cause I think it's their best record with Martin. I'm also surprised how many of you picked songs from Cross Purposes and Forbidden. Honestly I can't stand these albums. They sound like a grunge bullshit to me that has nothing to do with the real Sabbath I love. Having said that my top 5 could be easily made of songs from The Eternal Idol alone, but since it's not included here I shall go with Headless Cross and Tyr: 5) Anno Mundi (great opening track, very atmospheric and moody, sets the tone perfectly) 4) The Law Maker (should have been a Dio's song, I can clearly hear his presence here) 3) Devil & Daughter (crushing riffing from Iommi and excellent Powell's performance) 2) When Death Calls (dark and epic heavy metal masterpiece) 1) Headless Cross (obvious choice but it's still my favourite Sabbath song from that era)

[@Scandolo]

Hey Gary! Do you have your own channel? Thanks!

[@Gary-vv5bg]

Nope I don't!!

[@Scandolo]

@@Gary-vv5bg aaah pity

[@michael-rn8xv]

Thanks for this guys, but pretty weak at least two of you never heard the original version of Forbidden. You never were curious enough to listen at least once on Spotify or KZbin in the past hundred years?

[@Gary-vv5bg]

@@michael-rn8xv I'm still trying to get into the new mix, as a whole I think it's definitely better but some of my favorite songs I find I still prefer the rougher sounding versions on the original, like Shaking off the Chains & Rusty Angels. I think it's also pretty strange they used different vocal takes for Tony's singing, not that the new ones are bad but it just throws me off lol

[@daveycretin664]

I’ve heard all the Tony Martin stuff with Sabbath, I’m just much more familiar with the Ozzy and Dio eras. I’ve been listening to these reissues recently and there are definitely some great songs on these albums. I also never saw Black Sabbath with Martin, just Ozzy once in the late 90s and Dio in the 90s and 2000s. I will absolutely give more time to these albums over the next few months. The Tony Martin era deserved more attention back in the day, but maybe I’m as guilty as many others were in slagging some of this stuff off without giving it a fair shake. Maybe l just bought into a poor narrative. IRS Records wasn’t really pushing Sabbath at all and it showed in the sales and smaller venues that the band was playing in. With Dio on the Dehumanizer tour, l saw Sabbath at the Beacon Theatre in NYC. I bet they downsized the venues for the follow up tours with Martin. Another cool show, cats. Keep it up! Cheers from The Big Apple. Rock Out, Prog On and Pogo! Your pal and mine, ~ The Divine, Sublime and Rarely on Time Davey Cretin, from CRETIN CLASSICS.

[@johnhaddock1628]

Immaculate deception, call of the wild, jerusalem,forbidden,devil and daughter very difficult for me to narrow it down to 5 tracks headless cross and Tyr are great cross purposes good and forbidden ah man the remix makes it better but it seemed like a uninspired affair for me

[@blakksabb]

The five songs I pick are: Every song on Tyr and Forbidden. Oof, thats more than 5 lol srry

[@beastwishes]

black sabbath - tyre hahahaha sums it up.

[@terryanthony5323]

I see some of the close minded Ozzy/Dio geeks showed up...couldn't pay me to listen to that Ozzy crap 1. Headless Cross 2. When Death Calls 3. Glory Ride (yeah I know) 4. I Witness 5. Forbidden

[@keepitgreasey1]

Don’t understand the hype of Tony Martin. Sure he can sing, not as Ozzy or Dio which belong to the sound of Sabbath and were real frontman. Imo Tony Martin was more an opera singer and a poser.

[@captainkirk70]

Way too slick and boring.

[@moodlefyful]

To be fair, there's a reason why these albums weren't successful back in the day, they're just not very good...remastered or remixed doesn't change that. Headless Cross is a decent song though.

[@johng.7560]

No album in the Martin era competes with the first 6 Ozzy Sabbath or first 2 Dio Sabbath albums. Most of the music during the Martin era is more akin to White Snake than Sabbath and has way too much bland keyboard filler. Tony's guitar tone has lost the dark power it had before, but the bass and drum parts generally did alright. That being said there are some good songs - Headless Cross, When Death Calls, The Law Maker, Evil Eye and I Witness would be my favorites.