Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath CD (Digipak, BMG, 2009)

Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the landmark fifth studio album from the legendary Birmingham heavy metal pioneers, originally released in 1973 and now presented here as a digitally remastered 2009 BMG Digipak edition.

Following the monumental run of Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality and Vol. 4, the album found the classic lineup of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward continuing to expand the boundaries of their distinctive heavy sound.

While retaining the crushing riffs, dark atmosphere and doom-laden weight that had become synonymous with Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath introduced a more adventurous and sophisticated approach to songwriting. Progressive influences, atmospheric keyboards, melodic passages and intricate arrangements sit alongside some of Tony Iommi's most memorable guitar work, creating an album that is both unmistakably Sabbath and considerably more expansive than their earlier material.

The iconic title track opens the album with one of Iommi's most recognisable riffs, while tracks including "A National Acrobat," "Sabbra Cadabra," "Killing Yourself to Live," "Looking for Today" and "Spiral Architect" demonstrate the remarkable range of the band's classic-era songwriting.

The album also represented an important moment in Black Sabbath's critical reception. After years of being dismissed by sections of the music establishment, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath received widespread critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone describing it as an "extraordinarily gripping affair" and calling it a complete success.

Originally released in December 1973, the album reached No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart and No. 11 on the US Billboard 200, further establishing Black Sabbath as one of the defining bands of the 1970s.

This 2009 BMG digitally remastered Digipak edition offers collectors the opportunity to own one of the essential albums from Black Sabbath's classic period in a premium physical format.

For fans of classic heavy metal, doom metal, progressive metal and the foundational sounds of extreme music, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath remains an essential addition to any serious collection.
 

Recommended if you like: Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Dio, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Deep Purple, UFO, Blue Oyster Cult, Black Label Society

Artist: Black Sabbath
Title: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Label: BMG
Catalogue Number: BMG964137722
UPC: 4099964137729
Release Year: 1973 / 2009
Duration: Album
Format: CD
Packaging Type: Digipak
Special Attributes: Reissue

Track Listing:
1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. A National Acrobat
3. Fluff (Instrumental)
4. Sabbra Cadabra
5. Killing Yourself to Live
6. Who Are You
7. Looking for Today
8. Spiral Architect