Greatest Black Sabbath Albums

When it comes to Black Sabbath's discography, everyone has their personal favorites. What can't be argued is that their second album, 'Paranoid,' is lined start to finish with not only great Sabbath cuts, but all-time heavy metal classics. Fortifying their sound into indisputable heavy metal, the Birmingham quartet cranked out war anthems "War Pigs" and "Hand of Doom" while staying political by bashing skinheads on "Fairies Wear Boots." The barren "Electric Funeral" hits on style over substance regarding simplicity while "Iron Man" and "Paranoid" saw Tony Iommi move up to the rank of Riff General. Influence, impact and unparalleled quality make 'Paranoid' Black Sabbath's greatest achievement.

Heaven and Hell was good, Master of Reality was good and so was Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. But none of them can compare to Paranoid. Each song is a crown Jewel in its own respect, and the replay value is off the scale. Master of Reality maybe the heaviest, but that doesn't mean it's the best. That's a bit like saying that the jazz song with the most trombones in it makes it the best jazz song. No. There is much more to it than that. Paranoid is the soul of heavy metal.

If you were to think of three Sabbath songs, it would probably be Paranoid, War Pigs and Iron Man. It just happens that all of those are obtained this album.

You have the drowsy ballad of Planet Caravan, the heaviness of Electric Funeral and Rat Salad, the riffing of War Pigs and Iron Man, and, as a proof that Black Sabbath truly is the best there is, you have the masterpiece that is Paranoid. It doesn't get better than this

Since when did more hits on an album matter in the metal genre? Well, usually more hits, means more people prefer the song... or the album. I'm not saying that Master of Reality is a bad album - it's great! But just because it came first in page displaying the "Greatest Black Sabbath Albums", don't argue against it. More people say that Paranoid is better than Master of Reality. Deal with it.

Much better riffs than (the slightly overrated) 'Paranoid'. Many have tried to emulate the sound - so far all have failed. Why couldn't the over produced and uninspired '13' sound like this? Ditch the 'pro-tools' (and overrated producers) and record a follow up on an analogue 8-track! (and don't forget Bill Ward this time, his 'ham-fisted jazz' drumming is integral to the Sabbath sound! )

I feel like Masters of Reality is a lot more dramatic than the others. This also proved that Sabbath could make more than two wicked albums in a row.

This started a new part of Sabbath which was more complicated in it's structure and more "metal like" than the two before which sound a bit more like heavy slow blues album.

Don't just automatically pick "Paranoid" as the best Sabbath album because it has two "hits". Put on your diplomatic hat and listen to these two albums back to back. You'll see that the riffs on Master kill the riffs on the Paranoid album. Don't get me wrong, I like both albums, but Master is better!

Paranoid may be their most FAMOUS album (and it's extremely good) but this is hands-down their best. It's heavier, darker, and more brutal, marking the genesis of the doom metal genre and containing plenty of riffs to chill the bones. Just a Masterpiece of Reality.

I like many of Black Sabbath's albums but I agree this should be first not third. I believe if Dio would have been the original singer, and this album had been released before Ozzy was heard of there would be no question it's the best. Unfortunately since Ozzy was there first many want to discount the other singers, but I am sorry this album is their best! I like paranoid and Master of Reality too, but I can't see how its possible to rank them higher than Heaven and Hell. Its just such a great album it should be number one. Also as a side note I think the self titled album is better than Master of reality. So the list should be 1. Heaven and Hell 2. Paranoid and 3. Black Sabbath

With all due respect to Ozzy, this is sabbath's masterpiece with one of the best vocalists of all time at the front. The album starts with one of my favorite sabbath songs "Neon Knights" and the title track is also amazing. If you want some fast sabbath with soaring vocals, give this record a listen you won't regret it

Criminally underrated album. This is a 10 out of 10. Iommi is at his best, pulls off killer riffs and and amazing guitar solos. Bass is fantastic throughout the album as is the drumming. Dio, as always, is amazing and the lyrics are beautiful, deep and complex in each song.

One of the best Black Sabbath songs ever. This deserves to be the number one among all the other songs. Most people miss the acoustic ending to the song. Next time increase the volume as the song ends you will find an extremely pleasing ending to an awesome song.

Black Sabbath is the beginning of a new era with songs like Black Sabbath (the tritone makes the song sound really doomy and scary), NIB with that amazing distorted bass solo (bassically), The Wizard with a wah wah riff mixed with an amazing harmonica performance by Ozzy. Warning and Evil Woman are amazingly performed covers with amazing solos and Wicked World, the name says it all. Just a wicked blues performance. A whole new era without leaving the blues-roots aside.

All of side 2, especially The Warning, plus The Wizard, smoke everything else the band ever did. This is what makes them stand out from other "heavy rock" or rather, metal bands.

Caveat: title track blows. And NIB is like Chevy-dependable but expendable.

Why is this below sabbath bloody sabbath, that album sucks! Now I could understand why the other albums above this album might get chosen for number 1, but songs like Black Sabbath and wicked world are what started it all.

Everything started here. The song called himself Black Sabbath, changed the game, and music was never the same. This album is important in so many ways, and have the greatest songs of Black Sabbath, in my opinion.

Every song is just masterfull, except for Fluff which is still pretty good. I mean the riffs, the lyrics, the progression of each song, the flow and just the songwriting in general is what makes this album better than Paranoid. The band is just more mature at this point, they're getting more melodic without forgetting their roots. And can we just talk about the last three tracks? Most underrated songs by the band.

Those idiots who say Paranoid is the best haven't listened to any other album, that's for sure. I bet they only know Iron Man and Paranoid. Anyway, this is the epitome of Sabbath's career, the song structure is really interesting in every track, the rhythm section is as tight as always, Ozzy has never sounded so good and Lommi's guitar is just beautifully haunting. Pure metal perfection. (Vol.4 and Master are still 2nd and 3rd)

This album was the first Sabbath album I played from start to finish for a couple of months. I was officially a Sabbath fan. This is their best album by far. Epic, Brilliant, Masterpiece, Magnum Opus. Song for song, this is Heavy Metal at its best and definitely, the best Black Sabbath album.

If someone was to point a gun at my head and say, "pick one track off this album that you would get rid of! " I would turn to them and say "pull the trigger! "

This album not only stands out as the greatest Sabbath record, but one of the greatest records in music!

The first Sabbath album I ever owned bought on the day of release. There is a great variety of material. I always thought Supernaut one of their most exciting songs. Wheels Of Confusion is just staggering and Snowblind is brilliant. I can't understand why they ignore Volume 4 the way they do.

Vol.4 is Black Sabbath's most special work, with the mega finale "Under The Sun" as their greatest piece. Every track in the album is phenomenal and manifests the band's magic chemistry at its best. Awesome, unforgettable record. Sabbath's Sgt. Peppers!

Black Sabbath changed my music life in the 70, s completely. L listen to at least one song every day. Respect this group forever. My all time great heavy metal band. And I am 59 years old!

I just bought this album and I have to say, it's really, really good. Everything except FX on this album is well worth a listen. I feel like this album deserves to be higher than sixth.

Without question! This is Ozzy at his angriest. These songs are well structured, the lyrics impressive, and the tempo changes are constant. This is a very progressive album compared to the earlier, dirge of songs like Sweet Leaf, Iron Man, or Snowblind. There is nothing like those type of songs on this release. Sabotage may have more in common with Ozzy solo albums "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman. " "Hole in the Sky" and "Symptom of the Universe" could have easily ended up on either of Osbourne's first two efforts. By far my favorite Black Sabbath release!

My favorite sabbath album. Its really underrated and deserves more respect. It has sympton of the universe with its riffs. Hole in the sky to get things started. Thrill of it all amazing riffs, supertzar the chior instrumental, the catchy am I going insane, and my two favorite which are no shorter than 8 minutes megalomania and the writ. I love every sabbath album but this kicks the most ass in my opinion

This is Black Sabbath pushing themselves beyond their limits. Sabotage is the darkest, most aggressive and most borderline album the band has recorded, and feels like dancing on the edge of insanity. It weird in the best possible way.

In my opinion the best. Listen to the complexity of Meglomania or Symptom of the Universe. Listen to the heaviness of Hole in the Sky. The wonder of The Thrill of it All. The anger of The Writ. My favorite Sabbath album for thise songs. Ozzy sings at his highest and angriest. Iommis Riff on Meglomania is amazing. This album is so over looked.

The best sabbath album ever alongside heaven and hell. This was metal at its best with sabbath. Ronnie just made sabbath
And I think tony, geezer, and martin birch would agree. Metal was metal in the 80s. You can't change that whatever.

I just had to add a vote for this album which was one of the first albums that introduced me to Sabbaths' music and Metal as a whole. Great album that deserves to be higher up the list but gets overlooked because it doesn't have Ozzy on lead vocal. A shame

Best Black Sabbath album in my opinion. Very melodic music, great riffs, drums, and the best vocals on a Black Sabbath album, and best Ronnie vocals except Rainbow era in my opinion.
Sadly it is very overlooked.

Finest metal album since.. Well, "Heaven and Hell" which ironically overshadows it. There's not a dull note here, hard to pick a favourite and I'd say it's a favourite amongst the die hard metal fans m/

This is a hugely underrated album - I've listened start-to-finish a bunch of times now and it just keeps getting better! It's super heavy, the riffs on this album incredible and the songs, on whole, are just so good man! Ozzy sounds amazing on these tracks.

Paranoid is in a class of its own for many reasons, but besides Paranoid this is their best album!

It will be the first studio album released by Black Sabbath since Forbidden (1995), and their first studio recording with original singer Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler since the live album Reunion (1998), which contained two new studio tracks. It is also the first studio album with Osbourne since Never Say Die! (1978), and with Butler since Cross Purposes (1994). Exicted about this album...

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First album with Ozzy in, what, 35 years? -You may assume that this is a big step for Sabbath, and maybe the quality of their music would be affected, however the Album is quality. Undeniably master of reality and paranoid are far superior, but this album is immensely respectable, It just shows how Sabbath will never die.

I don't know if this is the end of the or the beginning if the end, the fact is that even without Bill, this album became so great that could be easily ranked in top 3. Just look at lyrics like Dear father or God is Dead? , the rifs of Age of Reason or Pariah, the atmosphere of Damaged Soul or Zeigeist for example. This album is simply perfect!

Headless Cross album should be considered in best of 5. Some reason this album isn't commercially much successful in usa. Probably because Tony Martin is not as famous as Ozzy or Dio. Dio already become popular metal vocalist in early 80s due to his performance in Rainbow and two albums with Black Sabbath. We all know that after leaving Black Sabbath, Ozzy has his own band which made him even more popular, Anyway musically "Headless Cross" is one of the truly heavy metal album of Black Sabbath with dark lyrics. Later this album influences so many Black, Death and Gothic metal bands.

Master Of Reality and Headless Cross are my favorite Sabbath albums. Headless Cross is so amazing and underrated

Great songs in this album, "when death calls" it's one of the best BS and unkown songs ever made by them!

Musically the best album.

It's actually great, but was poorly mixed, poorly produced & thus for many years suffered sound problems, but the reissue fixed a good amount of that. Though I like all Sabbath, if you can't have the original 4 members, then 3 is a safe bet. This album along with Heaven and Hell & 13 proved what I mean. ; )

Born Again is my tenth favorite Black Sabbath album. Ian Gillan does a real good job singing on this album. Awesome guitar riffs on that album. Stonehenge / Disturbing The Priest is the best song on Born Again.

Absolutelly the most heaviest songs with unlimited grazyness of Sabbath are in this album. And also those vocals are just the insanity with superb high screams.

This album is so damn underrated! It was admittedly very poorly produced but still deserves to be in top 10, at least above dehumanizer.

Great album, but don't go into it thinking it'll be hard rock/metal album like the first six. It's got more of a rhythmic/blues rock feel to it.. I can't explain it that well, but it's great. The riffs and vocals especially are outstanding. My favorites tracks are Never Say Die, A Hard Road, Shock Wave, and Johnny Blade.

It's certainly not Master of Reality or Sabotage, but it's still kind of underrated and far better than its predecessor. Solid album, even if this marked the end of the original Sabbath lineup.

Underrated album. Don't know why because especially junior's eyes and johnny blade are top tracks.Technical Ecstacy is also aa good album though.

What? Never Say Die alone is better than the next 4 albums above this.

Eternal Idol is my fifth favorite Black Sabbath album. Tony Martin is a great singer. Get guitar riffs on that album. The Shining is the best song on Eternal Idol.

First album with tony martin on vocals, good album sort of really. It's not a bad album, but it's good.

I'm a huge Ozzy fan and a huge Sabbath fan, but what I can't understand for the life of me is why the old Sabbath gets all the credit it must be because of heresay because it certainly isn't from music knowledge. I know a lot of you will disagree but the best thing that ever happened in music was Ozzy leaving Sabbath because Ozzy got better and Sabbath got better. Cross Purposes is not only my favorite Sabbath album but one of my favorite albums period, this album should be #1 on this list followed by Dehumanizer (which is also an incredible album in it's own right, considering Ronnie James Dio sings like a God in it, and in my opinion his best singing ever) then a close third would have to be TYR which is also an amazing album.

This album is better than any album that Ozzy did with Sabbath and deserves to be recognized

Love it. Flows smoothly. The aged original Sabbath is still firing on all cylinders.

This isn't a Black Sabbath album its album made by a short lived band called Heaven & Hell which had 3 Sabbath members in it although to be fair it is basically a Black Sabbath album under a different band name

This album is rare but amazing. It's primarily about Norse. Odin's court and Valhalla sync perfectly as if it was supposed to be one song. Just comes together
Brilliantly great album!
1 Anno Mundi
2 The Lawmaker
3 Jerusalem
4 The Sabbath Stones
5 The Battle of Tyr
6 Odins Court
7 Valhalla
8 Feels Good to Me
9 Heaven in Black

My favorite Black Sabbath album. I feel like Tony Martin got in his prime on this one. His high notes are simply brilliant and this features Tony Iommi's best riffs in a long, long time.

Tyr is a band and I bet you that they got the name from this great album right here...

Anno Mudini is probably my favorite song with Tony Martin. This album is really underrated.

Dio is awful at singing Ozzy songs. They sound like totally different songs

This is a great live album its cool hearing Dio sing ozzy songs

Ah, the album released during the dio years from the original lineup without the bands knowledge by a former manager who was in a legal battle with the band. Decent recording. The guitar solo from the official 2010 release I quite like.

This album is simply great, but since it was the first one where they slightly departed from their classic style, then narrow minded people chose not to accept it and word of mouth, true or false, tends to travel far.
Great classic Sabbath album which if people dislike is mainly cause they haven't heard it

It's a spooky, edgy album that very much mirrors the concern with modern society set forth in the album title and album cover. "Back Street Kids," "All Moving Parts Stand Still," Gypsy," "She's Gone." They certainly strike a nerve. Hell, even Guns & Roses covered "It's Alright" on their live album.

Well, it's probably the worst of the "classic" albums, but that's Bassically the worst of the best. Still very, very good, if there's one thing Black Sabbath failed to do it was to make a bad album.

So underrated, each song is unique and many people disregard this record because it strays away from Sabbath's original style, but still a remarkable album.

First album which I haven't got on iTunes, before that I've got all the Sabbath studio albums. Nice album though, totally underrated. Why hasn't anyone added the album yet?

People don't vote for it 'cause it's too good! The best album w/o Dio and Ozzy