The sound is fine for the most part, but I swear they're bringing up some extremely blatant death themes (i.e., "dead," "die," "you die," etc.) more often than they used to on their older stuff, which is pretty nuts, and gets a little old.

That's what I said when God Is Dead? Came out.

Agree with you.

Couldn't agree more on this one. The first time (or first few times) I listened to it, I was very skeptical about it. I thought that Ozzy's influence was too strong, and he made the new Black Sabbath album sound like his own. I later realized that it didn't sound that way intentionally. It was just that Ozzy couldn't sing like he did back in the day, which is nothing to be surprised about for various reasons. After listening to it a few more times, however, I really heard the Black Sabbath in there. The tremendous break-downs (especially in the song Age of Reason... the flattened fifths in the break-down... holy s***) really brought back a part of the band that didn't exist for the past 35 years. I'd give the album at least an 8/10. Can't wait to see them live in Wells Fargo next month.

i think the albums really good

like end of the beginning and age of reason a lot

Isn't it fair to consider that death may be a consistent theme on the album because it's on the minds of the band more than it ever was? The band are in their 60s now. Iommi has had a recent brush with death due to his lymphoma. Dio, a prominent figure in Sabbath's history died in 2010. The band are much older, sobered and perhaps expressing their feelings on the fragility of their lives the only way they know how. Iommi stated in an interview about the new album and what direction it would take that "I don't know much happy stuff". The line

"Is this the end of the beginning/
Or the beginning of the end?"

is what sums up the entire album. Their current state of "being a band" is in a terribly precarious position. Iommi's health is uncertain, and lord knows that with Ozzy's history of illness and addiction, his health could take a turn for the worst at any time.

To me, the sound of the bells and the rain at the end of "Dear Father" gives the impression that their story is coming full circle, and that 13 is actually the beginning of the end for Black Sabbath.

It's not as bad as it could be. I agree with blackdragon: the rain gives a sense of full circle. The album might be just an excuse to go on tour. I've always loved Black Sabbath, and I think there are still lots of old songs to be discovered; it's not just Paranoid, Children of the Grave, NIB, etc. There's The Writ, there's Laguna Sunrise, etc; and just a few people seem to know those beyond amazing songs. Anyway, I take my hat off to these guys: over 60, an album coming out, and going on tour!

Hey guys..who like Die Young song from the Black Sabbath's..? It was originally composed in the 80's but still rules my heart..does anyone else likes that song as well.

Die Young is one of the three songs I truly like from Heaven and Hell. It's a good rock song. But I don't like the album :D

You should be proud that they all dressed themselves and showed up at the proper every day..............:band:

blackdragon you make a very good point, i guess just in terms of listening a lot of the band's stuff using death themes but concentrating on this album was a little weird at first, but there are definitely external factors that could be playing into this.