Cross Purposes [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Black Sabbath | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Special Products
• ASIN: B00005Y7LT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,107 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Witness

2. Cross of Thorns

3. Psychophobia

4. Virtual Death

5. Immaculate Deception

6. Dying for Love

7. Back to Eden

8. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

9. Cardinal Sin

10. Evil Eye

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprising return to form!! Very good!, March 11, 2005

By 

M. Fonseca "carmarthen" (Thunder) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cross Purposes (Audio CD)

The best Sabbath album with Tony Martin, along with ETERNAL IDOL. THis album was a pleasant surprise. Geezer Butker proved that he has a lot of chemisty with Tony Iommi, and the result here are better riffs, better songs, well, a much better album than DEHUMANIZER, even this last one featuring Ronnie James Dio!

CROSS PURPOSES has a magnetic charm to it, all the songs are from good to great, the production is flawless, Geezer bass lines are very good, Bobby Rondinellis's only appearance in a Sabbath album (playing drums) is smooth and inspired. The lyrics are smartly crafted by Tony Martin, and his vocals are flying high in this album, spetacular. Tony Iommi's riffs are also srong and they will leave you wanting more.

This an excellent classic hevay metal album, and only recently I began to understand how it is possible (I don't mean that I agree) that some fans think that Sabbath featuring Tony Martin is the best Sabbath...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark, heavy, topical, well-crafted - and criminally ignored!, November 26, 2004

By 

Darth Pariah (North America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cross Purposes (Audio CD)

After the 1992-3 "Dehumanizer" period that ended with the debacle of Ronnie James Dio refusing (rightly) to perform with Black Sabbath at Ozzy Osbourne's "farewell" show, I really did wonder if it was the end for the band. Much to my surprise when a friend informed me that they had got Tony Martin back and would soon be releasing a new album!

This came out in the early part of 1994. I'd just got a new apartment and I'm sure my new neighbours will remember the music on "Cross Purposes" quite well!

In contrast with the "raw" feeling of "Dehumanizer", "Cross Purposes" seems very (but not overly) well-crafted, though still quite heavy. Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler are always good together, though I understand that Geezer did not want this to be a Sabbath album. New drummer Bobby Rondinelli is solid, if lacking in the distinctiveness of Bill Ward, the cannoning power of Cozy Powell or the complexity of Vinnie Appice (though he looks a bit like Vin). However, he does fine here, as he did with Rainbow (where he also replaced Cozy Powell!). Geoff Nicholls plays a bigger part here than on "Dehumanizer", if not as prominently as on "TYR".

And Tony Martin? He has been cast unfairly as the "whipping boy" Sabbath vocalist, seemingly brought in only when one of the "big names" (Ozzy, Dio) wouldn't sing. This is a shame, because he is an excellent vocalist - yes, much like Dio, but also a bit more soulful - and songwriter.

But, as with any Sabbath album, it stands or falls on Tony Iommi's guitar playing, and he doesn't disappoint here. He really shows his versatility, switching between his trademark heavy riffs, fluid solos and the odd dash of classical/acoustic guitar here and there.

"I Witness" - An enthusiastic opener and very good live. Supposedly this is about the Amish and their isolation from the outside world.

"Cross Of Thorns" - Not a million miles removed from "Children of the Sea", it has a similar acoustic/electric interplay. Tony Martin sings very well here (as always) with lyrics about the political/religious situation in Northern Ireland.

"Psychophobia" - Again Martin continues his religious commentary with a heavy, driving song about David Koresh and the Branch Davidians. I had originally thought it was a subtle dig at Dio "it's time to kiss the rainbow goodbye"! My above-mentioned friend said that the music sounds like Cheech and Chong's "Earache My Eye" (which I haven't heard)!

"Virtual Death" - Creepy, heavy vintage Sabs. Geezer's moody bass intro leads into a grinding Iommi riff and Martin's angriest vocals on the album. Lyrically could be about depression and/or drug addiction.

"Immaculate Deception" - Possibly about how some misuse religion to their own ends? An excellent song with good time changes, especially in the sped-up ending.

"Dying For Love" - This is about the refugees from the war in the former Yugoslavia. One of the lighter songs on the album musically but has some fine Iommi blues-based soloing. This song has my favourite vocals on the album as Martin really sings his heart out.

"Back To Eden" - Slightly less quality-wise than the rest of the songs but still doesn't disappoint as the singing and playing are still to a high standard. Sounds like Tony Iommi backing up his electric guitar with acoustic 12-string. Good in headphones.

"The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" - If this was intended to be a "single", it surely didn't turn the trick, not in the U.S. anyway. Starts out gentle and melodic and gets heavy. Good song with good scalar guitar/bass/keyboard work.

"Cardinal Sin" - More religious commentary, this time about the abuse of children by some Catholic priests. Tony Martin has a Catholic background so one wonders where he got his information on this, especially given that this was 1994 and this problem has only come to prominence in the past few years. Martin acts as a good advocate for the children in this song. A very majestic song not far removed from Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" or Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers".

"Evil Eye" - Not the best song lyrically (typical "bad woman" lyrics best left to other bands) but SO HEAVY! I would call this Tony Iommi's shining moment on the album - he slips effortlessly between the concrete-hard riff and some wild soloing. There's also an almost-swinging Geezer bass riff toward the outro. Eddie Van Halen is the uncredited co-author of this song. I would have liked to have heard EVH play on it, as it may have brought him back to the hard rock sensibilities he seems to have lost over the past few years.

This album was criminally ignored, in America anyway, simply because Ozzy (or Dio) wasn't on it. At a friend's record store, a customer brought it back the day after he bought it wanting a refund saying he couldn't get into it because "it isn't Ozzy, man." I just don't get it.

I was fortunate enough to see them on this tour and they didn't at all disappoint. However, very few people at the gig seemed to know who Tony Martin was or respond to any of the newer songs...quite unlike the British crowd reaction on the "Cross Purposes Live" video.

An excellent album. Cheesy cover, but that's nothing to do with the music.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, Great Line-up, Some Great Songs.., March 12, 2003

By 

Johnny Angel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cross Purposes (Audio CD)

I was lucky enough to see this tour in spring of 1994 when I was a senior in high school. This album and tours line-up included Tony "The Cat" Martin at vocals, Iommi on the guitars, Geezer Butler on Bass Guitar, Geoff Nicholls on the keyboards, and powerhouse Bobby Rondinelli (ex-Rainbow, ex-Sun Red Sun, ex-Quiet Riot, now with BOC) on the drums. Unfortunately, Tony Martin was sick most of this tour so many of the live shows did slighly suffer and take some "overhyped flack"; and unfairly further pushed the notion for Ozzy or Dio purists that "Tony Martin just stunk". I can gaurantee you -- this is NOT SO.

The Tony Martin-led Sabbath put out some great albums (Headless Cross and Tyr -- Production and a "stand in" bass player slighly tarnished Headless Cross, whearas Tyr was perfectly produced but had some filler). Cross Purposes is VERY GOOD and I would rank side by side with Headless Cross, and definetly better than The Eternal Idol and without a doubt Forbidden.

The first four tracks alone, and then track 8 (The Hand That Rocks The Cradle) are worth the cost of the album. Newcomer Rondinelli on drums just shines on this album, with some songs these things sounding like echoing cannons. The songs are well-written and very solid (minus a few torwards the end which are just kinda average). The only difference in this album is Tony Martin sings in a much lower register and doesnt hit many high notes as he did in the Tyr and Headless Cross days, but nontheless this was one of the best Martin-led Sabbath releases.

This album rocked, the tour was great and I'll fondly remember being 17 and seeing the many topless women dancing during Bobby Rondinelli's drum solo. I would definetly recommend this album, especially over Forbidden and even Eternal Idol.

Every bit of 4 out of 5 stars!