Headless Cross [Original recording reissued]

Black Sabbath | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: EMI Special Products
• ASIN: B00005Y7NK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,645 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Gates of Hell

2. Headless Cross

3. Devil & Daughter

4. When Death Calls

5. Kill in the Spirit World

6. Call of the Wild

7. Black Moon

8. Nightwing

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great musically, not-so-great lyrically, December 2, 2005

By 

NFL Fanatic (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Headless Cross (Audio CD)

Muscially speaking, this album is the strongest recording Black Sabbath released after the Ozzy/Dio eras (and better than some of those albums, too). Tony Iommi is the master of those dark, pummeling, sludgey guitar riffs. Headless Cross is, musically, arguably the best example of that guitar sound that is a trademark of the Sabbath sound. The keyboards are more prominent here than on other Black Sabbath discs but that's not a bad thing - in this case, I thought the keyboards really enhanced the music on this.

It begins with the haunting keyboards that is a prelude to the heavy, slow-paced title track. Devil and Daughter is another GREAT, upbeat riff that is perfectly complimented with the keyboard work of Geoff Nicholls (why was that musician rarely tabbed as an official member of Sabbath?). When Death Calls starts off slowly with the emphasis on atmosphereic keyboards and a simple guitar melody and BOOM! - another heavy riff and operatic Martin vocals - finishes out as another upbeat track though not quite the way Devil and Daughter does. Most of the other tracks have good riffs and that dark, heavy guitar sound that are some of Iommi's best musical efforts.

Tony Martin is a great singer. Black Sabbath does not begin and end with Ozzy or Dio on vocals. Iommi is the heart and soul of Black Sabbath. Laurence Cottle's bass work is excellent on Headless Cross, and he sounds very similar in style to Geezer Butler. Cozy Powell is one of the greatest drummers of all time, and his contributions here in terms of production and drumming really helped Black Sabbath regain some status they had lost as the band had really become a Tony Iommi solo project with the guitarist as the sole original member.

My high rating for this album of for the music ONLY. Occultish lyrics have been another Sabbath trademark, and I would personally prefer to have had the band record this fine piece of music without Satan and his cronies getting a namecheck on almost every song. But musically, the instrumentation on this is great.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Album From Sabbath!, April 18, 2002

By 

Scott Wirkus (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Headless Cross (Audio CD)

This album is great - it's one of my favorites from Sabbath.Tony Iommi and Tony Martin hit their peak with this release, and the songs are heavy, dark, melodic - and brilliant! There's great songwriting throughout the album - "Devil and Daughter," "Kill in the Spirit World," "Black Moon" - these songs are metal gems - and Martin sings them with a power and conviction few singers can match.If you're a Sabbath fan - or just a fan of metal with an EVIL tone, then pick up, and CRANK UP this album. You'll hear Iommi's tasty guitar, Cozy Powell's solid drumming, and Martin's awesome vocals... and you'll thank me later.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the album that came too late, November 6, 2003

By 

torquemada "sweating_demon" (beirut, lebanon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Headless Cross (Audio CD)

"born again" was a very controversial album and cost Sabbath a lot of fans but this was unfair, as the album
was true to the band's style (heavy, cynical, mischievous and satanic) but the coming of Glenn hughes for the "seventh star" was a bullet in the head of the band, dubbed
a hair metal outfit. dont get me wrong, Glenn hughes is a wonderful singer but he's not for sabbath! Tony martin had A LOT to do in order to restore sabbath's credibility. by the time "eternal idol" was out, fans were already disillusioned by the band and "headless cross" went totally unnoticed by then whereas if it would have been released after "mob rules" the results would've been totally different. it would have been hailed as Sabbath's crowning achievement. This album is the most satanic ever done by the band. look for the lyrics and see. it also has the music to imperially back the topic up. it has the biggest collection of juicy riffs since "Sabbath bloody Sabbath" and frequent tempo changes make every song distinct, entertaining and still enjoyable after many ,many listens. i listened to this album hundreds of times and found out i love every song on it. the title track. "call of the wild" and "nightwing" are just a bit more special to me than the rest. tony martin's "dio-esque" voice is emotional, unpretentious and gives the songs the majesty and seriousness they need. he's the most underrated singer for black sabbath, he just was the right guy at the wrong time and place. i personally have already made my choice: this is the best sabbath album, followed by Sabbath bloody sabbath and Heaven and hell.