Search - Black Sabbath :: Born Again

Sabbath Reborn

F. Cardenas | Texas | 05/11/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The only complaint I have had all these years is that the album seems short. It only has seven real songs plus two spooky soundng instrumentals that take up space that should have been dedicated to at least one more complete song.



Musically, it is my favorite of all my Sabbath CDs and I have lots of them. I would love it if Ian Gillan got together with the other Sabs to make another album. Maybe the could call it Reborn since the Black Sabbath moniker is now exclusively an Ozzy gig.



I got this CD when I was sixteen back at the start of 1984. MTV had put the video for Trashed on heavy rotation so I just had to get it. I did not know who this screamer Ian Gillan was back then but his vocals really kicked butt. Heck, Born Again made me a Deep Purple fan.



My favorite songs on Born Again are the title track and Keep it Warm. They have a real personal feel to them that does not go away once it creeps in you. They are not full-tempo rockers as are Trashed, Digital Bitch and Hot Line, which are really good songs on their own, but they still rock - sort of like AC/DC's Ride On. The album has two other complete songs called Zero the Hero and Disturbing the Priest that are bit quirky - musically, lyrically and in terms of vocals. Gillan must have had fun singing those songs live. Together the album is quite eclectic but still a total hard rock and metal trip - totally Sabbath.



I recommend it to any fan of good music.



"

Pure Evil Goodness

Hamster Army | 07/25/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I vividly remember when this album was released in 1983, I was in the 8th grade and the album probably contributed to my future juvenille deliquency and distrust of the church!



Satan must've possessed Ian during the recording of this album, as Ian recalls having a hard time remembering the lyrics live, and belts out lines unlike anything he did for the most part in Deep Purple. Gutteral howls, laughing and shrieks abound, backed-up with a heavy distorted synth sound from Iommi and Geezer that is unique, setting it apart, appropriately, from everything else in the Sabbath catalogue.



The album manages to be frightening, both in its audacity (for the time) and darkness, filled with religious symbolism and of course lyrics about Satan! I consider it more of a side project where the singer of Deep Purple joined Sabbath for an album, and it's so bizarre and demented, teeming with style and rebellious themes, as well as good riffs and memorable songs, that it certainly affects people who like it.



I am not sure why Sabbath fans would dislike this album, there was nothing like it when it came out, much like the original Sabbath back in '69 and '70.



The album cover is just awesome, something to frighten the parents with. And when they hear songs such as "Disturbing The Priest," "The Dark," or "Trashed," they'll send you to a reformatory.



I just wanted to pay some homage to a classic heavy metal album, that doesn't get a ton of attention or respect. It's definitely "out there," albeit with a lot of good Iommi riffs and song-writing, but that is what makes it great."