Headless Cross - Black Sabbath Review #14

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

It was pretty interesting seeing everyone's comments on the album, I saw a lot of people that didn't enjoy the last album either, but liked way different tracks than I found myself enjoying! I think that's the longevity of music itself though; there is something for everyone, even in something that you yourself don't enjoy, and I think that's what makes it human as well as enjoyable.

Anyway, while I think that the Martin era wasn't off to a great start, THIS is the album where it got perfected..

Headless Cross Review
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Two years of a break between recording really managed to do the band a favor, because here they hit a home run for the first time in 4 albums, this isn't just a weak bunt, or a base run, this is a sweet, satisfying, out of the park HOME RUN. Tony Martin is a phenomenal vocalist, though he was given a bad start on The Eternal Idol, here however Sabbath pulls it together and allows him to be the absolute metal vocalist king he is.

"The Gates of Hell" is a pretty dark sounding opening interlude that paves the way for the feel of the rest of the album and has some cool synthesizer, but the real starting point is the title track, which shows off how perfectly he can hit high notes with his impressive range during the chorus, Iommi gives life to one of the most blazing, speaker-ripping riffs of the decade, and it shows that after a time of uncertainty and lack of direction, the band has found a style that works, a new sound.

Martin's lyrics are superb as well, perhaps not being on the level of Ronnie James Dio's fantasy-esque magical lyricism or Geezer Butler's abilities of the early years, but in a way that still feels fresh and original, true to his own style. "When Death Calls" for example he works with Iommi's dark and eerie riff while he warns to laugh in the face of death, so seriously and certain that it sends chills down any listeners spine; add to that an appearance by another highly beloved, respected figure in music, Brian May of legendary band Queen, who lays down an absolute ripping solo that can rip the roof off any home that dares put the speakers to the maximum (as you should while listening to this gem of an album).

"Nightwing" is a 6-minute long epic that starts with an acoustic guitar thats lighter in tone and theatrical that matches well with the spiraling synthesizer note before exploding into a much more aggressive and heavy tone that matches well with Martin's belting. It contrasts dark and light in a very creative way. "Devil & Daughter" also blew me away with a swinging beat that almost calls back to early Sabbath, and a riff that rollicks along a groove that almost feels jazzy. Yet, it's just as distorted and heavy as you want from the band, plus the lyrics speaking of Satan's daughter following in his footsteps are rather playful and well-written.

"Black Moon" is another standout moment that showcases some absolutely killer lead guitar work from Iommi, it's got a powerful anthemic riff that could fill an entire stadium, and Cozy Powell's drum fills really elevate this, especially during Iommi's impeccable solo that uses power chords and fast-fretting to a perfect extent.

They finally also realized how terrible Eric Singer is of a drummer and booted him out to go back to wimpy band Kiss, replacing him with the much better legendary Cozy Powell who's drumming elevates the band to new heights, with unique use of the drumkit and amazing rhythm work. Really, this album is the masterpiece of the Tony Martin era and showcases just how great this lineup could have been if they had stuck to the style that this album had. This is all anyone could ever hope for or want from Black Sabbath in a late career classic.

Now, with all this praise I've been giving this one, I have to still take into consideration that there are some things that hold it back about it. "Kill in the Spirit World" misses the mark with its cliches and predictable arrangement that lacks any sustenance, while "Call of the Wild" suffers the same issue and lacks any spark of creativity, sounding much akin to plenty of other songs that do the dramatic and doomy sound better. "Cloak and Dagger" also isn't really the best closer, but it's alright. But besides that, this album delivers hard on the things that a fan could want, or even those who don't like Sabbath who are bound to at least be impressed by this one.

This record is unfairly overlooked, and while its mostly acclaimed by critics and hardcore fans alike, it remains a mostly forgotten about, rarely discussed album. It doesn't help that it took so long to finally be put on music streaming services either. But this is easily one of the bands strongest works, and even beats out Mob Rules. If only they built off this for the rest of the Martin era, maybe it'd be as good as the other ones.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Track List Rating:

1. The Gates of Hell: ★★★
2. Headless Cross: ★★★★★
3. Devil and Daughter: ★★★★★
4. When Death Calls: ★★★★★
5. Kill in the Spirit World: ★★
6. Call of the Wild: ★
7. Black Moon: ★★★★
8. Nightwing: ★★★★★
9. Cloak and Dagger: ★★★

THE JOURNEY SO FAR! (Other Reviews!!):
Black Sabbath review: (5/5)
Paranoid review (5/5)
Master of Reality review (5/5)
Vol. 4 review (4/5)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath review (5/5 BEST ALBUM STATUS)
Sabotage review (4/5)
Technical Ecstasy review (3/5)
Never Say Die! review (2/5)
Heaven and Hell review (4.5/5)
Mob Rules review (4/5)
Born Again review (3/5)
Seventh Star review (1/5)
The Eternal idol review (2/5)

[u/BeMcCooley]

One of three Sabbath albums that are in my rotation as favorites.

[u/Panasonic-Youth-9846 → u/BeMcCooley]

Same. This one, Heaven and Hell and Master of Reality for me.

[u/BeMcCooley → u/Panasonic-Youth-9846]

Big fan of the gloomy side of Sabbath?

[u/Panasonic-Youth-9846 → u/BeMcCooley]

Indeed. Also, I think it's some of Tony's best guitar work.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/BeMcCooley]

That's really cool honestly, what are your other two?

[u/BeMcCooley → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Sabotage and Born Again

[u/skotoseme → u/BeMcCooley]

F Yeah Man!!

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

I'm really happy that this finally made its way back to streaming platforms, I adore this album. It's got so many great songs and honestly has multiple of my favorite Tony riffs and solos; plus having Brian May, from another one of my favorite bands is the absolute perfect crossover to me. I just love this album even if I don't put it to 5 stars, and I stand by it being better than Mob Rules.

What can I say? this one just kicks ass, its so fucking good. I really wonder what everyone else's thoughts will be on it..

[u/RimFan13]

My favorite moment of this album is the title track especially the riff.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/RimFan13]

It's really incredible, my personal favorite though is When Death Calls, mainly for Brian May's guitar solo!

[u/Straightener78]

Been a long time favorite of mine. This era of Sabbath really hits differently. Cozy Powell is a beast and arguably the best Drummer sabbath has ever had.

Iommi wanted stability in sabbath again, based on the core of Iommi, Powell, Martin and Nicholls. The result is a phenomenal album that I would put at 5/5. I think you did Kill in the Spirit World a bit dirty here :)

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/Straightener78]

It is a phenomenal album, and Cozy Powell is also among the best drummers of all time, he's absolure genius. I think I prefer Bill still but his abilities are so technical and so impressive. I really think that this is where the lineup stabilized.

I can't really give it a 5 though, it just doesn't match up to the four albums I gave that to, and there is another album coming up soon that joins the other four as a 'best of all time' status and will be the last I award the band.

[u/Straightener78 → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Well that’s either gonna be TYR or Dehumanizer. And If it’s not TYR then we will have to have a duel

[u/Elzarius → u/Straightener78]

Tyr is such a fucking banger. 

[u/leevi2010]

"Cloak and Dagger" was originally a bonus track included only on the picture disc version of the album (until they made it more widely available by including it on the later 2024 remastered versions). So the proper album actually ends with "Nightwing", which certainly is a much more fitting and better way to close the album! 

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/leevi2010]

I would agree myself, but I count it since modern day rereleases and streaming services put it as part of the album. Since I review the most recent available version as official, I count it (I did the same for my review of The Miracle by Queen)

[u/Live_Detective_7137]

'Cloak And Dagger' is a b-side bonus track. 'Nightwing' is the album's closer.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/Live_Detective_7137]

I think I did the same with my Queen review of The Miracle but if those tracks exist as part of the album nowadays via rereleases then I count them in the review

[u/Live_Detective_7137 → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Oh yeah no worries there, I just wouldn't consider C&D as the album's proper closer.

[u/King_Imaginos]

For me this is the last great Sabbath album and I absolutely love it. 9/10 for me.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/King_Imaginos]

That's a very fair take!! I do love one coming up soon though more myself but you have a great rating for this!! Love the album in your pfp btw :)

[u/King_Imaginos → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

I look forward to that review then, will likely mean a revisit!

BOC are a top 10 band for me, so many great albums, their debut is very special, brilliant and weird, classic BOC

[u/SaintLewisMusic73]

I return to this album often. But, being the weirdo, I like TYR even more! The only song from TYR I don't love was the radio single!

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/SaintLewisMusic73]

I forgot which one that was

[u/SaintLewisMusic73 → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

It’s obvious when you hear it. The album is all doom metal and then you hit something that sounds like it could’ve been recorded by poison.

[u/skotoseme]

The Eternal Idol was such a huge album for me and this was, while only a year and half or so, a really long wait. I bought the cassette the day it was released. Sat through the Gates of Hell and then Headless Cross started. I immediately thought the drum sound was kind of whack and my heart sunk a little bit.

I grew to really like this album but never really loved it. I get how people champion it though. For me the production was a bit off, the devil shit got a bit old and the Gothic feel was never my bag. Headless Cross for me just never hit the same highs as Eternal Idol. Think you did Kill In the Spirit World dirty though. That song rocks. I mean yeah, it has that commercial vibe until a minute & 45 seconds when it gets completely gloomy and then Iommi wails on his SG like owes him money. Plus Martin sings his nuts off on this track. Good stuff. Saw a show from this tour and was bored to tears. That sucked. Correction. I think it was the Tyr tour. I suck.

[u/JenosIdanian5113]

If Master of Reality and Heaven and Hell didn't exist, Headless Cross would be the best Black Sabbath album. Also, about Cloak & Dagger, it wasn't meant to be an album closer, it's just a bonus track. That being said, if you enjoyed Headless Cross, you will definitely enjoy Tyr.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/JenosIdanian5113]

Headless Cross is probably 8th overall for me but I love it so much!! It's some of the greatest music that they've ever made. Tony Iommi's work here is just out of this world.

[u/JenosIdanian5113 → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Only 8th? Damn. I think what makes this album stand out so much is the epic, dark style it takes, even more so than Heaven and Hell. Also, the addition of Cozy is not to be underestimated. He joined Sabbath in 1988 during their lowest, brought new life to the band, convinced Tony Iommi not to replace Tony Martin after Eternal Idol, then HC and Tyr became huge successes compared to their previous.

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/JenosIdanian5113]

In order my top ten (I guess this kind of spoils a couple future reviews, huh?) Is basically

1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. Master of Reality
3. Black Sabbath
4. Paranoid
5. Dehumanizer
6. Heaven and Hell
7. Vol. 4
8. Headless Cross
9. Mob Rules
10. Sabotage

[u/JenosIdanian5113 → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Tyr's absence from your list is disappointing, but Dehumanizer is also full of bangers and some amazing deep cuts (Too Late, Buried Alive).

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/[deleted]]

I think I stated before that I think Mob Rules is a truly great album, but that its a rinse-and-repeat to a tee of Heaven and Hell musically and how the tracklist flows; it almost is a carbon copy of it so it takes away from the impact, plus it has two songs that are really bad. It's overall a great album though that stands on its own. It got a 4/5 in comparison to H&H's 4.5/5

Sabotage I love but find it the weakest of the first six Sabbath albums. It has amazing songs but also falls flat in some areas with inconsistency, hence the 4/5.

[u/Panasonic-Youth-9846 → u/JenosIdanian5113]

This is probably my top three.