Heaven and Hell [Original recording remastered]

 

 

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This album is a hard rock classic..Iommi's guitar tones on this album, along with great vocals, neat songwriting, and a real sense of purpose (we're back without Ozzy, so check it out) made this the dio-sabbath mothership. Mob Rules, although it had a few good tunes, cannot touch this. Is it only me that finds Iommi's vibrato a bit spooky?? He is the irreverant man in black.

You will not find a better album on this site for the price they want for it. Unfortunately, I have this, and everything else that I want on the site is like 23.99 and up :-(. Plus the S&H. Bummer.

Rock on........even if your music is from the past, and you are 35 and losing your hair. :-)

I liken the switch of Ronnie James Dio for Ozzy Osbourne to the switch of Sammy Hagar for David Lee Roth. The first albums succeeding the original singers (Heaven and Hell, and 5150) were pretty good, but then the succeeding albums faded fast. You just can't replace a David Lee Roth or an Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy's intensely psychological lyrics made the band, and although Dio does a good job on Heaven and Hell, the style of the music is totally different. Yes, there are some good songs on here, and it's worth buying, but don't assume that you will get genuine Sabbath material in this album.

In 1979,After Ozzy left Black Sabbath,Dio became the new singer of the band giving the band a new life and new energy.You can feel right from the opening song "Neon Knights",that something about them has changed.Some tought,are quick to criticize Dio and of course those people just want Ozzy and nothing else,if you have an open mind then you will probably like Sabbath-Dio,if not then just don't like it that's all.Ronnie James Dio,has an amazing voice and in my opinion,he's a way better singer than Ozzy and can really bring a song to life.I can understand those people because I was once like them,beleving that Ozzy was the only true singer of the band but once I heard them with Dio it all changed.I think that Sabbath was great with Dio,maybe not as much as they were with Ozzy,but Dio certainly had his place in Sabbath and the albums he did with the band are memorable and classics ones with some great songs.

One big change is of course the fact that lineup is now consisting of Toni Iommi,Geezer Butler,Bill Ward and Ronnie James Dio,but another change is that Iommi's guitar playing has changed in the transition of Ozzy to Dio.He plays awesomely in my opinion and comes out with some rocking riffs that really stick to your head.In a way Dio is much more of a musician while Ozzy is a singer.This album has much more melody than previous albums and its a masterpiece that can sometimes be overlooked.The lyrics can also be more profound and real,they are different than in their previous album,you'll notice.Black Sabbath with Ronnie James Dio is still Black Sabbath to me lets make this clear.

The albums starts out with one of the best metal songs ever in my opinion,"Neon Knights" which has a great riff by Iommi and at this point already you know you're in for something special."Children Of The Sea" is considerably slower and more of a rocker.Dio sounds amazing on this one and its really an emotional song about courage,one of the best songs on the album."Lady Evil" is another great song with a good chorus and there is really nothing to complain about.I often have some of the lyrics in my head,"Lady evil,evil,she's a magical,mystical woman..." its got a good groove what can I say?"Heaven And Hell",the title track is amazing starting out slow and gradually becoming more intense.The solo in this song is amazing!A highlight of the album."Wishing Well" is pretty good,there's nothing really special,the song is just great."Die Young" is excellent no less."Walk Away"'s the song I don't really like,it's good at what it is,no more."Lonely Is The World" is a good bluesy closer but nothing exceptionnal here.

Dio was the best choice for a replacement singer,some bands after loosing such important members as Ozzy was decide to quit but sometimes continue and in some case do very well and Sabbath was one of those bands.Everything is top notch,the songs,the playing,everything is there and the result of "Heaven And Hell" is a masterpiece and one of the best Sabbath has ever done.I can't say it enough,this album is a must-have and it should be in any serious rocker's collection.Its a highlight in both Sabbath and Dio's careers.

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5.0 out of 5 stars HOLD ON...GOOD THINGS NEVER LAST...NOTHING'S IN THE PAST...IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO COME AGAIN!
As mentioned in my previous review of Dio's "Holy Diver" album, I've been listening to nothing but the great RONNIE JAMES DIO since his death on May 16th. Read more

Published on May 27 2010 by John Chronis

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums ever!
I still remember the first time I listened to Heaven And Hell. I was in awe. I couldn't believe that Dio fits like glove to the band. Read more

Published on April 14 2008 by Customer from Quebec

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard Rock at It's Best
As a 12 year old guitar player (if that's what you call it back then), a friend introduced me to the mighty Sabs with their "brand new" album, 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath'. Read more

Published on July 8 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheerly Awesome-They Still Got It Without The Ozzman
MY OPINION-To me Black Sabbath has and always will be Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill. My first response to this album was "Crap. It's not the same without Ozzy". Read more

Published on Jun 25 2004 by Phil

5.0 out of 5 stars Sheerly Awesome-They Still Got It Without The Ozzman
MY OPINION-To me Black Sabbath has and always will be Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill. My first response to this album was "Crap. It's not the same without Ozzy". Read more

Published on Jun 24 2004 by Phil

5.0 out of 5 stars A new beginning
Two albums turned me on to Sabbath, pretty much simultaneously in the early 80s - Paranoid and Heaven and Hell. Isn't that something! Quintessential Ozzy and Dio! Read more

Published on Jun 17 2004 by Michael Rindt

5.0 out of 5 stars Heaven & Hell-The Birth Of the Dio Era Sabbath
Ronnie James Dio succeeded Ozzy Osbourne as the lead vocalist of Sabbath, & to everyone's surprise, Sabbath lost none of it's thunder. Read more

Published on Jun 4 2004 by Raniel Almaria

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
This is Black Sabbath's best album with Dio, easily ranking above the very good Mob Rules and the good Dehumanizer. Read more

Published on May 31 2004 by Joseph Adams

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly Black Sabbath's best album!
In a world of wildabeasts and angels, Ronnie James Dio is in the most darkest, most evil thing created by man... Black Sabbath. Read more

Published on May 30 2004 by Nathan

5.0 out of 5 stars Look out! its Dio!
1980's Heaven and Hell stands as my favorite Black Sabbath album, PERIOD. It has more melody than previous albums (with maybe an exception of Sabotage and SBS (my two other... Read more

Published on May 27 2004 by Mattowarrior

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