By the end of the '70s, drug abuse and interpersonal turmoil had completely unraveled Black Sabbath. After straying from the sludgy intensity of their early records for a string of increasingly experimental and commercially underperforming releases, original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne left the band during the first round of recording sessions for ninth album Heaven and Hell. Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio stepped in, transforming the group's sound completely by replacing Osbourne's idiosyncratic evil whine with a vocal style ...
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By the end of the '70s, drug abuse and interpersonal turmoil had completely unraveled Black Sabbath. After straying from the sludgy intensity of their early records for a string of increasingly experimental and commercially underperforming releases, original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne left the band during the first round of recording sessions for ninth album Heaven and Hell. Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio stepped in, transforming the group's sound completely by replacing Osbourne's idiosyncratic evil whine with a vocal style that was both more theatrical and technically controlled. The stylistic shift from heaviness to more intricate hard rock that had floundered on Osbourne-led albums like Never Say Die seemed perfectly fitted for Dio's driving vocals, with tracks like the high-tempo "Wishing Well" pushed forward by his soaring self-harmonizing and Geezer Butler's distinctive bass playing rolling strongly along. In many ways, Heaven and Hell found a Sabbath that was almost unrecognizable from the form they began in just over a decade earlier, but echoes of their past connected with a sense of rejuvenation for some of their strongest material since 1973's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. The chugging riffing of opener "Neon Knights" taps into the forward motion of "Paranoid," but replaces the confusion and depravity of that unhappy anthem with excited, fantastical lyrics and Dio's dynamic vocals. "Children of the Sea" is a moody and wandering number that continues the classically informed songwriting that came in and out of focus on various earlier Sabbath tracks, and the epic title track builds to a full-boil rocker before winding down to an outro of eerie classical guitar as the dust settles. Dabbling with synthesizers on "Die Young" and the cinematic ending of "Lonely Is the Word" met with anthemic rock riffing on "Walk Away," all of which successfully expanded the band's range in ways that had flopped on their late-'70s albums. Upon its release, Heaven and Hell was one of Black Sabbath's more commercially successful albums, bringing the group into the '80s with a renewed spirit and a coat of production polish that saved them from the brink of demise they'd been teetering on. It would be the first of just a few records to include Dio, but his involvement breathed new life into the band and resulted in what would be one of their best Ozzy-free albums. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi
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Add this copy of Heaven and Hell to cart. $7.49, very good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2012 by Warner Off Roster.
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell to cart. $7.49, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Warner 1061.
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Very good. Providing great media since 1972. All used discs are inspected and guaranteed. Cases may show some wear. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell to cart. $15.94, new condition, Sold by Importcds rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Sunrise, FL, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Warner Bros..
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Black Sabbath/Butle; Butler/Dio/Iommi/Wa. New. New in new packaging. USA Orders only! Brand New product! please allow delivery times of 3-7 business days within the USA. US orders only please.
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell to cart. $23.25, new condition, Sold by newtownvideo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from huntingdon valley, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Warner Bros / Wea.
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell [Lp] to cart. $31.00, good condition, Sold by HPB-Emerald rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published by Vertigo.
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Good. Providing great vinyl and media since 1972. All used records are inspected and guaranteed. May have wear and minor issues from previous owner. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell [Lp] to cart. $31.00, good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published by Vertigo.
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Good. Providing great vinyl and media since 1972. All used records are inspected and guaranteed. May have wear and minor issues from previous owner. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell to cart. $32.81, new condition, Sold by Revaluation Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Exeter, DEVON, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1990 by Warner Bros / Wea.
Add this copy of Heaven and Hell to cart. $51.47, new condition, Sold by Entertainment by Post - UK rated 3.0 out of 5 stars, ships from BRISTOL, SOUTH GLOS, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2008 by Rhino.
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