Track Listing

1. Neon Knights
2. Children Of The Sea
3. Lady Evil
4. Heaven And Hell
5. Lonely Is The Word
6. Wishing Well
7. Die Young
8. Walk Away

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #71770 in Music
• Released on: 1996-01-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

From Amazon.com
After kicking vocalist Ozzy Osbourne out of the band in 1978, Black Sabbath knew they would have to strike back with a powerful record if they were to retain their credibility. They recruited Elf vocalist Ronnie James Dio, whose melodramatic vibrato shuddered with menace, and in 1980, they released Heaven and Hell, their most potent offering since Master of Reality. Faster and more theatrical than Sabbath's earlier oeuvre, Heaven and Hell features the dynamic seven-minute title track, which builds from a lazy throb to a high-octane roar, and the dynamic "Die Young," which segues from an uptempo saunter to a flamboyant midsection strangely reminiscent of Queen. Although the album helped build Sabbath a younger, more enthusiastic fan base, Dio only remained with the band for one more studio album, after which Sabbath's star slowly began to fade. --Jon Wiederhorn

CD Description
While Black Sabbath remained one of heavy metal's top concert draws throughout the late '70s, the band's albums of the era proved to not be on par with its earlier work. This creative weakness was what caused vocalist Ozzy Osbourne to split from the band in 1979 to launch a highly successful solo career. Sabbath used the opportunity to refocus its direction, eventually replacing the group's batty frontman with ex-Rainbow member Ronnie James Dio. The new line-up's first album, 1980's HEAVEN AND HELL, proved to be Black Sabbath's most successful (both commercially and artistically) in a long time. The opening number, "Neon Knights", remains one of Sabbath's most ferocious, while "Children of the Sea" alternates between dark, brooding metal and a gentle melodicism that's stressed even further on "Lady Evil" and "Die Young".

Customer Reviews

Mostly Heaven actually
A huge return to form - rejuvenated by pint sized wonderthroat Ronnie James Dio exactly as Purple had been by David Coverdale a couple of years earlier. Neon Knights and the title track are classic straightforward Sabbath, Children of the Sea, Die Young and Lonely is the Word married this riff-fest to the drama of Dio era Rainbow beautifully. Iommi's guitar playing takes another step forward here, and his solos throughout are the best of his career. His work on all of the above is almost operatic in scope, drama and fluency. All together, this was Sabbath's most coherent, consistent and vital album, it showed the so called 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal' up for the spotty bed-wetters they really were.

Heaven & Hell - Sabbath Reborn!!
Heaven & Hell marks a defining moment in the life of one of the premier rock bands in the world. In a post Ozzy era, Sabbath faced the challenge of not only seeking to keep their sense of direction, but also in their quest for a new frontman. However after a few phone calls - enter Ronnie James Dio, who having just left Rainbow, stepping into this formidable role with grace & stature. The album represents one of the finest rock banquet's of all time. A perfect blending of classic rock and mysticial imagery, that has become the Dio trademark. From the blistering opening of Neon Knights through to the classic anthem - Heaven and Hell, this album pulls no punches. Not only did the album breath new life into the band, it also attracted a whole new generation of Sabbath fans. Even after 20 years this album still feels as fresh as it did when it was first releashed. Heaven and Hell, although reveals the band in a new musical light, would give Sabbath a new lease of life that they have enjoyed ever since.

Sabbath`s Finest Moment
This is beyond doubt BS`s finest moment. Iommi has the best guitar sound he ever got on record. Martin Birch`s production is flawless. He made sure that the band had great sounds something that is sadley lacking on all Sabbath`s earlier recordings. Dio gives one of the finest vocal performances on a Heavey Rock/Metal album ever. Check out "Neon Knights" for proof of Dio`s abilitys. Sabbath never sounded so complete as they do on this album. Dio`s vocals gave the rest of the band a new lease of life & insperation & it showed. "Die Young" was the single at the time & shows Sabbath using Keyboards to great effect. "Heaven & Hell" is still one of the best Metal songs ever written. "Walk Away" has one of the most commercial overtones to it Iommi ever wrote. "Children Of The Sea" has one of those glorius Dio lyrics, " On a misty morning, On the edge of time reaching for the stars we blind the sky". There`s not a bad track on this album & in a strange way all the tracks show slightly different aspects to Sabbath. By the time the tour got to the UK cracks were starting to show. Mob Rules wasn`t the follow up that had been hoped for & Dio split in acrimoney to form his own band. But this album still stands testomony to what was even for a short while the finest Metal band around with one of the truely classic albums of all time...."The world is full of kings & queens, who blind your eyes & steal your dreams...it`s Heaven & Hell" Buy now