Vol. 4

of course this was awesome. I’ve only listened to 2 other Black Sabbath albums, but they were both awesome. This one I only knew songs from covers. And what a wild range on this one. Too bad they kicked out ozzy! They could have been even bigger!

I might not get it. I hope I don't get it. I think I get it.

I used to call them grandpa metal. Not because they are only for older folks but because they are metals actual grandpa. Great album, its musically solid, and doesn't feel old. Well worth the time to listen.

Solid album with a heavy and dirty sound that Black Sabbath makes palatable to the listener. The guitar work on this album is the clear standout.

-1 star for "Changes" which is a sack of shit.

Bra topper men litt ensformig

Not for me

The exact reason I'm doing this project. I absolutely loved this album from it's typical Sabbath metal songs to softer songs like Changes. I didn't think Black Sabbath could ever close to their hit album Paranoid, but this album proved me wrong.

Very ok, older metal album. Very few tracks stood out. Not their most interesting work. 2/5

Great Chad metal

I rather enjoyed this album despite them apparently high on cocaine. The change in song styles and tempos was well done.

Surprisingly it seemed very restrained (not all metal) and just was fun from beginning to the end

Really, really good. I think I liked this more than Paranoid. Crazy that they did obscene amounts of cocaine and still sounded this good. Screaming Trees did a cover of “Tomorrow’s Dream” which is actually the first time I heard that song. Really nice variety. They sound great on all the tracks.

cannot believe I'm writing this, but I enjoyed this album. they "might" have been heavily influenced by coke, which is even more shocking that it's so well done. "Changes" and "Laguna Sunrise" are great tracks. still shocked that I enjoyed this. 4.5 stars

Well now, what a difference. From the ridiculous to the sublime (well not quite). By the time they released this one they had started to experiment a bit, hence one of my all time favourite Sabbath tracks FX. When listened to in surround sound stereo the soundscape is utterly amazing the notes swirl all around and through you, it's just fabulous. And then there is that wonderful piece of music Laguna Sunrise. Which, for reasons I won't go into, I shall always know as The Goon At Sunrise. As well as all the songs being of high quality especially what has almost become their signature tune Changes. This is a great great album. I had intended to give this a 4, but after reading this can't see how I can justify anything less than a 5. So there it is.

That was a bloody lovely surprise. Not heard this before and really enjoyed the whole experience. Will add this to my library and will definitely give it more plays. Respect!

This was a lot better than I expected, Metal isn't one of my things. Maybe that was the reason it was ok as it wasn't really metallic. I didn't realise 'Changes' was a Sabbath song either. So I shall put this listening as a reasonably enjoyable learning experience for me, rather than the usual chore.

More diverse than I expected from a Sabbath album.

Meh. Half the songs, were before my time.

I’ve never listened to Black Sabbath, I didn’t even know they sang Changes. My grandfather is a huge fan, and I see why. This was incredible, I loved it. In my previous reviews I’ve been saying how none of the rock albums I’ve listened to have converted me to a rock fan, coming back for seconds… this one has. I’ve played this album on repeat more than any other so far. Deep cleaned my old fridge with my headphones, hung washing and drove around all night with only this album on repeat. Hard to explain exactly why this one and no others have, perhaps it’s that this one has a “electronic” feel to it (namely in the guitars, but in the rest of the production too) and a male vocalist I actually like (not a fan usually). Maybe not, who knows, but I’m beyond impressed. I can’t wait to tell my grandfather about this!

Where has this band been all my life? I thought they were some edgy heavy metal band but no they are just an awesome semi blues rock band. Very good stuff.

First album for this project! Great start. I do love me some Ozzy tunezz. Though they might as well have named the album "An Ode to Coke"! Love love love: *Wheels of Confusion *Changes *St. Vitus Dance *Under The Sun ⋆˚࿔♫⋆˚࿔📀♡⋆.˚

This is a four-star album for me in the same way Mariah Carey's Butterfly was a four-star. Not music I'm interested in or really care to hear again, but expertly crafted to the point of being enjoyable.

Masterful riffery as Sabbath expand their soundscape. Absolute must listen.

Not my usual listen but good to break the afternoon up.

Cocaine!!! So much cocaine. An amplifier filled with the stuff. Sometimes the drugs are a good thing. This album is a testament to that. The party can't last forever though. With these guys maybe it can.

Easily one's favorite heavy metal album of all time, which means it might just crack one's top 1000 overall. It's about textures and hooks, such as the bouncy guitar bits toward the end of the opener. "Changes" is a better than a power ballad and "Laguna Sunrise" also a nice break from the noise, if a bit heavy-handed and syrupy on the strings. "Snowblind" is also cool. There's a lack of pretension here that maybe Metallica woulda done well to emulate. Before he became a reality TV joke, Ozzy was kinda cool, no?

Vol. 4 é um sólido album de rock, que, até mesmo para alguém como eu (que não ouve muito Heavy Metal) pode se encontrar entrando na atmosfera das músicas e aprendendo a apreciá-las.

Wow! Listening to this album was an experience! Haunting and existential - both lyrically and musically! This is an album I'm definitely going to revisit! I especially loved Changes and Laguna Sunrise, but I loved other individual songs as well! Album rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Good sabbath album. Can't decide if i love or hate "Changes"! Supernaut is so dope, love the percussion breakdown.

Not my favorite Sabbath album but still enjoyable!

This was soooo good. I regrettably never listened to them growing up, but I'm glad I was reminded of them as an adult.

Many good licks, nice melodies, interesting variety of songs, thought it was quite good.

I love this album!!

Found out they wrote “Changes,” so that was cool

Some of this is just typical hard rock, which I am not crazy about. But some of this is very different and I even enjoyed several songs.

Really incredible album, guitars make me climax, put me onto all of the other first 5 BS records, and I was not disappointed with them either

Vol 4 might not even be my favorite of BS's incredible first 5 albums run with Ozzy as a vocalist, but damn it still bangs enough to get a 5 stars. Seeing the cult status that paranoid and Master of reality hold, you could Even call this album quite underrated. It was the first Black Sabbath album not produced by rodger brain and produced by the band itself, but it still perfectly holds up with its predecessors while sounding slightly different. Incredible album

Its a fun album to listen to, with the occasional switch of style for three or so tracks.

Songs: Wheels of Confusion, Changes, Laguna Sunrise,

Not generally my taste, but I enjoyed listening. Should listen to it again while paying some more attention.

Yleissivistys kasvoi, tyhmät sanat

Arguably their best album. Ozzy is phenomenal. Instant 5, just add volume.

Like many others, I’ve been a casual fan of Black Sabbath, but have really only listened to their first 3 albums. The songs are heavy and crisp with a bit more sludge and doom sound. Still not my favorite Sabbath album, but a great one to revisit.

Liked this more than I thought I would! Great running music.

It's alright.

Fine

Both sludgier and prettier than previous albums. Classic Black Sabbath never misses.

Not much of a fan of Black Sabbath, either. They're not as bad as other classic rock groups, but still not something I'd seek out to listen to.

Very good classic rock album

Fuck yeah.

Black Sabbath doing what Black Sabbath did best - heavy riffs, cocaine, and more heavy riffs!

I prefer the guitar to the singing.

it's something I listened to in the background, but not really my thing.

changes is a lovely slow song

Good album but not their best.

Love me some Black Sabbath

No

Classic rock

A bunch of stuff I've never heard and some surprisingly good songs!

To be a fly on the wall when this album was made.

good album don't have much to say to it

I had Black Sabbath on The Sabbath! Yikes! Anyway, this is classic metal. Definitely an album which lacks big hits, but fun nonetheless. Favorite Track: "Under The Sun".

Even better than Paranoid. The first metal album on this list that I would consider listening to more than once.

This was really great. Nicely hooky and melodic, but with that typical Sabbath edge that's just perfect. I was really surprised by Laguna Sunrise, which reminded me of something I'd hear from The Beatles. Surprisingly good. Five stars.

Classic Black Sabbath album; amazing guitars, mix of slower, lyrical moments and great metal riffs. Standouts: great moments found throughout, particularly Snowblind, Supernaut, Laguna Sunrise

Masterpiece!!

Wouldn’t think to listen to this off the dome, but so insane for 1972.

Black sabbath… now we’re talking. Punchy, heavy music without the irritating components that you sometimes get with this genre. Great riffs as always, and the uniqueness of the vocals really staple home that it’s Black Sabbath. Changes gives a balance of melancholy to the album and supernaut, well - gives a balance of metal with a superb solo. This band would EASILY hold up today, let alone the 70’s. 8/10.

I am only on track three but based off of the sort of mythos Black Sabbath has, I was fully expecting something much more intense. That is not a negative thing at all though, the intensity of this album came through in how it felt like sludging through thick black concrete, smoke, and tar. loved it !!!

I had a boyfriend in high school who was into Black Sabbath. I just didn't understand the appeal. Of course, he didn't understand my love for post-punk either. Listening to them now, I understand the attraction a lot better than I did when I was younger, and I actually rather enjoyed this. This wasn't as "heavy" as I remembered it being. Best track is Snowblind.

I like it. FX is a weird filler, but some parts of it were kind of interesting.

Works for me. (27 known/56 new)

Aight

4.7

Pretty underwhelming compared to their previous albums. Changes is a classic, though. The engineering behind this album seems good, drums sound nice, but it's Sabbath; it should be heavier.

When I think of Black Sabbath, this is pretty much the sound I imagine. I wasn’t expecting a rock balled or acoustic interlude to be on here (“Changes” and “Laguna Sunrise”, respectively), but I was pleasantly surprised by them. Overall, I would say the album wasn’t anything special, but I did think it finished strong with “Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes”. 3.5 Stars

Credit for pioneering hard rock. This is way crunchier than the Stones or Zeppelin, but it's a bit of a snooze i'nit? As for catchy riffs or hooks, nothing really stuck with me.

Love the dark fantasy gothic vibes. Not the biggest fan of Ozzy's vocals but they aren't enough to detract from the music.

eh, I've never cared for the mixing of these early metal albums. Ozzy sounds good but also incomprehensible at times.

Very few actually know that Ozzy is the half brother of Lenneth Houmous! Born Oswald Grimace Houmous. 3.6

Vol 4 is the 1st doom metal album. If you like that genre, this is like the firing gun of the genre. Doom Metal is a very low pitch sounding, riff oriented genre, dark lyrics, slow tempos and wailing solos. Is not my favorite Sabbath album, and I don't know if I would consider it as one of the 1001 albums all time. But the credit for starting a genre, must be given. Even maybe just one song, "Under the Sun" could be considered the one that defines the genre. The production could honestly be a little better, Some guitars are out of tune "Snowblind" , "St Vitus Dance", Others "FX" and "Laguna Sunrise" are filler tracks. It is an uneven record. I consider myself a Sabbath lover (from 1st album to Heaven and Hell), but I wouldn't call this their best album. On another hand, the album cover is iconic.

I forgot that Sabbath isn’t as dark and gloomy and satanic as I always perceive them to be. This is very sludgy blues. Heavy lazy sounding guitar and drums with a vocal delivery that, as I said, reminds me of the blues. Choice cut: Changes

Good, patches of very good

Metal is not my thing and I'm not a fan of Black Sabbath, the image they cultivated or of Ozzy's over-processed vocals. That aside, I can understand how this might be appealing to some but it's nothing I would pursue or want to listen to again.

Decent

Great album.

Some really good guitar solos!

This is some great shit. I love a STRONG HEAVY song so this is exactly what we want to hear. Their rendition of Changed is phenomenal

Solid. Guitar goes crazy.

Solid metal album, not to my tastes but Changes is a standout.

Really cool album. Just oozes cool.

Solides Album, nicht erwartet.

Hard Rock at it`s Best!

🤘

Interesting choice. I wonder if we’ll get more sabbath here? If expect Master of Reality, Paranoid, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath or Heaven and Hell long before I’d expect Vol 4. Vol 4 is a very cool chapter in early Sabbath. After solidifying the heavy evil heavy metal sound they pioneered in their first early album, in Vol 4 Sabbath got heavier and started digging even deeper into heavy sounds. In metal circles Black Sabbath is not only considered as the originator of all of heavy metal, but also of specific sub genres such as doom metal and stoner rock. This album shows why. The music here starts to take more of a wall of sound characteristic, Ozzy sings a bit lower, and Tony adds epic dirge-y solos on top of his heavy riffs. A lot of the changes in Sabbath’s sound came in the previous Master of Reality album, and here they allow themselves to take it further in songs like Wheels of Confusion, St. Vitus Dance and Snowblind (the intended title track) but also expand their music palate in Changes, a piano ballad or FX with its weird noises. Overall an important chapter in the history of one of the most important bands in the history of music. Not entirely mind blowing so I’m giving it four stars.

Pretty good just not my cup of tea

Surprisingly diverse. The guitar sounds unique. Definitely a good listen.

Nice

I’m finding with this list it’s a good sign if I don’t notice it’s finished. Changes is still balls though.

Doesn't quite have the bite of the ST debut album, but still good nonetheless.

I want to give this a 3.5 but can't — generally super great album but not spectacular enough for me to want to continue to reach for it.

Very good.

Pretty good! I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

9/10

This is metal?

It sounds like Sabbath and I actually liked the soft tracks, but I think they strayed just a little too far from the cool riffs and dynamics from their earlier works

i’ll admit i’m not the biggest fan of classic metal but this was fun

Ikkje så dumt

Forget about The Clash, THIS is the only band that matters

Coke rocks!

This album is a bold 5 stars. The band just burned everything surrounding them with that one. How can you be so heavy and groovy at the same time? While listening to it, I want to dance and throw a chair at the wall at the very same time. Ozzy's delivery is out of this world, Bill Ward is playing like he wants to destroy his drum kit, Geezer is more solid than ever and Iommi's guitar is pure evil.

Aside from changes this was just a middle of the road album. None of the other tracks really jumped out at me.

It was only two days ago when I was served up a Libertines album that I was grumbling on about the lifestyle of musicians affecting how I viewed their music negatively. In the case of Pete Doherty the music was crap anyway but there are many drug fuelled albums around which are all time classics and which I love. This Sabbath album according to what I read was conceived from sea of white powder of varying types. So is it one of the aforementioned classics which I must turn a blind eye to? Yes and no. Leaving aside role modelling issues there is a lot of Sabbath music I do like and there is plenty on this album. But as with other Sabbath albums the constant riff after riff guitar in your face nature of their music, I begin to tire of it after a while. As regards musical excellence it is head and shoulders above the likes of The Libertines and compared to Ozzy Pete Doherty is a pussy cat. The clincher is of course the fact that Tony Iommi is the glue which keeps this album together. A great guitarist and as it turns out a good producer as well. 3/5 24/3/25

Finally landed on one of my all-time favorite bands and albums. The first 4 Sabbath albums are unbeatable. Really the first 6 all could have arguably made this list. Heavy, sludge, yet melodic and catchy. Bill Ward is the unsung hero on this record. His powerful yet playful jazzy drumming adds a fun counterpoint to Tony and Geezer's plodding and doomy riffs. Just listen to his tasty fills and high hat work on Snowblind. 4.5/5 Album 12/1001

Some of this was a lot mellower than I thought it'd be. Still not completely my thing but I liked it more than I thought I would.

This was fine. Better than I expected, honestly!

+0.5 Changes, +1 Under The Sun, Strong heavy album

Goes hard, good fun. Favourites were actually probably the slower tracks like Changes and Snowblind. (3.5 stars)

Excuse me, when did Black Sabbath get so melodic and soothing? They're supposed to be these heavy metal rockers and at least three songs on this album are soothing lullabys.

Black sabbat

I’ll start out by saying I’m not a big metal fan with a few exceptions like Metallica, Motörhead, and Opeth, a fantastic Swedish death metal band. This album has everything I like in metal, grinding buzz saw guitars, a hint of melody and the inclusion of slower songs like Changes and St. Virus Dance which offer relief from auditory assault.

Alright album, nothing too stand out, preferred their other album more.

In my mind I always think of sabbath as this really heavy heavy band, but this just doesn't feel that heavy. It's good, but not like heavy and its probably better for that

Every time I listen to Black Sabbath I think to myself, why don’t I listen to Black Sabbath more?

Like all of Sabbath's early albums this one is very fun and unique. Changes is a massive change of pace, while all the rest have this Lo-fi early-metal mystique that I find very appealing, perhaps do the fact that my father was a Black Sabbath superfan from their early days. 5/5

Scruffy, fun. Full of good riffs and sections. Funny looking back how Satanic etc they were seen, as this sounds by nowadays ears like a good time blues band, not particularly dark at all.

Yeah, I really unexpectedly, liked this album. It starts off really good and then it blew me away with Changes, which is such a pleasant surprise. Most of the riffs here are really great as well + ozzy’s very distinct voice helps a lot as well.

Decent album, love me some Sabbath

4 for Vol. 4. Cool-sounding, but not life-changing.

Didn't think I would, but I loved it

Simply great album from start to finish was a perfect workout companion in the morning and added to one of my favorites all time.

A fucking masterpiece

Solid

I don’t really listen to a whole lot of Black Sabbath. I only really know the couple of big hits that came from Paranoid. This was great, definitely need to check out more of them!

Some Sabbath bangers on here, but I'd say not a strong album. I'm afraid, and that's mainly because of "Changes" (and, I guess, "FX"). They just completely mess up the flow of this album.

Black Sabbath is a great testament to just how far solid hard rock songwriting can get you. They might not have the most technically impressive or detailed sound, but by god, are these riffs and solos ever satisfying. Add some spice in the form of a little bit of extra heaviness, and you’ll get one of the most celebrated bands in rock (and metal) history (and for good reason). This particular album, though, is a bit inconstant and stylistically all over the place, but the highs are so high that I'm willing to forgive FX... but only begrudgingly.

Hard no. 1

19/1001 Well, if nothing else, I prefer this to Led Zeppelin - it just seems a bit more original to me, if nothing else. Changes stands out like a sore thumb as a piano-led ballad, but kudos to them for attempting to branch out. Acoustic instrumental, Laguna Sunrise also offers a change of pace. Elsewhere though, Ozzy bellows like a demented thing, while Iommi, Butler and Ward create a low, slow metal groove. It's kind of hypnotic, but then they were off their faces most of the time. Sabbath are almost entering into self-parody at this stage in their careers, every riff sounding like an interpolation of something they had already done to better effect on the previous three albums. I can't say I hate it - I gave it a couple of listens, and I'd probably already heard a couple of tracks before, while it is not an album I already owned - but it just kind of drifted by me to be honest.

Not as familiar with this as there other early stuff, Changes excepted, but same great musicianship and nasty riffs and Ozzies even present nasal whine! Great stuff.

Surprisingly really enjoyed it! It wasn’t as intense as I expected and I really liked the musical composition, it can be really beautiful. A really good mix of different styles.

I’m not really much of a Sabbath fan. This album is probably better than others.

The Best Black Sabbath Album.

Good one

"Heavy" is the word here. If you like metal, it's not going to get much better than this.

Matige 3

Luminous. Peak Sab. I always had a problem with the way early Sabbath sounded like they were mixed. This record always seems like the one that they got their sound absolutely nailed on with. Consequently I think this is the album that most influences their followers whatever they may may claim.

Definitely not my favourite Black Sabbath album, but then they can't all be perfect. Changes is a great song. Snowblind is definitely my favourite song about cocaine. The rest of the album didn't live up to either of these tracks.

I thought was okay. No complaints, some nice guitar work and drum licks throughout. Nothing much to say about it honestly.

It was okay hut I like the radio hits better.

Taken me months to review this. Mostly because i cant believe this is my favorite Sabbath record. Its just as raw and heavy as thier first three masterpieces, with even better contrasted melodies and acoustic accompaniment. Psychedelic Sludge

Day 92 - March 7th, 2025 I want to eat a bat. 3/5

Starting to think I low-balled PARANOID. Still, quite nice to see Sabbath pushing the boundaries of the genre they established. Just not sure if I’d put this as a top album for ‘72

Enjoyed the first half a lot. Ozzy was fun. nothing crazy but fun

Favorite track: snowblond other picks: supernaut, the straightener, laguna sunrise

8/10

Awesome!

I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected to. It's heavy and loud, and the melodies are great. The slower and (relatively) quieter "Changes" is really the glue that holds this album together, adding both emotional and musical depth - although my favorite track is probably "Supernaut."

First? 3,5 /5 Again? 4/5

Qué discazo increíble. La superioridad de Sabbath está a la luz. Disco del 72 pero adelantadísimo a todo. La lisergia hecha música, pero densa y pesada.

да

I finished the album today but it won’t let me rate it yet When it does, either 4 or 5 stars. Superb

🤘 Excellent

It was fine. I like Changes. The album exceeded my expectations (which were not high), but it wasn’t just the hard rock I anticipated. More to the lyrics than i expected.

I’m mixed on this one. It’s energetic and impactful, but I find the vocals to be generally too shrill. There is some sweet shredding as well. I laughed when the third track turned out to essentially be an Elton John song. Standout tracks are: “Laguna Sunrise” and “Wheels of Confusion”

I was expecting to hate this but it’s was actually listenable. Standouts : “Changes”, “Supernaut” and “Laguna Sunrise”. also FX was a nice surprise. Lows for me was “Cornucopia” just too low pitch droning for me. Another pass is “Under the Sun” Also don’t like the vocal mix so buried in the mix on the whole album.

It's Black Sabbath, obviously it has to be a 5 more so because it's Ozzys black sabbath

FX was unnecessary, rest of the songs are all right. Not as bangin as their other albums, but Changes is hilarious, Supernaut is pretty fun, and the album art is iconic.

90% Best: Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener; Changes; Supernaut; Snowblind; Under the Sun Must-Hear? Yes

Jaw-clenching hard rock. This is Osbourne and Iommi at their best. They seem to flow effortlessly between their harsh tones and brash lyrics. Although this is by no means a perfect album, and not even the best Black Sabbath album, its ambition and power is there. A strong 4/5 and an instant classic.

Liked this way more than I thought I would. Some of its still too heavy for my taste but some gems in there.

I was big into metal at school in the very early 80s. But with plenty of New Wave stuff around and regarding Black Sabbath (without the fired Ozzy) as has-beens I never sought out any of their old stuff. I wasn't expecting an album like this. The standard Sabbath sound, but with melodic, thoughtful quiet bits too. Changes is a good song but let down by the horrible melotron behind it. It's really the only track that lets the album down. Could this be the third 5* album I've had this week?... I think so.

Not quite as good as Paranoid, but still an absolute banger of an album. Black Sabbath is my second favorite band of all time so my opinion is skewed for sure but try to really listen and you will appreciate the music.

Man hört das Album und staunt über die Jahreszahl 1972/72. Fortschrittlich gelungen Hardrock Album gradlinig und ohne Schnörkel. Top Song ist die Ballade „Change“. Es hat Spaß gemacht insbesondere mit der ersten Songs.

Not my cup of tea. I (grudgingly) acknowledge their commercial and reputational success, but it is a music I do not enjoy.

AMAZING ALBUM AMAZING!

It's not my favourite Sabbath album as I find the guitar tone a bit fuzzy overall, but it's still great.

Wow...I had never heard of this Black Sabbath album before, but it is sooooo good. "FX" was the only song I didn't love, but it's kinda like a short interlude (only 1.5 minutes). This album is heavy with some kick ass riffs "Supernaut", has some melodic peaceful parts "Changes", and just about everything else in between. Tony Iommi is sooo talented. I Ioved this. May be my favorite Sabbath album. Maybe a 4.75 because of "FX" Liked Songs: The entire album minus "FX"

liked songs: yes Great 4.25

I listened to this recently as part of a Black Sabbath binge in response to Ozzy dying. This is one of their best albums. 10/10

Frábær plata. Mætti vera vol. 4 og 5. Kaupa

голос невероятный, не мой жанр, но я в восторге от солиста

Muito bom. Changes é a minha preferida. Um álbum bem dinâmico, bastante ideias boas.

4 stars

Music from a different time. It's fine, I get why it's on list, but not for me.

Black Sabbath were one of the artists going in to this that I was excited to hear more of, but none of it really sticks for me. Same as their first album, some really great songs mixed in with meh. Their drummer is great, though.

- Knew I enjoyed Black Sabbath. Did not realize how innovative they could often be. The complete musical gear shift when the first track transitions from "Wheels of Confusion" to "The Straightener" is sick. - Would have liked to have seen the weirder elements ("FX") integrated into a song, but I appreciate these drug-addled dudes just keeping them on the album wherever.

# Album Name: Vol.4 # Artist: Black Sabbath # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: My 2nd sabbath album in a week. Im looking forward to this. Their first album blew me away. It was great. Wheels of confusion - fucking damn good solo to finish on. Changes is a wild side step. It shows the depth to the bands talents taking their sound in a delicate direction. Its a lovely song. Great lyrics and music on this song. Supernaut - best track on the album. Love that killer riff. Great drums. Sabbath have really shocked me. I was never into them or heard much but the last two albums i have had were great. This album isnt as good as their debut but its still bloody good. Theres some great riffs and tunes on this album. # Top Tunes: WoC / Changes / Supernaut / snowblind # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Este no es un álbum tan heavy como los anteriores de Black Sabbath, y no tiene ningún gran hit. Sin embargo, es casi tan pionero como sus álbumes anteriores: stoner psicodélico ya en el año 72. Un álbum que ha sido una gran influencia y cuyo sonido se mantiene actual. No lo había escuchado con detenimiento y me ha gustado muchísimo, aunque no tanto como "Paranoid", aunque eso sería casi imposible de conseguir.

There's a lot to like here. Both the guitars (Snowblind!) and drums are pretty awesome. Supernaut is wonderful. And then you get Laguna Sunrise ... it's so perfect - who would have expected it? A rainbow in a black sky. This is a good album. I shall return.

Yes!!! This is stunning, original, organic, visceral. If there's a better heavy rock album I want to hear it. I'd only heard 'Changes' (what a change of pace) and the awesome 'Supernaught' before, but everything here is great. There's so much more to them than their huge heavy riffs. The opening track is spectacular, 'Snowblind' is awesome.Then they come down and do something beautiful like 'Laguna Sunrise', then back up full of riffs and energy for 'St Vitus Dance' and a cool closer. Genuinely faultless, only works loud of course. For me no other heavy rock band comes close. Funny how they inspired so many one dimensional metal bands really. p.s. 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' is brilliant, but is so inspired by 'Supernaught' :)

Certainly is a cool sound, but I really didn’t find myself all that invested. Pretty much all of Black Sabbath’s classic songs don’t appear here, either. Crazy to think the original 4 are playing Villa Park this summer for a final show.

Raw, good guitar sound and great vocals from Ozzy, but didn’t have many standout moments for me.

Not my favorite Sabbath album but still not terrible.

Mixed bag - feels very of the time (like LZ and co) experimenting with different vibes and genres

Black Sabbath with cocaine. Not their best work. But that's okay, still a Black Sabbath album.

This was actually good. I did not know Black Sabbath sung “Changes” but they do and it’s SOO GOOD. This album was so fire 🔥🔥🔥

Vol. 4- Black Sabbath ||4.5/5⭐️ ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚ uhhh totally didn’t write this tdy on the bus😅😅🥰🥰🤫🤫 it’s insanely better than british steel (more like bollocks steel am i right fellas?!?!) the instrumentals are really good! i really like supernaut for that reason, really good defined sound with a little bit of really good vocals. i also love laguna sunrise, it threw me off a bit with the change in sound but oh my god it’s such a beautiful melody like what the hell😿 the accoustic with like the beautiful violin in the back and it being all slow paced like some love ballad?? i think that’s rlly cool. i was a little nervous at first bc judas priest left a bad taste in my mouth for the genre but this album has completely fixed that. overall id say all the songs are pretty strong, i really like the more heartfelt ones fs^^ the only song i find myself really hating is FX but that’s just like beeps and boops. ______________________ stand out songs: wheels of confusion/ the straightener, changes🥇, supernaut, snowblind🥈, cornucopia, laguna sunrise🥉, st. vitus dance, under the sun/ ever day comes and goes

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️ 4[.6] of 5 stars. One of Black Sabbath's best. The riffs on this thing are insane. They're captivating, and most importantly, heavy (at least for the time!). They also add a lot of variation with some acoustic tracks and (experimental?) effects-based songs. And ofc, how could I not mention Ozzy's iconic voice? This whole album is amazing and works together so well. It's no "Paranoid," but it's definitely up there imo. An inspiration for many a metal band to come. Love the guitar work throughout the whole thing, Sabbath's signature gritty guitar sound shines thru the whole thing, and like I mentioned before, the acoustic ones are a nice break-up from them (even tho they still go rly hard). The effects experimentation on "FX" is really interesting to listen to, and the riffs on "Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes" and "Supernaut" are incredible, and "Changes" is just an amazing song overall, instrumentally and vocally - it's iconic. Favourites: "Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes"⭐, Changes⭐, Supernaut, FX. Dislikes: none :P

Rating - 3.4/5. >i listened to 2014 remaster idk. (EDIT it is with further inspection that i realized i listened to the wrong one but i dont give a gaf). i dont like his voice sorry im so picky w the actual singers. First track instrum was rlly good. Esp nearing the end after he STOPS singing. I hate Changes and i didnt know this was THAT song which i figured was a cover. FX is weird. I liked Supernaut and the lil guitar parts. I liked Snowblind too. Laguna Sunrise was nice :) . >thumbs up: supernaut, snowblind, laguna sunrise.

"Changes" is kind of a weak song and doesn't fit the flow of the album, but the rest of the record is straight fire - a masterclass in riffing.

pretty good sad I'm not going to back to the beginning:(( doesn't stand out amongst their other albums fave: snowblind

Lots of variety and experimentig. Fewer killer tracks, but a great listen.

6/10

Sick!

Wheel of Confusion / The Straightener - 3/5 Tomorrow's Dream - 4/5 Changes - 5/5 FX - no rating Supernaut - 4/5 Snowblind - 5/5 Cornucopia - 4/5 Laguna Sunrise - 3/5 St. Vitus Dance - 3/5 Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes - 4/5 Average: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the third Black Sabbath album about a fifth of the way through the project. I generally like them but this one didn’t stand out especially.

Kommt nicht ganz an Paranoid ran, aber trotzdem fantastisch

LOVE IT

Показался более психоделическим и менее прото-металлическим и прото-думовым, чем то, что слышал раньше. Альбом понравился, возможно вернусь к нему когда-нибудь.

My first album is from one of my favorite bands. I'm off to a good start!

The parents of Heavy Metal.

Solid metal 70s metal album with some surprisingly emotional vulnerability for a bunch of professional-level cokeheads. Definitely more coke on the backhalf, though. As usual, turns out I like the stuff this influenced more than this, but solid album.

Enjoyed this. Sabbath with Ozzy is the best Sabbath.

wheels of confusion/ the straightener- 5 tomorrows dream- 5 changes- 5 fx- yeah those are some sounds. 7 because its a good collection of sounds supernaut- 7 snowblind- 5 cornucopia- 6 laguna sunrise- 5 st vitus dance- 5. bauhaus did it better under the sun/ every day comes and goes- 5

great tempo and beats, black sabbath one of the og metal bands

"Listen to Vol. 4" - Sleep If Master of Reality was their "weed album", Vol. 4 was their "coke album"; you can literally hear someone whisper "cocaine" on the album's thesis-song, "Snowblind". Apparently, cocaine made Black Sabbath very ambitious, as they are able to further deliver on the promises of their prior albums by churning out riffy rockers like "Tomorrow's Dream", "Supernaut", and "Cornucopia". Their very first ballad, "Changes", appears on this record and blows any preconception about the band out of the water, entirely. Likewise "Laguna Sunrise" further shows an a more romantic side to Black Sabbath, though through the guitar of Tommy Iommi. While the drugs appear to have done wonders for Sabbath's creativity and enthusiasm, the band is also beginning to unravel. The "joke song", "FX" is a curiosity. Also, album closer "Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes", feels lackluster and meandering compared to the rest of the album, and is the weakest Sabbath album closer so far. Still easily a top 3 Sabbath album.

I’m beginning to learn that the tried & true Sabbath formula was some galavanting guitar licks paired with the most agonizing cry for help lyrics you can think of. “Changes” got its flowers with how it’s been covered over the years and I’m glad it did, the song is worth the attention. “FX” might be the musical marker for when the drugs started to kick in for Ozzy. The more this record progresses, the stranger it gets! “Supernaut” has such an interesting little percussion passage midway through. Then there’s “Laguna Sunrise” which just mellows everything out with am acousting guitar and some accompanying soaring strings. Then BOOM it’s back to some dudes rock guitar licks on “st. Vitus Dance”. It’s all a little flip-floppy and hectic, one of the more irritating instances of song sequencing/ track listing. Even with its peculiar moments or fun production choices, this album doesn’t really warrant a spot on here IMO, especially considering there’s at least one other Sabbath record on the list.

3.8

Banger album. Favorite track(s): wheels of confusion/the straightener, tomorrow's dream, supernaut, snowblind, under the sun/every day comes and goes Will I revisit?: high priority/already knew this album Current rating: 8.5/10

i am always paranoid but this is not "Paranoid" at all. 3/5

I really need to delve deeper into this band.

so good! cant believe i havent listened to it before

I appreciate the jamz but not quite my cup of tea

Love the vibe of the album. Some great riffs, with some nice changes of pace like Laguna Sunrise.

This one might be my new favorite Black Sabbath album! Many of the songs on here I had not heard before, with the exception of the very uncharacteristic song Changes and Supernaut both are great songs, but I think Snow Blind took my number one spot with Tomorrow’s Dream coming in number two. Overall this is a highly listenable album With a little bit more of the early heavy metal grind and greater depth of lyrics. This may be Black Sabbath at their best.

Random thoughts: * Snowblind was the standout track to me. * People loved doing songs about coke in the 70s? Eric Clapton's "Cocaine", that Fleetwood Mac song, "Life in the Fast Lane" by the Eagles. I'm sure I'm missing some obvious ones. * "Changes" caught me off-guard. I just didn't expect a beautiful ballad. I'm guessing that must have been divisive when this album came out.

Vol. 4 doesn’t just hit hard sonically, it's introspective. There’s experimentation, melancholy, and flashes of genius that flicker like candlelight in a dark and gloomy basement. As a first-time listener, I’m blown away by the sheer magnitude of this record. Each song a musical experience that completely captivated me. Black Sabbath didn’t just create metal, they summoned it. And with Vol. 4, they went deeper into the ritual than ever before. 🕯️🕸️🪦 rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [93/100]

idk why I never listened to this when I was a teenager discovering Led Zeppelin. honestly I like zeppelin so much more, but that might just be nostalgia.

Never thought I’d like Black Sabbath but I enjoyed this album!

Just another classic Sabbath album to kills it from start to finish.

Liked this one, got Led Zeppelin vibes as well (not sure if they came before or after them). Solid album

Good stuff. Solid Rock.

does exactly what you want/expect from a black sabbath record plus a little bit more

It was okay, but i liked the songs i knew

Outstanding

This is like lunch at Olive Garden: Super friggin' heavy.

One of Sabbath's most confusing outputs with Ozzy still in the band. The album is mostly good, albeit the listing seems out of place with the gorgeous Changes and FX killing all momentum from the first two tracks. Still good, but not their best. Best Tracks: - Changes - Snowblind - Supernaut Worst Tracks: - Tomorrow's Dream Rating: 6.5/10

Stronger at the beginning than the end, a really strong album even if it isn’t my usual style. Well worth a listen.

Hard Rock, 1971 -> 3

I've never spent much time with Black Sabbath. I think growing up in a really religious family, Black Sabbath felt like it would be satanist music and so I avoided it. And then when I was a bit older I heard Iron Man and kinda thought superheroes were lame so I thought they were kind of like cheesy metal. They get lots of praise though and my favorite band is very influenced by them. This album was a really nice surprise. The opening song was killer. Changes was excellent, and honestly the rest of the album was sick. I wasn't really expecting the psych/stoner sludginess that goes so hard.

What a cool record. I really like how they take electric blues and just dial it up to 11. Its dark, its heavy, but it's all rooted in blues, which is really fun. The drums really take it up a notch too, really cool, loud and complex. The fuzzy sounding distortion also makes for a really cool and unique sound. Or at least one that has been copied and pasted over and over again for the last 50 years. Beyond "the metal," there's a lot of varied sounds. Some songs have movements, waves and sections that kind of take you on a journey. While there's also ballads, and boogies along the way. This was fun.

Nota bad album. Very classic sound, musicians are spot on. Not a lot of singing, but pretty chilled and enjoyable rock album.

Not a fan of Ozzy's voice (-1) but it was worth listening to the album in order to discover The Straightener (+1)!

There is so so so much 70's Boomer rock on this list. Do we really need to listen to 4 Black Sabbath albums before we die?

Great album. Looking back now I consider this rock and roll way more than metal. Solid album with some sleeper hits.

Not the best Sabbath album but still very good. It’s good to hear the original version of Changes rather than the God awful version with Kelly Osbourne.

5/5

More experimental than "Paranoid," that's for sure. Just really, really funky and weird music. Nice guitar riffs. Not my thing but I get the appeal.

Decent but it’s all a bit samey

Classic. Play loud.

Альбом из золотой четвëрки записей ранних Саббатов. При его создании ежедневно потреблялось огромное количество наркоты, и вообще альбом должен был стать некой одой белому порошку, если бы не цензоры. Пока что, это первый альбом из подборки, прослушанный мной впервые и понравившийся мне от и до.

Not bad or anything, but not my type of music

The most under rated Sabbath album IMO

Probably not the best thing to listen to while getting ready for work right after the inauguration trying to pretend everything is going to be OK

How did i miss this growing up? I guess I was just put off by Ozzie’s shtick? (And I’m not a big fan if his voice). But man, this album rocks! Tremendous licks & great musicianship all around (but, Ozzie’s voice 🙄). Black Sabbath was clearly leagues beyond the many imitators that followed. Needed to hear this great album before I died (4⭐️), but not sure it’s coming to the desert island with me. But maybe…?

I don’t usually like metal but this wasn’t that bad tbh.

Great album from one of the best. The couple of nice acoustical songs mixed in.

Good album. Nostalgic feel. Haven’t heard Black Sabbath in a while.

It had a very strong "dad rock" or "enthusiastic kids rocking out in their garage" vibe especially at first - which is not bad, just not exactly my cup of tea. I found the guitar-bass work kinda lazy at some points, but I've got used to it and even started liking it.

One of the best outro tracks I've ever heard

- war okay-ish irgendwo etwas unter dem Album Black Sabbath

It's an amazing album and quite an achievement; the first four Sabbath records are all 5/5 star records. I am not even sure what could be written about this record, the simple reality is the first four albums are essential, and the fifth record as well. Incredible run.

Decent

BOWWAHHHWHHWHWAAAAH

Prefer Master of Reality, but a real one nonetheless.

Блестяще

Black Sabbath is way more inoffensive to me than most metal, early or otherwise, so this is just kind of whatever. No real big hits here

How can I understand Ozzie's singing but not his talking? I don't typically enjoy metal but this wasn't terrible maybe because it's a little more blues based than others? I would give it 2.5 ⭐

Para amantes del heavy. Su canción más escuchada es una basura

An enjoyable hard rock album. Based on my tastes, my clear favorite here is Changes. The rest is very listenable for me, even if it isn't a particular favorite genre of mine.

it’s ok…idk, wish it was better

It was alright

Not sure what fx’s deal is but album overall is GOOD

This was a great album and it reminded me how much I love this style of metal. It's melodic, dark, upbeat, with insane musicality, and Ozzy is one of a kind. There's enough grit to keep you interested and in that metal framework but a nice ballad or two rounds it out. So good!

Here I was all this time just thinking the only thing Ozzie Osborne could do is shuffle his feet and yell at "Sharon" and yorkie's! Apparently, quite talented once upon a time. I listened to it twice and I'd listen to it again!

This album simply kicks ass. Always avoided them bc of their description as a metal band but honestly found them to be closer to hard rock ala Led Zeppelin. Even had a ballad in there that was nice. Also didn't know they wrote "changes", a song that sounds great regardless of who's singing it. Think that speaks to the quality of the songwriting.

Until this exercise, I did not know I liked Black Sabbath.

I loved Ozzys voice on this one and Changes was my favorite

Klassiker antar jag, lite trist nu förtiden möjligen?

Great album. The Bowie song is kind of jarring compared to the rest, but a lot of songs on here are really fun to listen to. Fantastic guitars

It’s Sabbath.

It’s great

It is perfect and very interesting album. It is very "innovative" in comparison to Master of Reality. Why I never heard it before?! It is very strange that this metal rock album has NO noise. I like it. This is a masterpiece. However, I don't want to listen it second time.

so suprised by how great this album is. a killer front to back

From the primordial metal ooze comes Sabbath's 4th album laden with a barrage of Iommian heavy riffs, relenting only for the hauntingly beautiful Changes (which was later more appropriately covered in an R&B style and used as the intro for Big Mouth) and weird FX, before getting back to work with my favorite riff of the album, Supernaut. I had a total hesher evening working in the garage to this album.

I really don't like Ozzy's voice. This album, with so many instrumentals, did the trick!

Not a huge fan of metal

I really enjoyed this one, probably not for everyday but really appreciated the depth and variety of sound and vocals!!

Triumphant, psychedelic and heartfelt. Might be my favorite Sabbath album. I love the juxtaposition of heavy tracks with melodic tunes. Not every song is hard hitting but they were playing with their sound a lot and I'm just a sucker for the lads.

surprised by how much i liked this. i can see the thru-line from this to sludge and stoner metal. changes also made me laugh. me listening to FX: finally some good music.

Never been a fan of this style. Credit though, it's actually pretty good. Heavy and tight, and the vocals are fantastic. No idea what the songs about, but enjoyed the interlude with Changes, and Fx was just a bit of playtime.

Changes always makes me cry. It’s just so unexpected and sensitive in the middle of a rock album. So good.

Pretty much what you'd expect, some songs a bit too long for my liking, but it's enjoyable rock. I didn't know any songs on this album, but then again I think I know about two Black Sabbath songs anyway. I enjoyed it.

Great metal album! Wheels of Confusion, Changes, Supernaut, and Snowblind are jams! 1001 album worthy: Yes - 28/47

It rocks, slaps and knocked me dead. No notes. Except.. we all heard Changes right?? Weepy piano ballads??? In MY sabbath?!!? It just ain't Christian.

Heavy breathing is fogging up my screen. Sabbath bloody sabbath. The inventors of heavy metal and doom metal in one god damn note on the song “black sabbath” are here with their fourth studio album and the first appearance on this list. Oh how I’ve waited for something like this. Would’ve been better if it were Paranoid, but I’ll take a rip at Vol. 4 anyway. Trademark Ozzy vocals send us right into the wheel of confusion. I’ve always found the guitar tone a little thin on this album, but the riffs totally make up for it. This song honestly kind of floated by. Hurts to say. Controversial one. I’m giving it a chance but my first thought was “the person who doesn’t like Black Sabbath’s favourite Black Sabbath song.” I like the piano riff I suppose, but this doesn’t do it for me. Oh fucking Christ. That’s an opening riff. Interlude over and into one of the more underrated Sabbath songs out there. As an aspiring lunar hiker myself I need to learn about moon mountains while having my fucking face melted. 5 stars. AGHHH that opening once again. It keeps going. Terrifying, heavy, terrifyingly heavy. All in 1972. We take for granted what this gave rise to and how groundbreaking it was. No. This is 1972. Full body goosebumps. The opening of the gates of hell. Bludgeoned by an infinite hammer barrage of empty eyed satanic druids. That riff is worth as much as every album combined so far we’ve heard. Followed by a rock song detailing a descent into mental illness. Nothing was this heavy again for another decade. It really took until the thrash metal pioneers of the early 80’s to get anywhere close. Brilliance. I suppose it is fitting that we get a reprieve. Waking up in a pool of sweat and blood after clawing at your flesh during the spiralling nightmare of Cornucopia. Slowly realizing you’re not going to die. The hammer stopping in the cosmos of reverie before battering you once again. More misery condensed into guitar strings. God damn it’s incredible. When I say nobody else was doing this, I truly believe that. When people talk about metal pioneers names like Led Zeppelin and Deep fucking Purple get thrown around . People say Helter Skelter was the first metal song. People are describing hard rock. THIS is early metal. Those doom riffs on the last like 6 bloody songs are insane. If you think Deep Purple is anywhere in the same universe as that you need to reevaluate a lot of stuff. Obviously metal is kind of where I feel the most comfortable and this album delivered in spades. Changes is too weak and there a few rock moments that keep this out of perfect territory, but just barely. Long live Birmingham. 4.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener, Supernaut, Snowblind, Cornucopia, Under the Sun/Everyday Comes and Goes

Me encanta Black Sabbath, le tiré mucho prejuicio pero es un bandón. Este disco me gustó muchísimo.

Great album, I already loved Sabbath.

Listen. Ozzy is a legend and Tony is a phenomenal guitar player who made great impressions on me but as my tastes have matured I've fallen out of love with this hard and don't see myself revisiting it any time in the near future.