Vol. 4

It's good, but nothing really stands out to me as much as on some of their other albums

Meh

It may have the least instantly recognizable and most iconic Sabbath songs out of their first few albums, it is arguably the best distillation of what Sabbath was really about: a heavy blues-influenced band that wrote about things the blues didn’t usually write about. Listening to it now, it’s a few licks and different vocals away from being a Chris Stapleton album. Actually I’d like to hear him cover it.

Would like to see phish cover this album

Black Sabbath is a band I know very little about; I know Ozzy Osbourne bit off a bird's head on stage once and also something about guitarist Lommi's missing fingertips inventing heavy metal. I mean they get a rep that very few bands back in the day do and it's not hard to see why when listening to this and their other stuff. Their genre of "hard rock" was more discernable than other hard rock at the time. It wasn't just loud, fast, or noisy like much of the music that would eventually lead to punk rock, but rather more seismic, crushing, and monstrous. They do all this while still sounding of their time and I think that's primarily due to Ozzy's high-pitched shriek-styled vocals which is a style seldom seen with more contemporary metal vocalists. As for this album, I didn't even know it existed. I've heard of their first three but never this guy. The opening track is huge, with an incredible outro blending highspeed guitar riffs with these flourishing synth keys. This is after, of course, a heavy bout of guitar distortion in the first leg. This album oddly switches it up with the song "Changes" which is a gorgeous ballad detailing a breakup. The piano-driven instrumental alongside the backing melotron (I think) has an unsettling and eerie aura to it which is only amplified when considering how out of place this ballad is here. I still love it. Another strange piece is the following ambient and noise interlude "FX". Aside from those two tracks though, most of the other songs are standard Black Sabbath with all their heaviness. I love the opening riff on "Supernaut" with Ozzy singing about a sort of freedom he yearns for in life. I love the solo and the strange percussion and acoustic piece at the end. Cocaine, which the band was doing a lot of at the time, is the topic of the incredible hard-rock track "Snowblind". I like this particular chorus paired with the riff here, there's almost something tragic about it. I love the drumming on this album a lot, especially the switch-up on "Snowblind" and on the entire song of "Cornucopia". The closer is just a non-stop barrage of rhythm and riff switch-ups and is the track where I see the most parallels with modern metal. For as little as I've listened to this band overall, I'll make the uneducated claim that this is one of their more experimental ones. Most, if not all of these songs have little bits that stray from their traditional sound. I love the occasional soft switch-ups here. Dug this album a lot and until my inevitable relistens of their other stuff, I'd call this my favourite Black Sabbath album.

Que album tan perfecto!!!!

I really expected to hate this, but I don't! I'm not a fan of metal but this works for me. Granted, I'm not at a show getting pummelled with drums that are too loud in the mix (typical these days and possibly back then.) Listened to at a reasonable volume, it's pretty good! It also breathes, likely beause it's not recorded with a click track which I believe wasn't customary in 1971. I need space in my music. The vocals are really good. The distorted guitar sound works well here, and it's not so full of annoying pyrotechnics, i.e., trying to cram as many notes in as possible to prove the guitarist's dexterity. Sometimes there are cliche riffs, but not too many. Drummer is great! Grooves vary from song to song. Laguna Sunrise - what a lovely surprise. OK then, 3 stars. Not bad for a band I expected to abhor.

Not my type of music, but it did have some interesting and varied songs.

not their best one....

Years since I’ve heard this. It’s a classic for a reason

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would!

Wasnt blown away by the album, but it is Black Sabbath. A bad song of theirs is still good.

Listened to this twice. Great. Ozzie is amazing and of course the guitar work is also. No weak spots at all. 4.7

3.8

Great album

Nice! Felt like we needed something strong and harder hitting after a few days of mediocrity. As per, I well enjoyed this. Bluesy goodness.

This was great. Thoroughly enjoyed

Amazing stuff, probably my favourite metal album. Very interesting to hear an album from when metal was just starting to take form

3.5/5. Good. I like Paranoid more, but I enjoyed this as well.

naja. gitarren schreien, der sänger auch - und kein roter faden.

Black Sabbath, schon wieder? Diesmal aber besser wenn auch immer noch etwas lahm.

A bunch of my Metalhead friends said that they're going to kick my ass after I admitted that I did not know that the theme song to the TV show Big Mouth was a Black Sabbath cover until I was prompted to listen to this entire album for the first time today

Great album. Never really listened to Sabbath but I probably should listen to more of that 70s stuff.

Supernaut and Snowblind fuckin rip, and Under the Sun is real solid. The rest I can take or leave (ESPECIALLY Laguna Sunrise).

i would put a 3 but its just not for me AND theyre all. annoying to put it nicely. wild level of animal abuse in here out of fucking nowhere. ozzy osbourne go to hell and stay there

This would have been a 3 but the realization that the “Big Mouth” theme song is a cover of “Changes” made me puke. I really did try to keep an open mind listening to this bc I do like “War Pigs” but nope I don’t like it sorry. Update: The realization that System of the Down did a cover of “Snowblind” that I like infinitely more is adding to how lame I think this album is. Update 2: Reductive comparison: This is just metal The Eagles.

Some of this is solid sludgey trudgey classic heavy metal, but a lot of its just alright

4/5

One of my favorites 👍🏻

Black Sabbath Vol 4 isn't my favourite Sabbath, not by a long shot, but any Sabbath is still better than most other music. It's heavy, driving metal with plenty of unique quirks that lift it beyond what a lot of other bands were doing in the same space in the 70s, and Ozzy's voice is unique and among the very best of the genre as always. Letdown is Changes, I've never liked the song, the reprisal he did with Kelly years later was fucking atrocious, the original simply bad and out of place on this album. Also, what the fuck is FX? Just a waste of two minutes. It gets a low 4 because everything else is top outside of those two tracks; Supernaut is outstanding, so is Under the Sun.

This is decent, without ever hitting a real high. Starts off OK, then you hit Changes (which is the most famous song on the album, but really really doesn't work here if at all) and then a 2 minute instrumental with none of the pace, energy, or guitars that most of the rest of the record has. Then it picks up again, Supernaut is one of if not the best track on the album, and the rest is exactly what you'd expect from Sabbath; plenty of oomph, nothing earthshattering in the lyrics. Final track is a bit more sophisticated and even a little proggy. Overall gets a 3/5.

It was pretty good

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would!

Grew up on Ozzy/Sabbath. Easy to add this one to the rotation.

Not as good as their previous album

Forgot all about Changes (Track3) Slow emotional Ozzy is great!

Good rock

Pretty good, Changes is the standout track for me

What's with the Blue Man Group percussion interlude?

As of writing this, this is 2nd Black Sabbath album I've listened to (my first being Paranoid not too long ago). Honestly a pretty solid listen, even if it doesn't reach the highs of that release. Kind of surprised to find some more lowkey moments with tracks like Changes and Laguna Sunrise. Killer opening track for sure.

I appreciate how impactful this sound must have been when it came out. I won't listen to it again, but I'm happy I heard the songs I did not know.

So this is what psychedelic rock really sounds like. Changes is a classic. Every song is amazing. The guitar doesn’t miss in the heavy sounds.

Tommy and Geezer are great. Ozzy not so much.

Nice

Surprising first listen for me. I love their first 3 but never found this one growing up, although I’ve heard changes and snowbound previously. It’s a good record and probably falls right at the tail end of the golden era (also below the first 2 Dio records). (3.5/5)

amazing album, i wanna say hearing g perfection, black sabbath have such an amazing style and an amazing voice, would recommend this album to anyone, changes gave e goosebumps too.

Not their greatest album

Good Album, I liked it def not the strongest or weakest album tho.

This was alright, listened to it on the way home from work

I thought this was overall more enjoyable that thief debut album, even if this didn't have as many well known hits. This was much less doom-y to me and I liked the piano incorporated into some of the tracks. This is one I'll probably have to play through a few more times. 4/5

3.4

Not usually a metal fan but this album rocks. Every guitar riff and solo is riveting, and the heavy drums and bass make up such a hard-hitting sound.

Badass

Great Album. Love Black Sabbath.

Can't remember much, but solid

Vintage metal at its finest. It is cool to listen to the very beginnings of a genre, and the innovative riffs and rhythms that helped establish future musical projects.

Nowhere near as seminal as the last one, but still a decent listen. Safe to say that this version of Changes was significant better than the duet Ozzy did with Kelly

First black Sabbath album. INSANE

Pretty good. It's no Paranoid that's for sure.

good "generic" rock. I know the only reason it sounds generic is because I've heard every derivative work from it. no strong emotions for me on this first listen

Nice - I like it. Straight forward rock - straight forward 5 stars from me!

Still a banger

4 Vocals as strong as the instruments, both go hand n hand together whilst being able to have their own moments within the songs

A little Ozzie goes a long way. I loved Paranoia because it said something. Granted it took forever to decipher what the hell Ozzie was saying. Tipper Gore convinced a ton of mothers that he was recording demonic messages backwards. In her defense, he never made much sense forwards and someone with entirely too much time on her hands might be expected to... I don't know. Point is, unless you're a Black Sabbath fan, skip this one and listen to Paranoia.

qUALITY STUFF

The first album I ever heard from Black Sabbath was Paranoid, which is hard to match.

Is good. Never really vibed when this era of metal, but I can respect it for what it is.

Really enjoyed!

This was a fun listen! Only downside was the random slow songs every now and then which switched the pace of the album

Changes a surprise banger liked the rest loved that

Before I had actually heard them, I used to think Black Sabbath was the scariest, heaviest metal band of all-time. And don't get me wrong, they are heavy, but I wish the young version of me had just listened to it -- this is melodic as all hell! The riffs here are about as catchy as any other great classic rock band, and for a band as drugged out as Black Sabbath, they sound powerfully focused on their records. It amazes me how easily they can veer from some of the most rip-roaring guitar licks you've ever heard to a gorgeous ballad like "Changes". '71-'73 Sabbath really hits my sweet spot. Were it not for a few less notable tracks scattered throughout (particularly on side B), this would be an easy five stars. Hell, I'd give it 4.5 if I could.

It's a little hardcore metal for me, but it's still a good album.

Changes and Snowblind are my personal highlights. Definitely has a lot of more slow/beautiful tracks and a great record

My second Black Sabbath album and I enjoyed it even more than the first. There is a wide range of 'genres,' but as my favorite band is Queen, I don't think that's a detriment but a plus in a rock band. Blues, ballads, proto-metal becoming metal, hard rock... I'm going to be coming back to several songs to listen again.

Enjoyed a few of the tracks more than I expected

Rock with some lazy rhyming

Hadn't listened before, a bit heavy but enjoyed.

Great album. Can't go wrong with Black Sabbath.

One of the last nearly perfect albums of Black Sabbath released with Ozzy Osbourne as the lead vocalist. There are amazing songs to come after this on the 1973 release of SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH, but each album after that only spawned a couple of songs that would stand the test of time before Ozzy left the band in 1979, On the other hand, the first five albums, BLACK SABBATH (1970), PARANOID (1970), MASTERS OF REALITY, VOL. 4, and SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH would define the metal genre for the easily the next 15 years. If someone said they loved metal but hated early Black Sabbath, it was hard to take them seriously. If you had to introduce someone to Black Sabbath for the first time, I would still give them the debut album BLACK SABBATH first, but the next album after that would definitely be VOL. 4. There is so much here. The bangers are the well known "Tomorrow's Dream", "Snowblind", "Supernaut", but don't forget perhaps the best Black Sabbath ballad ever, "Changes". This ballad would set up the familiar heavy metal ballad structure that would re-emerge endlessly throughout the 1970s and 80s. Even "FX" was trippy as hell when it came out. The 1st track "Wheel of Confusion/The Straightener" and the last 4 tracks "Cornucopia", "Laguna Sunrise", "St. Vitus Dance", and the closer "Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes" provides a nice narrative of arc that ends with survival and dare I say a cynical optimism? As an aside, check out one of my favorite covers of a lesser known Black Sabbath song, the Al Jorgensen/Trent Reznor cover of "Supernaut" under the nom de plume of 1000 Homo DJs. Sometimes hard to find, but a fun listen for fans of the Chicago Wax Trax sound of the late 80s-early 90s.

Odlican album

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. Quite a lot of the Black Sabbath sound, but some very different, unexpected tracks.

🤘🏼

This was excellent. I should listen to more Sabbath.

First listen to a Black Sabbath album. Most of the songs were kind of what I anticipated hearing in a classically early metal vein, but a few were surprises - Wheels of Confusion sounded a little more Led Zeppelin-esque and Changes was a straight ahead piano oriented song, and Laguna Sunrise was an acoustic number with Mellotrons (!). Of the more classic Metal sound I liked Supernaut the best, with Snowblind and Under the Sun standouts as well. Tony Iommi has some solid riffs!

A heavy, heavy, heavy album; it feels like a great, powerful weight as it bombasts along and Ozzy's vocals are excellent alongside dirty guitars and an insistent, urgent rhythm section. Unlike future iterations of the genre, the production enhances rather than overpowers the songs whilst maintaining a mood. The ballad Changes is a gear shift - one of a few moments on the record for the listener to breath - and is surprisingly emotional and moving. Indeed, a lot surprises to the casual listener, including how tuneful and well constructed the tracks are. Black Sabbath have been a real surprise to me on this listening journey and this is an impressive album to add to the list of records I will revisit.

Maybe I listen it again one time, but for now it's not my favourite

Rock on 🤘🏻 Changes was pretty good

This was a great listen. I had no idea Changes was written by Black Sabbath. Mind Blown. Killer album from a killer band.

great stuff

Can't say i loved it, but i didnt hate it either.

Too much filler instrumental, did not like changes

The prince of darkness, the godfather of metal, Ozzy rocked so every other metal and hard rock band could live.

Kick ass from the opening seconds. More Sabbath, please.

A bit of a stretch to call this metal in my opinion. While it's really good, I just don't think this sound really holds up to the standards of how metal is defined as a genre in its modern form. Anyway, side rant over. This is a really good album. Catchy riffs, great vocals, and lots of diversity in the sounds which makes for a very dynamic album. And while I would call this rock, I of course have to at least appreciate how Black Sabbath are the pioneering band of metal as a genre, and this along with a lot of their other earlier work was extremely influential for other later metal bands.

Not my best listen but is better than their other record on this project

Classic Black Sabbath sound. But the tracks that are outside of their normal sound like Changes and Laguna Sunrise give them more dimensionality and elevate the album for me.

I liked it more than I expected considering its iconic status and a presumption that it may be overhyped. Picked up for me in the second half, and I enjoyed the musical variation.

One of the pioneers of modern metal as we know it. This album has so much variety and range that it makes me want to listen again. Black Sabbath is always a treat to listen to.

This is probably my favourite Sabbath I’ve come across. Something about it seemed to hit the right notes.

Yes

wheels of confusion changes supernaut snowblind under the sun

change is an all time classic, 4/5 music, 9/10 rad

I've never been a huge fan of Ozzie's voice so I was skeptical of how I would like this album. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be accurate. I thought this album was good from start to finish. Changes is an absolute gem in this album. When you think of Metal, you think aggressive and loud but this album was metal without being either of those. A genuinely enjoyable album that I will be coming back to.

I switched this album and Remain in Light catching up whoops. Remain in Light is absolutely amazing and I think it's one of the best albums of the 80's. It's so funky, dark, and at times ambient. The kind of stuff that only 80's coke could produce.

Was surprised to hear “Changes” was a BS song. My favorite of the album. Otherwise it’s kind of a generic 70’s rock album.

Changes is an all time great song.

some of my fav drumming ever. so timeless.

The songs on the album were not available when I tapped on them.

Changes is so good That kinda shows where my music taste is at rn. Still better than AC/DC I think Actually way better Insanely solid 3 here

Solid.

Fantastic musicality. Ozzy’s voice and timing are impeccable.

Pessoalmente, meu disco favorito do Sabbath. Os riffs de guitarra são muito à frente do tempo, muito pesado e muito grave, parecem rugidos do leão mais foda da selva. Tem espaço pra tudo, até pra uma baladinha em "Changes", que pra mim, é uma das músicas mais bonitas que o Ozzy já escreveu. A música "Cornucopia" basicamente fundou uns 3 subgêneros do metal, sozinha.

Great sound

Killer riffs and great singing by Ozzy. I also did not expect a ballad from Black Sabbath nor a sweet instrumental. However high the highs of this album are, there are a couple forgettable songs here that keep it from a 5

Very decent rock album, worth listening to if I the mood for the genre

Heavy rock. Like it 👍some nice relaxing moments too

Really - my first listening to Black Sabbath. I am surprised and it is amazing

Heavy metal. Ningún megahit. Ni fu ni fa.

Wheels of Confusion un infierno de canción. Casi dejo de escuchar el álbum. Menos mal que no lo hice, porque me ha sorprendido para bien (Changes, Laguna Sunrise)

Great.

Riffs ótimos Solos criativos Pesado Snowblind melhor música

Okay, although I like all kinds of music, this is simply not my fave so hard to rate. Overall if this is your type, its a hit for sure.

Sabbath bring the riffs here, and they're heavy as hell. Dual guitars on display in the opener once it kicks off in the last third. Supernaut has a killer main riff and some interesting drumming. Snowblind chugs along with melodic guitars and a mournful solo - top stuff. Cornucopia's intro riff is just evil. There's time to catch your breath with Laguna Sunrise before the guitars bash your head in again. Then the closer is an epic with tempo changes and a beautiful harmony section.

Early 70's metal, which was honestly better than I would have expected except for the track "FX" which is annoying filler noise.

There were very few moments on this album that felt like they were made by one of the pioneers of metal. Their characteristic stoner sound is present, but it just doesn’t feel as polished as some of their other albums. Obviously, if it were too polished it would lose its charm, but maybe something more sonically appealing would be nice. Outside of “Changes” it really isn’t very memorable either. Overall, it’s not bad, but if I saw it in a record store, I’d pass. Best track: Changes

A perfectly ok album that's not really my taste in music.

Better than I expected

Black Sabbath is Black Sabbath, just listen to them and enjoy.

Pioneers of hard rock, headbanging rock. Hadn't listened to a whole album before. Not bad, but not really my thing.

The first three Sabbath albums displayed an evolution of their sound, making them each heavily influential. Vol 4 doesn’t tread new territory, even though it has a great set of songs. Not a Top 1,001 album in my book.

Lacks something of the energy that was in "Paranoid".

Gave up after two songs, sorry

Ehhh, it’s some heavy metal with a few softer cuts sprinkled in. Can’t say I was super impressed by too much of it, but I did still really enjoy Ozzy’s vocals. 5/10

Awesome, crunchy guitar riffs with upbeat drums that set a faster rhythm. This can be heard in songs like “Under the Sun,” “Supernaut,” and “Cornucopia.” Ozzy’s vocals are clear and themes are pretty metal. “Changes” is melancholy and stars a piano and mellotron as the main instruments. I didn’t know Black Sabbath had a softer side. Skip “FX.” I don’t know what pretentious knob thought that playing the sound effects from drummed objects was a good idea, but fuck that guy. “Laguna Sunrise” is another surprise. It’s a chill instrumental song with complementary acoustic guitars, like if Black Sabbath woke up gently from an all night bender to a beautiful sunrise. Hopeful, relaxing. Cool album, had me banging my head a few times.

great album, but this is ancient history - my ancient history; looking for new soinds from today

This is prime Sabbath, not the most played album for me, but it’s all so good!!

Changes- big mouth theme song This album is exactly what you want it to be

Fine. The tone on the guitars plus Ozzy’s voice kind of make every song sound the same. There are brief movements away from that - like Laguna Sunrise and FX.

Hard rock, some good songs, doesn’t make me feel like I need to listen again

Tandon Scale Rating: 3.25 Best Songs: Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener, Supernaut, Snowblind Foot Notes: 1 Ozzys voice was made for heavy metal (stolen from Tad) this album is for sitting in the garage type listening 2 (also stolen) someone described BS as sludge rock and I don’t know what that means but I totally agree 3 Still lots of shredding even if this isn’t there most iconic album Would I Listen Again: Only some songs

Loved Changes. FX put me in a bad mood. Snowblind goes crazy. Album grew on me, but still not my style of music. I think I'd need to be listening to this outside on a speaker. End riff on Under the Sun made it a 3. I wanted more of that throughout.

Black Sabbath's 'Vol. 4' is an aural expedition into the depths of darkness and musical dexterity. Released in 1972, this opus diverges from their conventional heaviness, embracing a broader soundscape of eerie melodies and electrifying riffs. From the hypnotic allure of 'Snowblind' to the haunting balladry of 'Changes,' the album traverses a spectrum of sonic dimensions. Each track, a testament to the band's multifaceted musical prowess, resonates with a certain intensity, crafting an auditory tapestry that is both unsettling and enthralling. 'Vol. 4' isn't just an album; it's a dark symphony, a testament to Black Sabbath's mastery in forging a sonic path that transcends the boundaries of conventional rock.

Top tier album, but not my favourite Sabbath

An album bursting with musical technicality, atmospheric sound scapes and heavy, doom laden blues rock. Sadly lacking in some of their more obvious belters.

An absolute phenomenal album of epic proportion. This album debuts the melodic charm of John Michael Osbournes vocals on slower songs such as changes. Tony iommi once again shows us the dark, riff driven guitars from suburban Birmingham. Hard to believe it’s 50 years old and fascinating to see where heavy rock/metal would be without this groundbreaking release. Also it’s said they spent more on cocaine than it cost the album to make. Enter the song - snowblind. Perfection.

Interesting mix of styles on this album. definite re listen material

Excellent. More instrumental than I expected. Good listening album.

Not bad. Definitely need to be in the right mood/listening space for it. Not background music.

Harde rock/Metal is niet echt mijn ding. Had wel een paar mooie ballads, “Changes” en “Laguna Sunrise”. Ozzy is een leipe gast maar wel met een goede stem.

another goodie!

Not for me-hair band sound One song or two but I’d be sick of it after that

Me gustoooo

Laguna Sunset was not a song I expected, bit I really enjoyed it

Classic.

Hit the post on getting a 4, just lost the run of itself at times but very solid. That's 2 now they've surprised me with. Am I becoming a fan?

Juicy pentatonic goodness courtesy of Geezer and Tony

Some good tracks here and there but ultimately it was forgettable. Highlight was their cover of changes.

I like the reengineering but the songs are all monotonous

Bit old for my liking I think.

I really enjoyed this, but found that it doesn't flow very well as an album. They quite cringe "Changes" was never going to fit in anywhere on this album to be fair. Some absolutely iconic riffs on here, not quite as good as Paranoid though obviously.

Good album, but far from their best

Though not as immediately accessible as Sabbath’s first few records, this effort finds the band willing to stretch themselves, most notably on the standout ballad “Changes.” “Supernaut” is a bruising onslaught and “Snowblind” is an immediate classic on first listen. They made better records, but in many ways the band reached their creative high water mark on “Vol. 4.” You can hear why fans love it—it’s peak Sabbath. BTW: Did they run out of energy by the time they got around to titling this one? Maybe due to the incredible run of 4 records (!) from ‘70 - ‘72.

4/5 stars Can’t go wrong with Sabbath.

While it isn't the most "Black Sabbath" of the Black Sabbath records, it's still a solid testament to their talent and influence. Vol. 4 feels like an experimental journey for the band, and as with any good experiment there are some hits and some misses. This one is a net positive for the band, but there are some background items that drag it down a bit. Favorites are Wheels of Confusion, Changes, and Snowblind.

Typical good heavy metal

😍

Great album! Long time since I’ve listened to this in like 8th grade. Izzy never disappoints!

Better than I expected.

Ég hef aldrei verið mikið fyrir Black Sabbath. Mér finnst tónlistin frábær, gítarriffin og allt það, mér finnst textarnir skemmtilegir en mér finnst Ozzy bara svo leiðinlegur í flestum lögum. Það eru einstaka lög sem henta honum, t.d. Changes sem er á þessari plötu en annað bara dregur ánægjuna niður.

In my opinion, only the first 3 Sabbath albums belong on this list. This one was OK, but nothing special.

not as bad as I thought it would be. some good melodic spots.

Not a heavy metal fan. Even classic metal apparently

This album is fucking tight! The production is a little different from their previous albums; in some ways rougher, but it also seems to work better on most of the tracks, especially for Supernaut, Cornucopia, St. Vitus Dance and Under the Sun. So easy to hear this albums influence on tons of modern stoner metal and doom bands. Maybe it's because this album's coming after the Eagles and Aerosmith, but it's getting a 4.5/5.

Great album. I don't think I've ever listened to it. I listened through twice and enjoyed myself both times. Tomorrow's Dream Supernaut Snowblind Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes all bangers 4/5

Vol 4 over Master of Reality or Heaven and Hell? Sure why not. Always had kind of a hard time with this one, as I don’t love every song here like I do with other Sabbath LPs from the peak days. I do prefer the experimental instrumentals to “Wheels of Confusion” and “Changes”, but I can’t knock this too much, it has two all-timer GOAT Sabbath songs and the band sound as tight as ever. If I could only include 3 of their LPs, this wouldn’t be one, but I still think that the first 6 Ozzy’s and all 3 Dio’s are essential. B+

Klassiker

YES!

Yeah it's alright

A+ for the guitars. F for the vocals and lyrics. If only this band could find a competent singer... someone with a short, catchy last name... someone American perhaps... I bet they'd move heaven and hell to find someone like that. Ah well, best not get hung up on "what if's". Take these three devil's horns for your efforts. 🤘🤘🤘

6/10

I didn’t jam out to this as much as Paranoid. The songs were generally softer and more subdued. Good instrumentation.

Really enjoyed this actually some top riffs

Not really my kind of thing, but gave it a listen

Listened to while completing the annual photo album. I continued thinking "this is pretty good"; the songs that stood out to me were: Wheels of Confusion (the guitar at the end is so good) and Changes.

Might be the most basic Sabbath album there is. It’s a decent enough listen, but there’s no new territory uncovered here and not any Sabbath staples to keep the momentum up.

Волим жанр и звук али немам неку песму да ми се баш издваја. 7/10

All time classic album

Classical rock album.

There are better ways to describe this album than metal. It is really varied. I enjoyed it

3/5. A metal album from a metal band that refuses to fit into that stereotype. With songs like Laguna and Changes, Black Sabbath really try something different and sometimes it works, and other times it doesn't. Any of the heavier songs are some of the best in their discography (Supernaut, Snowblind), but also some okay ones like Dream and St. Vitus that bring it down. And many people say Laguna is one of their favorite Black Sabbath songs but just because it's different than what they normally do, does not mean it's good. That is the worst song on the album, so annoying. I appreciate them branching out but don't think it works all the time. Still a great album but nowhere near perfect.

Good, but sometimes a bit to progressive

Never been able to get into metal, likely because the hardcore image that I have in my head is betrayed by all the repetitious, indistinguishable crunchy guitar riffs and tepid vocals. This album is no exception

1-Wheels of Confusion öncelikle kendisi oldukça güzel bir parça ve dinlerken müzikal anlamda beni çok etkiledi diyebilirim. Biraz fazla uzun sadece. 2-Bu şarkı sanki daha hafif. Tam ad veremedim ama. Belli açılardan biraz hiphopa da kayıyor gibi geldi. 3-Tam cananlık duygusal bir şarkı. Değişiklik yaşamanın duygusal yorumu gibi bir şey olmuş sanki. 4-Bu şarkı da ilginç bir şarkı. Radyo sinyali gibi. Hoşuma gitti. 5-Albümden favori şarkım bu oldu. 6-Kahve yapıp döndüğümde bu şarkıya gelmiş. Oldukça kaliteli bir şarkı belki de albümde en sevdiğim parça diyebilirim. 7-Bu şarkı da iyiydi. Hareketli. Sudoku oynarken arada kaynadı 8-Sakin ama deneysel meditasyon müzikleri gibi,bir de kendimi çobanmış gibi de hissediyorum yani tam olarak köyde inek otlatırken şarkı söyleyen bir melek yanıma iniyor gibi hissettiriyor. 9-Bu şarkı da iyiydi. 10-Şarkının başlığındaki tekrarı anlayabiliyorsunuz. Güzel bir nokta olmuş albüm için.

Classic

Good -but will never be fan of heavy metal

Can’t beat Paranoid but still a great album

Oh yeahhhh I thought this was pretty fun this was my first sabbath album I like how it’s clearly heavy but not overbearing and still is more psychedelic than metal. Enjoyed

It was really groovy and I enjoyed the vibe I got from the different pieces of music. :)

Einfach geil

This is probably my least favorite of the “Big 6” Ozzy albums, but it’s still very good, and has “Supernaut,” which is outstanding.

Those were the years when they could do no wrong. Every record up to 'Sabotage' was one masterpiece after another; similar sounding, but each one unique in its own way. And then they say drugs are bad...

Vol.4 was a pretty dang good album. The songs all had that heaviness i really like when it comes to metal. Ozzy's voice was really good and proves just how talented of a singer he is. Not every song was perfect but all and all, This album was a good listen. Best Song: Under the Sun Worst Song: FX

Excellent. This was a total mood. Love the hardcore electric guitar.

That odd mix between psychedelia, metal and blues that was the beginning of the heavy metal genre. Not my favourite Sabbath album, but it's still really good.

Surprisingly good. It's not something i would have chosen to listen to, but more fool me for having preconceived ideas.

Loved getting this b2b with Sabotage. Vol.4, though only 2 years later, shows a lot of evolution and refinement from the band, both in the technical recording and sound mixing, as well as the musical approach. There's a wider variety of compositions and experimentation with guitar solos. Less uneven than Sabotage. Excellent. Favorite track: Snowblind (those solos!!!)

Slusao bi ponovno

Has that classic Sanbath sound. Not what I’ve been into lately so I enjoyed the instrumental and piano tracks best during my listen.

Sounds like the birth of Paranoid. A simple soundscape with surprisingly tender tracks.

Good, all new songs for me. I’ll definitely check it out again.

I didn't know that I was a Black Sabbath fan until today. Some really good stuff. Not quite sure if it's what I would call Metal, or just 70s Metal. It feels like it's missing something. Just not punchy enough. But really solid.

SLUDGE AND FUCKING WEED SMOKE

3.5

Black Sabbath Vol 4 -- still sounds fresh today -- 50+ years later. So fresh, so pure, drug-heavy chaos. One of their top albums and one of the best albums of 1972. Five enthusiastic stars!

I don't know if I have ever listened to this album before, and it is much better than I expected. I've never had anything against Black Sabbath, they've always just seemed a step too slow and sludgy for my tastes, but this album is great. I can see why this is considered the 'cocaine' album. Urgent, exciting and driving, this is not what I thought I'd be listening to, and I was pleasantly surprised. Great stuff.

I can appreciate the foundation Sabbath laid for future heavy rock, but it’s just not my thing. Changes is a great song.

Cool stuff!

No bad. Could imagine listening to this to chill out. Best song was Changes rest sounded quite similar to each other

Snowblind is one of my all time favorite Sabbath songs. Great album.

Splitting hairs here, because I love me some Sabbath, but Master of Reality is superior.

It's just good isn't it. Haters will say it sounds muddy. They're right, but they're also just haters.

These dudes were fried out of their minds when they performed and recorded this and it absolutely shows. For instance, Bill Ward nearly got fired because he was often drunk during sessions and had trouble recording his parts on 'Cornucopia', Ozzy sounds increasingly paranoid due to the band's excessive use of coke, and unless I'm mistaken, 'FX' came into existence because Iommi recorded the sounds his guitar made when the crucifix hanging from his neck struck it. This is a wild album where I think the disfunction and murkiness only adds to the mystique, housing some of their heaviest and most creative stuff. Personally, I've always liked the guitar tone and playing on this, which I can guess Iommi worked in some weird magic during the recording process.

Love these guys. OG heavy metal.

I pretended to listen to Sabbath more than I did when I was in junior high. Why? I definitely would have liked them. This is a hell of a record.

4/5.

Changes is the highlight. Great if you are Black Sabbath fan but just OK for the rest.

No feelings either way. I could have this on the background not be distracted by it.

Listen this hundreds of times.. It's peak Sabbath, this one get's more sludgy and thick. I love it, this one needs to be loud. Changes is about the song I skip, listen to Charles Bradley version instead.

I’ll take Paranoid over this, but still a really good record. Except for Changes. Where did that come from?

It was fine. The guitar sound was great. I just don't see me listening to it again.

While not my favorite Sabbath album it’s still good. And this is the type of metal I like, blues based with sludgy guitars. It’s good, but it’s not quite great.

This is an excellent album. I never listened to a Black Sabbath album previously, only heard singles. \"Changes\" was quite unexpected. A really good song. I would definitely recommend this album.

So with the exception of Paranoid this is the first album of black sabbath I’ve gone deep on. And even then, I haven’t listened to paranoid since high school. I really like the album on the whole. I thought all the guitar riffs were really great. The opening track and snowblind are stand outs, heavy riffs paired with Ozzys unique voice which then explode into the dark and melodic guitar solos/jams. My only beef with the album was all these Cool sounds got interrupted by sub par ballads/instrumentals! I wanted to keep rocking, and as a result I left the album wanting more. So in a way maybe it was a successful album, since I’m definitely going to put on some more Black Sabbath after this.

OK, but not super fun

Hail satan!

An absolute masterpiece.

A bit mellower than I expected given the Black Sabbath with which I'm familiar.

Quite enjoyed this,didn’t reach the highs of other sabbath albums but changes is a banger.

Love these thick heavy guitar riffs.

liked this way more than i realized i would

Shite

Like it!

Geht so. Besser als erwartet, aber auch nach zweimaligem kompletten Durchhören ist bei mir keine Melodie hängen geblieben. Nur vom ersten Lied gefiel mir der zweite Teil gegen Ende ganz gut. Es ändert sich dann komplett. Aber ich habe trotzdem auch hier keine Details merken können. Insgesamt klingen Black Sabbath zumindest hier erstaunlich melodiös und weniger heavy als ich dachte. Ozzys Stimme ist für mich auf Dauer eher schwer zu ertragen.

This album really has so many tremendously heavy parts. Really, really cool look at the talent of this band, especially with the feel shift in Changes. Favorite track: Snowblind

Feels dated, sounds as you expect! Some good songs though

This album surprised me quite a bit, in a good way. I have historically not cared for Black Sabbath at all, and I think this album starts out weak, but it picks up from there and became really enjoyable. I am now quite intrigued to check out more of their work.

fun, metal, and black sabbath

Loved this it was epic, and like listening to it as a child!!

Pretty great, more introspective and truly melancholy than I expected from Ozzy. One of the only classic Sabbath records I haven’t spent much time with, maybe I should rectify that.

Such a good rock n roll album. Happiness is a warm gun type hard rock, heavy instruments I liked it

"Vol. 4" is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was produced by guitarist Tony Iommi with manager Patrick Meehan also credited. It was recorded in LA with speakers famously filled with cocaine and the album liner notes thanking "the great COKE-cola." Besides Iommi who also played piano and mellotron, Black Sabbath members were Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Geezer Butler (bass, mellotron) and Bill Ward (drums). The album hit #13 in the US and #8 in the UK. Long drawn out guitar strings and a heavy bass open "Wheels of Confusion." The drums kick in, Ozzy arrives and yeah, we're in stoner heaven. The song just sludges then picks up the pace and back to the slow groove. A tremendous outro with Iommi's layered guitars. The band and especially Ozzy prove they can do a ballad in "Changes." Ozzy might do a few more of these later on in his career. A piano and Iommi and Butler using a mellotron to sound like an orchestra. It's about Bill Ward's breakup with his girlfriend. "Supernaut" starts with a snare drum and Iommi laying the riff. Geezer comes in and off to space we go. A play on pyschonaut and astronaut? Why not a drum and percussion solo. Iommi's riff is slightly on the higher end in "Snowblind." "Icicles in my brain." Jeez, I wonder what this song is about? More slow, driving music which again picks up the pace and goes back to the sludge. Iommi stars in this one. The band leaves grungeland and dives straight into metal in "Cornucopia." An evil sounding and rockin' song. Don't be deceived by wealth and prosperity. They up the evil and rockin' ante on the closer "Under the Sun." Ozzy calling out false religious people. All members reach their instrumental peaks on this one. I love Geezer's low-end heavy bass. This album is grungy, driving and heavy. The entire grunge and metal scenes were listening and are in debt. This album works at every level it attempts to be, even the ballad and instrumentals. Whatever massive drugs they were taking didn't take away from the cohesiveness and overall achievement as it still sounds great today. A great album.

I thought I would not like this album, but I actually am a bit of a metalist, as it were. It is shocking that any and in fact ALL members of the band are still alive and functioning at any level. I enjoyed reading about the band and Ozzy is portrayed in the film The Dirt snorting a line of ants by the pool on a whim. I cannot believe how mean they were to the drummer and almost killed him by spraying him gold. Their names, too. All very unique until you get to the bullied drummer. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony no cap lommi, Geezer Butler and ….Bill Ward. Changes and Laguna Sunrise are my 2 picks for new favorites.

Had not listened to much early metal before, was not expecting to find such a diverse array of tracks and interesting melodies. Favorites include Changes and Tomorrow's Dream.

Каеф чо

Five!!!

It’s classic Black Sabbath. I’m not going to be psychotic and give it less than a 5.

I'm sure this album was very important but it just kinda feels a bit rudimentary compared to the music it's inspired I guess. Plenty listenable still, just feel like there wasn't a song that was super memorable for me here

Solid!

Way more varied of an album than you'd expect

Beste so far!

Yup its rock

This was interesting. I avoid Black Sabbath as I've never really connected with Ozzy Osborne, his voice, or Black Sabbath's music and aesthetic. I only knew their hits, and didn't expect to hear slower, lighter pieces like 'Changes' on this album. I came away not liking Black Sabbath any more, but understanding they're a little more nuanced than I assumed they were.

It was fine, liked that it was varied with softer moments. But probably something I won't return to much. Standout was "Snowblind".

Great

Great classic album

I am familiar and fond with the first 3 Sabbath album, so I was excited to see this appear. However, definitely didn't hit me the same way as their earlier stuff. Reading up on it it sounds like this was the first Sabbath album fueled by coke rather than booze and weed, which I think is the perfect summary for the deficiencies of this album.

decent album. definitely not one of their bests though.

Great. Stuff Ive somehow never heard before

Not much to say. Good album as a whole. Top 3: wheels of confusion, changes, tomorrows dream

Good but not my favourite Black Sabbath, Changes and Under The Sun are class though

7.8

Lots of great songs on here, manages to stay uplifting despite being metal. Lots of more beautiful quiet moments in there too.

Classic rock is my favorite genre & I love Ozzy. I used to play Laguna Sunset for my kiddos at bedtime.

Review 2.0: Seems like I get to review this twice within a week's time. The first time was solo, now as part of a group. This was my first review on this app. The original score was a three and therefore was my measuring stick for each subsequent review. I kept thinking... How does this album compare to Sabbath? Tomorrow's Dream, Supernaut, Snowblind, and Laguna Sunrise still stand out. St Vitus Dance riff is very nice, but lyrically doesn't do much. Changes still feels meh compared to how I used to like it. FX doesn't do much besides acts as a bridge between Changes and Supernaut. It honestly lowers my opinion of Changes even more if you need to add a minute long effects track to ease back into a rocking mood. Cornucopia doesn't really move the needle for me. Something about Under the Sun doesn't sit well with me. Maybe it's the quicker segments where Ozzy's vocals seem off? I definitely like Every Day Comes and Goes, and The Straightner more than the song segment that precedes them. Okay, given my love for a few songs, heavy riffs, and varied song structure I'm now leaning towards a very high 3, but with no half stars it'll still be my measuring stick album. ----------- Original Review: I've been familiar with many of these songs for years. The 2nd half of Wheels of Confusion was a treat. Changes seems so dull to me now. I used to have a higher opinion of that song. Tomorrow's Dream is my favorite track.

Black Sabbath as always is just filled with absolute bangers, while the style changes drastically in the song Changes, you can still feel the same intensity from Ozzy and Tony. The main difference that I felt between this one and Paranoid is that Paranoid began with War Pigs and for me nothing else came close to that in the rest of the album, while this one started mellow and grew, giving a great performance all in all. If I could I would grade this one 4.5 stars because I liked it more than paranoid but it's not perfect for me.

Carai, outro do Black Sabbath já... Mas da hora, vamo lá. 1. Que isso, parece que já começou pelo fim, intro da música tem vibe de encerramento. Mas que música boa, melodia do vocal dá um ânimo muito massa, consigo ver as inspirações do Jack Black aí. 3. No nada uma música calminha com piano HAHUAHUAHU. Mas essa é famosa, eu tinha esquecido dela, muito boa. Sentimento foda, triste. Fico pensando se aconteceu algo com alguém da banda por causa da letra. 4. Melhor música que ouvi nesse rolê até agora. Obra prima, pqp. 8. Ki bunito essa Laguna Sunrise, pourra. Como os caras todos trevosos fazem isso. 9. Porra, queria continuar ouvindo aquela vibezinha da Laguna, aí voltou o rock normal deles e fiquei triste huahuauha. Cara, eles são músicos muito bons, foda isso. Fazem um som muito massa, não tão sujo, e a banda tem uma personalidade muito massa. Já faz um tempo que ando curtindo mais, gostei. Me impressiona a versatilidade deles. A imagem trevosa que o Ozzy traz um pré-conceito que não faz jus ao som da banda huahuahu. 4 estrelas pela vibe boa, músicas de qualidade, só faltou ter um "WOW".

O álbum é bem sólido, seguro, bem tranquilo de ouvir, mas senti que faltam novidades, coisas mais.. marcantes talvez, diferenciadas. FX não entendi kkkkkkk me lembrou a mosca do Breaking Bad lá. Minhas preferidas foram Supernaut, Snowblind e St. Vitus Dance gostei bastante delas até. Um álbum que é bem bom, mas não me chama muita atenção. Se parar pra pensar, acho que essa é uma ótima definição pra um 3 estrelas pra mim.

God damn, these first few Sabbath records are great aren’t they. The most diverse of the first four, and while not everything quite works for me, there’s enough fantastic stuff here to make it hugely enjoyable

Fire. Classic. Black Sabbath had such a great 6 album run.

Supernaut and Snowblind are worth a listen alone. Rest of the album feels like filler. Not the heaviest hitting album they have.

This isn't the cool Sabbath. Cover is iconic and Ozzy and Tony can still shine on some of the tracks. But this is a band grappling with the artistic explosion of the early 70s. They try to keep up but lose the edge and songs like changes just fall flat. A couple banger riffs, Supernaut and snowbind try.

This morning, on my walk to work, I saw a creature stumble out of the local swamp. It seemed rather dazed, so I decided to check if it was okay. The creature was cloaked in mottled hair and writhing in mud. Occasionally it would yelp and fat riffs would ooze out. I wasn't able to really communicate with it, or understand many of its vocalisations, that is until its voice suddenly sweetened, infiltrated my senses, and tweaked my heartstrings. It was lamenting a lost love, I believe. I gave it a pat on the back which seemed to do the trick. Soon it was giggling again, thrashing its numerous limbs with what I took to be ecstatic delight. I kept it company for a while, before then finding the right moment to depart. I do hope it's okay, the poor sod. I was rather fond of it.

I had never listened to black sabbath that much before. I should listen to more.

Not my favorite genre

Cool album. I like, that it plays around with feelings and genres, not getting stuck in one but always varying.

Intstrumental

'Heavy metal' in a similar vein to Deep Purple in as much as it's more like rock music. Pretty solid album for something I wouldn't have naturally picked out. 'Changes' is an absolute banger of course.

Fuck, Sabbath is cool. Tony Iommi and his fucked up right hand created some iconic riffs. Ozzy's just cuts. Hail Satan. I don't always agree with whatever boomer made this list, but this is a decent entry. I typically favoring more main-stream Sabbath songs, but 10 minutes in this is pretty good..and then changes.. what? I guess they were trying something new. Wait, I *have* heard that. This one has a decent wikipedia article and it's always fascinating to read aboutthe recording process. Seems this album is definitely a reach by the band to try more experimental stuff... on copious amounts of cocaine. If I compare this to other albums of theirs I am not sure it would even be top 3 or 4, but when they stick to sludge/stoner metal it's top tier. Review of Reviews: The people like Black Sabbath, even those who did not think they would. Best Track: Wheels of Confusion.. me likey epic metal songs that are over 7 minutes.

Haven't really listened to much Black Sabbath before but had a good time with this one.

I've been familiar with many of these songs for years. The 2nd half of Wheels of Confusion was a treat. Changes seems so dull to me now. I used to have a higher opinion of that song. Tomorrow's Dream is my favorite track.

IMMMM GOINNNGGGG THROUGH CHAAAANNGGEEEESSSSSSSSSS Probably the most fun I've had with a Black Sabbath record. Wheels of Confusion, Changes, Supernaut, Snowblind, all stand outs. Great Album! 4.5 stars

Classic Sabbath plaat die nogmaals bewijst hoe divers ze eigenlijk wel niet klonken. De eerste 4 albums zijn essentieel voor rock en metal, maar van die 4 is dit voor mij de minst pakkende. Mijn favoriete Black Sabbath nummers staan op andere platen. Daarom een 4, van een 4,5 naar beneden afgerond. Changes is een geweldige ballad, maar over de jaren heen ben ik de versie van Charles Bradley met de Budos Band meer gaan appreciëren dan het origineel.

Fairly repetitive grooves, but overall a great rock album. Ozzy’s voice absolutely carries, it’s so powerful.

It's funny to me relistening to thes albums that when they were released they were HeAvY MeTaL and now they are pretty tame as far as agressive albums go. I enjoyed the album. Never had listed top to bottom and enjoyed it. Had a few songs that were familiar and i enjoyed them even more in context.

I guess I’ve never listened to Black Sabbath before because I was surprised to hear Ozzy Osbourne’s voice. I thought his voice was going to be deeper and the instruments go harder/more metal. So, Im just trying to imagine Ozzy Osbourne bitting bats heads off on stage to this. It just sounds too tame. “FX” was one of the best non lyrical songs I’ve heard in awhile. I don’t know if this is a hot take, but they sound a lot like Led Zeppelin. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m right, the world may never know. 7/10

A 70s band that isn’t bad. FX was just Pink Floyd noise stuff. Everyone in the 70s really was tripping balls. Otherwise nothing really stood out about this album. I do tend to favor heavier rock which I felt this was. Closed with a good song “Under the Sun” I probably won’t seek out more songs from this band but also wouldn’t mind hearing more. 7/10

This is a pretty standard rock album that lines up with how the genre sounded during this time. Not much on this album really sticks out to me and there are so many songs that are 2 minutes of random playing only to put in a great song towards the ending 3 minutes. Consistently inconsistent. I do love Ozzie on this album and his singing is such a highlight throughout. At the end of the day there are better bands with better albums in the genre at the same time so they're lower on the totem pole. 6/10

All that stuff about heavy metal and hard rock, I don't subscribe to any of that. It's all just music. I mean, the heavy metal from the Seventies sounds nothing like the stuff from the Eighties, and that sounds nothing like the stuff from the Nineties. Who's to say what is and isn't a certain type of music? - Ozzy Osborne Being sober on a bus is, like, totally different than being drunk on a bus. - Ozzy Osborne I used to fantasize that Paul McCartney would marry my sister. - Ozzy Osborne I'll only retire in the day I should be dead and they have me buried, and some idiot spell over my casket some stupid gospel stuff. - Ozzy Osborne You gotta be really careful what you bite off. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s a dangerous world. - Ozzy Osborne I’m not a musician – I’m a ham. - Ozzy Osborne System of a down’s cover of Snowblind is better. - Ozzy Osborne 7/10

Black Sabbath has been one of the revelations of this project for me.

Great album from an interesting period in music. There’s a good mix of psychedelic influences and classic rock, and Ozzy has a good combination of angst and passion.