Vol. 4

3.8

Most enjoyable songs ------- * Changes (solo 5 star) * Wheels of confusion * No bad songs all of them are great

not my usually my cup of tea but wow changes. just wow what a song. and Laguna sunrise, just a pretty ass song. reminds me of sumeru regional music from genshin impact pleasantly surprised by this album

This album is not just high quality heavy metal- it has surprising range and some songs are quite beautiful.

Bem produzido, não é entediante. Um disco de metal que não é barulho por barulho; sabe respirar e tem ritmo e ideias claras. Instrumentais e vocais muito bons. Achei o álbum criativo como um todo, trazendo elementos que não parecem tão óbvios à primeira vista.

Supernaut is one of the greatest things I've ever heard. Actually, the whole run of supernaut to cornucopia gave me an eargasm. It just all sounds so good and meshes together so well. Cut FX and Changes and this is a 10/10, but my goodness this is an amazing album, and makes me wish I listened to more than just Iron Man, Paranoid, and War Pigs in the past. 9.5/10, but for this site it's worth rounding up to 5 stars. Favorite Tracks: Wheels of Confusion, Supernaut, Snowblind, Cornucopia, St. Vitus' Dance Least Favorite: FX, Changes

Loved "Changes" the most + "Supernaut", great instrumentals on most all songs What is "FX" doin

Pretty good

Started off unimpressed but the solo at the end of The Straightener straightened me out. Tomorrow's Dream is good, Changes, emotional. FX would probably spin my head if I were stoned. Supernaut starts with a sick guitar riff. Snowblind rocks despite being explicitly about cocaine. Cornucopia is a dark, swaying romp. Laguna Sunrise, a touching instrumental. St. Vitus' Dance returns with an English rock song that doesn't do much for me. Album finishes with a sick anti-religious jam, Under the Sun. 6/10.

why do i lowkey fucks with ittt

Seminal stoner metal, great overdriven, psych guitar riffing. Granted its Ozzy singing, but its not the focus really, it's all about them heavy riffs. The albums sequencing leans towards a live show with tracks bleeding into the next and perhaps a concept here. I've never really listened to Black Sabbath and I'm digging it. I'm going to have to get into more stoner metal. Probably a 4.5, but gotta round up here, I'm going to give it a 5.

Might only be rating this so high because I’m shocked I liked it so much. Good album.

Very emo! Love it

All the songs kinda sounded the same

Very seventies. Loved 'Tomorrow's Dream', 'Supernaut', 'Cornucopia', 'St. Vitus Dance', and 'Under the Sun'. Also appreciate the fact that Laguna Sunrise does sound like sunrise at a lagoon.

While I did like the album, the type of genre is not really my cup of tea

8 / 10

Never heard any of these before. Neat.

4,5/5, polu wraio me arketa kala vocals kai polu wraia kithara. Agaphmeno apo ton disko to Snowblind.

Decent. Couple bangers

Typical black Sabbath with a basket full of bangers.

i thought black sabbath was from like the 90s but i was surprised they were from the 70s loved the intro to the first song (lots of guitar super cool) it seems ahead of its time trying to remember who covered the changes song on this album cause it sounds so familiar LONGGGG songs THIS IS OZZY OSBOURNE??

4.5

Gosto de Black Sabbath e gosto desse disco. Acho legal o quão dinâmicas canções como Wheels of Confusion ou Under The Sun são. A fase Ozzy da banda têm pouquíssimos tropeços (Sabotage e Never Say Die, basicamente), e apresenta o melhor da banda e do gênero de Rock pesado. Riffs antêmicos, épicos e poderosos, e vocais icônicos e inconfundíveis. Acho bizarro a omissão do Master of Reality nessa lista, pois ele é de fato um dos melhores discos do Black Sabbath, mas fico feliz com a inclusão de Vol. 4, que faz uma ponte satisfatória da sonoridade do Master com a do Bloody Sabbath. O peso metálico ainda está aqui, tão presente quanto nunca (só ouvir o riff principal de Supernaut), mas o disco possui também traços melódicos belíssimos em canções como Changes. Enfim, esse álbum apresenta um dinamismo interessante e que sempre falta em canções mais pesadas. É uma escuta bem agradável, mas não o considero o melhor trabalho da banda. Possui algumas partes mais monótonas, ou canções que poderiam ter sido cortadas. De todo modo, ele ainda mantém aquela vibe esfumaçada desse álbuns mais antigos do Sabbath, e isso é sempre bem vindo. Difícil criticar um álbum que possui canções como Supernaut e Snowblind. 4.5/5

Especially the first song of this album was very good

amazing

Overall rating by me: 5,5/10 Songs added to the playlist: ,,Tomorrow's Dream", ,,Changes'' Notes: Not my cup of tea but again, casually as background music I think I would listen to it again.

Amazing album.

Another classic from the Boys from Birmingham. Proto-Sludge riffs along with the classics Changes and Snowblind. Not a huge fan of Laguna Sunrise, but every other song is incredible

Groundbreaking and heavy, but too scattered to beat Sabbath at their tightest.

Not my fav Sabbath

I kinda only needed to hear one Black Sabbath album before death

Not my favorite sabbath, but still good.

I enjoyed this

More chill and less metal than had expected, but enjoyed. Would listen to more

2.4 Way lower tempo and less metal than I thought. Idk, honestly it was just kinda boring to me.

Decent but a little lacking compared to their more iconic albums. The guitar riffs aren't quite as good, Ozzy's vocals are hit or miss depending on the track, and they tend to get overpowered by the instrumentals. The audio mixing is noticably better in the remastered version, and the vocals are clearer. "FX" is not a real song and while "Laguna Surprise" isn't necessarily bad, it's not what I'm looking for from Black Sabbath. Final score is based on the remastered version.

21st album with group. Another repeat album. Not as great as the first time I listened to it, but it’s still good. The songs drag on a bit, but this is my favorite metal album to date. Good Songs - Tomorrow’s Dream, Changes, Supernaut, Cornucopia, and St. Vitus’ Dance. Bad Songs - Wheels of Confusion, FX, Snowblind, Laguna Sunrise, and Under the Sun.

Overall the album was different than I expected. Most of the Sabbath songs that get played on the radio or in movies/TV are well-known heavy songs. This album had a cool balance between the heavier songs and the softer, more instrumental tracks.

Really enjoyed the B Side

Enjoyed more than I thought I would. Will give a second listen

First album I bought! I have bought it again at least 3 times. Remains one of my favourites. Brilliant.

I’ve always felt that the thing most lost among the craziness that would become Ozzy, which I’m not complaining about, is the musical brilliance that was early Sabbath. Unarguably the weakest of their first four albums (again, Ozzy), this is still significant as the other bookend for a sound that I’m sure historians will find roots for but I think was unprecedented for the era (and Sabbath certainly did it better and with more consistency). If you like hard rock, the first four albums are must haves for any collection.

atmospheric and weird

not my typical music but i enjoyed it

Liked some of it, but a lot of repetitive guitar showoff stuff in it

A solid album from the greatest metal band of all time. Grooves, drones, croons, walls of sound, piano ballads... This album has it all. ¨Supernaut¨ is my favorite Sabbath song, such a jam!

Mi piace Black SabbAT

Black Sabbath is not my favourite as the vocals are not my style, and vocal melodies feel repetitive. I was surprised by FX and Laguna Sunset. I also enjoyed the final track and can definitely see the influence of their sound on doom artists I enjoy.

a rock classic, i love this album sm THE GUITAR SOLOSSSSS DAYUMMM

This hit me. The instruments, man. The feeling is just so perfect.

My second favourite BS album after Master of Reality which was the second album I purchased. Floyd Atom Heart was the first and Deep Purple, Machine Head third. Great album in my opinion

Je comprends son impact sur le genre mais c’est non

cannot believe this was a first listen for me. wonderful. brilliant

An album I had not heard much but certainly a classic 4.5*

Nicht begeistert musikalisch gut jedoch nichts für mich

Rip ozzy 😔✊🏼 Album war ganz gut würde es mir glaub ich aber nicht nochmal anhören

Best Song: Snowblind ofc Worst Song: Tommorows Dream / FX but I like both. Probably my favourite Sabbath album following Paranoid. Great vocal performance by Ozzy Osbourne and guitar by Lommi. I love how heavy it is while being perhaps more progressive and experimental than earlier albums. Snowblind is the centrepiece for me, and my favourite by Black Sabbath, blending great guitar riffs, vocal performance and lyricism into an exhilarating track. Changes is a beautiful song and displays the band's range as previously shown in Orchid and Solidarity in MOR. Of course it has also spawned covers such as Charles Bradleys which takes the lyricism to a new height. One criticism might be that although it thematically fits in the album, it isn't quite cohesive with how heavy tracks surrounding it are. Laguna Sunrise archives much the same praise and criticism. With regard to popular criticism, I don't think FX is a terrible filler, but I do think it highlights that the album could be made more cohesive. Perhaps FX should not be listed between Laguna Sunrise and Changes. The critique of the self production is unwarranted -Ozzys vocals are perhaps slightly muted/muffled but I think it works within the album, although I could conceive that a different approach would make some songs more soulful.

7/10 Best: Snowblind / Laguna Sunrise Worst: Supernaut I think this album is fantastic! I was a bit unsure about how much I would like it but I actually ended up playing it through twice. Opening up so heavily and then to the poignant ballad, Changes, really shows the range of the band. I loved the chord progression on the tracks and the use of piano and synth, it’s hard to remember this came out in ‘72. I haven’t seen Snowblind mentioned in other critiques very much, but for me, it was the best song on the album, the lyrical depth and the transition from the main riff to the bridge is amazing. Controversially, I don’t particularly enjoy Supernaut, bar the opening, sorry. I think it works amazingly on this album, it’s just not for me personally. I don’t really understand the hate FX gets, it’s really not that deep, a cool interlude between some very heavy songs.

slayed hard very iconic

killer 🤘

Wow, this was excellent.

Not my vibe, definitely a product of its time. Not bad music by itself

Not the type of music I would normally listen to, but can definitely see why it's considered iconic.

Dragged a bit in the middle for me, but otherwise I really liked this! This kind of metal I think I can get behind for the most part.

This is a damn good album. I clearly haven't listened to enough of Sabbath's catalogue. Changes has got to be one of the most " I owe you an apology I wasn't really familiar with your game" tracks of all time.

Standards: Rating is just how much I enjoyed listening to it. This is separate from the quality of the actual song and its lyrics and instrumentation. Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener: Lyrically the opposite of who I am but I appreciate a message of disillusionment with adulthood and how the life your promised as a kid more often than not doesn't come to fruition leading to a confusion that morphs into nihilism. Crazy guitar work at the end. 8/10 Tomorrow's Dream: I think the glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak song lyrically really is complimented by the instruments, things suck but there's always something to work towards to some degree. 7.5/10 Changes: One of the few songs I knew already, but only the chorus. Unexpected change in tone! Lots of regret in this song (seemingly cheating?) and I think the chorus/title effects this idea of growing apart from someone you love (changing) and also growing from mistakes after reflecting on the consequences of your past self and choices such as betraying someone you love because of that shift (changing). 6/10 FX: Mmmmm an interlude. (unfair to rate, needed for album progression) Supernaut: I like the references to the first song here, seems like a good journey from nihilism to really embracing the absurd reality that is life! Going beyond expectation and living for yourself even if you don't get that promised reality. 9/10 Snowblind: Oh the sweet simplicity of some cocaine. “My eyes are blind, but I can see” verse fucks, love how it’s sang and the solo it goes into. What the hell is that instrument at the end??? 9/10 Cornucopia: A dark turn, almost like he’s trying to share the wisdom he found in Supernaut but almost circled back to the nihilism, almost gives cult leader 6/10 Laguna Sunrise: A lovely instrumental 7/10 St. Vitus Dance: A snazzy tune, 9/10 Under the Sun: RIP Ozzy, you very much lived your life on your own terms 9.5/10

Great guitar solos and great songs in the first half of the album.

Under the Sun quella che mi è piaciuta di più

I like how melodic the metal music is here. Also having some sections of slower music is nice to make it not all sound similar.

Heavy. Geezer Butler heavy. This is why I started this project. To listen to albums that I have never listened to by bands that I know some songs but haven't done a deeper dive. Black Sabbath has a lot of albums (with and without Ozzy). I know several of their more popular well known songs probably all from Paranoid. This surprisingly had 2 instrumental tracks... sounding nothing like Black Sabbath. "Changes" sounds like an Ozzy solo song. I listened to this album several times today and enjoyed it... more listens will possibly help me figure out the lyrics.

Black Sabbath are undeniably heavy metal gods- even to someone like me who wouldn't normally listen to an album like this and who really just knows the big, famous hits. The album hooked me and it was a fun listen . "Supernaut" has this cool little bridge that reminds me of Zeppelin's "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp." I really like "Snowblind" - it may be my favorite track.

Classic.

hard

Good as heavy rock goes, but it’s not really my kind of music. Power ballad “Changes” seems totally out of place and the lyrics don’t buoy it at all. “St. Vitus Dance” is like an inverse Neil Young song, where the intro is way preferable to the groove it settles into. A few good moments, but otherwise a long 42 minutes. Here’s going to be the meaning of the stars for me: 5: Perfection, would hold up for me across decades and dozens of listens. 4: Great, would listen again and again, but a couple songs either don’t hold the same standard, or the high points don’t reach high enough. 3: Solid, would listen again in a certain mood, but probably won’t revisit it again much. 2: Either just bad with a couple highlights, or not my style and does not make a convert of me at all. 1: Sucks.

the guitar work was insane but in all honesty I didn't get far.

My favorite Black Sabbath as of right now.... What an amazing listen. Changes was my absolute favorite!

#794. There's really no denying Sabbath's first four albums. Not that you'd ever be in a spot where you'd need to, but if you were, you probably couldn't anyway. 4/5: fantastic

It was better than I expected, though some parts had me thinking I’d stumbled onto the set of This is Spinal Tap. The piano ballad and the chill instrumental were unexpected. I gave it a few plays through today and liked it better each time. Has me interested to hear some of their other stuff that other reviewers have mentioned.

Listened to the 2021 remaster. Favorite song was Laguna Sunrise. Haven't listened to Black Sabbath much before but enjoyed the album.

great album

Это не мой любимый жанр музыки, но послушать было приятно. Идеальный баланс между жесткостью и музыкальностью. Лучшая песня: Snowblind

I had never really listened to Black Sabbath before. It was less intense than I thought it would be.

Always thought this one was a bit of an outlier in the early albums, as its not as raw and primal as the first 3, but also not as polished as sabbath bloody sabbath, but I for sure think its the worst of the first 5 albums, but its still got great moments on it. Always forget the songs without heavy guitars on them, like changes and FX, but I do think changes is kinda trash, but FX is really interesting. Laguna Sunrise is brilliant as well it feels like sailing through a calm ocean at night or something. Obviously I don't really need to say why Black Sabbath are so good, totally revolutionary guitar tones and riff playing, as well as singing Ozzy Osbourne always totally did his own thing, and I like that he doesn't have to shriek like like Robert Plant to make the vocals feel intense. Yeah there's loads of great songs, but still not as good as stuff they did before (and after). Also this is probably revolutionary in terms of guitar heaviness, as some of these songs feel crazy for this early on. Favourite songs: wheels of confusion/the straightener, FX supernaut, snowblind, cornucopia, Languna sunrise, St. Vitus dance, under the sun/every day comes (this one feels like Black Sabbath the song but with updated heaviness). Overall around 8/10

it was very good, intense.

I have never been a fan of metal, but I've enjoyed every album from Black Sabbath that I've heard so far (That would be two albums, lol). A metal classic here. Although, why are there a piano rock song (Changes), an experimental piece (FX) and a baroque pop instrumental (Laguna Sunrise) on here? (Not that they're bad, just out of place. I was taken by surprise)

changes was so so so good

Ok i wasn't sure I liked metal but I think I do but I definitely need to listen to more. Also I knew the big mouth theme song was a cover but I had no idea it was originally a black sabbath song like what thats so cray. Also i need to look into this album more cause does every song qualify as metal??

first song was banging but LIKE 8 MINS?? crazy good guitar solo hope i get to the level of being able to play drums like supernaut fav song- Under the Sun WHAT THE FLIP IS FX THAT SCARED THE ANCESTORS OUT OF ME i was playing it in the gym and it was so eerie

RIP ozzy. Just not my favorite. Changes is a good one. The rest made me feel guilty for not headbanging whilst listening.

I forget how garage they sounded. They really just had an infant school yamaha keyboard and a dream. Utter filth. Mostly like this because it's influential but I would choose to listen to it.

Really enjoyed the efforts to make this an interesting body of work (Changes, FX, Laguna Sunrise), but generally not my favorite songwriting.

This was much more enjoyable than I thought it would be!

Cant go wrong with Ozzy

Other than the song, "FX", this is a great listen. It isn't quite as heavy as their earlier releases, but Changes is spectacular and the sound is very good overall. A great listen and the time flew by.

Despite owning Paranoid, the 2nd album, in highschool, I don't think I've every listened to this one. Wow. May inspire be to go and listen to more of their catalogue.

Badass, but less badass than I was expecting. I locate the most badass Sabbath in the mid/late 70s. This is early 70s. But it's record #4!? Clearly another research project I need to do. Another great educational album that's not in itself going to bring me back for further listens.

Норм музон 7.5/10

Black Sabbath has been the only repeat so far except for the Beatles and I can see why. The guitar on this is fucking phenomenal. Wheels of confusion and every day comes and goes were my favorites.

Super, super heavy. Probably the darkest metal album I’ve listened to. The moments of calm (changes, laguna sunrise) are well timed to give a break from the more intense stuff and make it hit even harder. Ozzy’s vocals are excellent. I can def hear the blues rock/acid rock influence (Tommorow’s Dream). The production is also pretty good for the time, fs better than the earlier stuff. There’s some really fun unexpected moments like the drum break in Supernaut or the classical guitar on Laguna Sunrise. Probably at the brink of messiness, but it never actually crosses into that. Overall, it’s not as catchy or sweeping as Paranoid, but almost as good in every other way. More like proto stoner/doom metal and a lot darker overall. I’d probably give it a 4.5 if I could, but it deserves to be rounded up to a 5. Standout Tracks: Tomorrow’s Dream, Supernaut, Snowblind, Laguna Sunrise

Sabbath!!!

I know I'm meant to like this more than I do, it has all the things I usually love about music. I have to say though, this album is actually quite dull. Sure it has some fantastic riffery going on, but aside from that the songs aren't great. I really had to resist rating this higher just out of habit because, ya know, it's Sabbath! There are much better Sabbath albums.

This doesn't seem like heavy metal…things were different then apparently.

What coke does to a mf.

I didn’t know I was so into this. 🤘

(84/100)

So, it appears that I am a fan of Sabbath. This is my third album and I have enjoyed each! Absolutely rocks and this one showed some great range I feel, Changes demonstrating that particularly of course.

Seminal work by Black Sabbath.

Someone's been in my room and taken my beers away from my room. I think that's exactly how I felt listening to this. Super early gritty black sabbath, absolutely gorgeous and I love how the guitars sound, especially in Under the Sun, just some great riffs.

Great album, not my favorite black sabbath album tho

Well Ozzy certainly can pull off a ballad and does so on Changes (one of my favorites of his). Supernaut rules and there is a lot of great Sabbath on this album, but it’s not my favorite Black Sabbath by a long shot. Still rules though!

Hey, this is good. Enjoyable. Not amazing. Funny to think that this was out there heavy in its day. Seems quite tame now.

Oh yeah!

Good album. Solid performances. Lacks a great song.

NGL I don't remember it much because I'm coming off of a long hiatus, but if I remembered any of the songs I'd likely have rated it higher.

I’ve never given Black Sabbath a chance. I think it’s because of the bat stuff. But look at me now! I really enjoyed this. I didn't even mind that the first song was longer than 7 minutes...

Definitely not my favourite Sabbath album, but surprisingly enjoyable. Changes still rules, but I forgot how pretty Laguna Sunrise is.

I was surprised to like this enough to listen all the way through (couldn't finish Paranoid, iirc).

Listening to this Heavy Metal Album is like walking through a temple built of amplifiers: awe-inspiring in its sheer weight (thick, downtuned riffs, thudding drums, and smoky, overdriven textures paired with weary, spectral vocals), yet the floorboards shake just enough to remind you the structure might collapse at any moment.

Come on man, I know this album inside out. One of my favourite Sabbath albums. It’s got Changes on it man, it’s a legendary album! This has to be one of the top, if not my most favourite Black Sabbath album covers. Maybe second best after Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. As an album this would definitely make my top 5 for sure. The whole albums feels like a bridge between classic heavy metal and more exploratory psychedelic metal. Sludgy doom riffs, piano ballads, drugged-out interludes. The album is heavy and intense, but at times it also has some really beautiful moments. Black Sabbath laid the groundwork for so many metal subgenres with the songs in their early catalog, cosmic psychedelia on one track, symphonic accompaniment on the next, and sludgy, downtuned riffing right after that. If the theory is that Sabbath predicted most of metal, then Vol. 4 represents the earliest ancestry of doom metal, as one of the band’s darkest and most confused early documents. The three albums before 1972’s Vol. 4 weren’t short on doom but their heavy blues-rock influence were kept from collapsing by relatively tighter production and a bit of pop accessibility. By the time of Vol. 4 the band were already rock stars, indulging in drugs and partying on an extreme level. Those excesses are reflected in the album’s sound, its themes of losing your grip on reality, and its weird stylistic songs from experimenting with delay, to a beautiful instrumental song built on Tony Iommi’s classical guitar with full orchestral backing. All the tracks are my favourite. I don’t need to list every single one. RIP Ozzy!

That famous record where the cocaine budget was higher than production costs. Black Sabbath were off their tits on the stuff recording 'Vol. 4', but much like marijuana usage fuelled the stoner metal masterpiece that is 'Master of Reality', the heavy coke usage pushed Black Sabbath to expand and diversify their sound further on 'Vol. 4.' 'Vol. 4' was Sabbath's first record recorded entirely in America, and was put together in the backdrop of a Bel Air mansion where speaker boxes of cocaine were a regular sight. But still, Sabbath created their most explorative album to date, with guitarist Tony Iommi handling production duties for the first time. 'Vol. 4' is prime Sabbath. The album opens with the crushing one-two punch of 'Wheels of Confusion' and 'Tomorrow's Dream', and later continues into the epic 'Supernaut' and cocaine anthem 'Snowblind'. All aforementioned songs showcase what Sabbath did best: the eerie shrieks of Ozzy Osbourne, the sledgehammer guitar riffs of Tony Iommi, the unbelievable versatility of Geezer Butler on bass, and the hard-hitting drums of Bill Ward. But there are some surprises on this album that take you off guard. 'FX' is Iommi tinkering with eerie signal-like tones and 'Laguna Sunrise' showcases a pretty Iommi riff that could be symbolic of a relaxing come-down from a heavy night of partying. The biggest shock on this album, however, is 'Changes'. I was simply stunned when I first heard this song and realised it was by Black Sabbath. Beautiful yet melancholic piano and mellotrons played by Iommi and Butler accompany Osbourne's heartfelt, sombre and self-lamenting lyrics. When you hear that "I'm go-ing through changeeees" line, it hits so close to the chest that you cannot help but get all emotional about your own situation. It's honestly up there with David Bowie's 'Heroes' and Pearl Jam's 'Black' for me there in terms of emotional intensity. It's easily my favourite song on this record, and it was the first time anyone saw Ozzy's capabilities as a heartfelt balladier, which would reemerge many times in his solo career. 'Vol. 4' isn't a perfect record, and if I had to pick the weakest record of Sabbath's legendary 'first 5', it's probably this one, but the daringness to try new things and still produce a record of such finesse despite all the coke usage is a testament to Sabbath's undeniable penchant for exciting headbangers.....and the odd touching moment. Best song: Wheels of Confusion, Tomorrow's Dream, CHANGES (in caps, because this song is God Tier), Supernaut, Snowblind, Under the Sun

Nothing else to say

Vocals were great

Love this record. Supernaut is a banger

There's some great band moments on here that raises it amongst the rest in a genre of hard rock / metal that isn't a favourite of mine. The second half of Wheels of Confusion (the instrumental part), the drumming in particular of Supernaut in particular. I like that it's got some light and breaks from the onslaught at times like Changes and Laguna Sunrise. I guess I like the band but am not such a fan of the yelling version of Ozzy.

3.4

Very good but it's a little too old for me to enjoy to the fullest

Has one of my favorite songs - ‘Changes’ - even if I like Charles Bradley’s version better!

Pretty solid, I think I liked Paranoid and Master of Reality more but there were some chunky riffs on this one! Snowblind and Changes were my favorite

This album was a lot of fun. I only recognized Changes but it was a pleasure to listen from front to back. I am ashamed to say my Black Sabbath knowledge did not begin to grow until after the death of the late Ozzy Ozbourne. But with this record and Paranoid under my belt I would consider myself a fan

changes

Vol. 4 isn’t quite as strong as Black Sabbath’s first couple albums, but I still really liked it. It has this cocaine-fueled, slightly unhinged energy that somehow never falls apart

I’ve never been a huge Sabbath fan, and I honestly haven’t spent much time with their catalog, but hearing this record makes me think that might’ve been a youthful mistake. Vol. 4 is a great album. The second half suffers from some noticeably rougher production, but overall it’s a heavy, creative, and surprisingly engaging listen. It definitely makes me want to dig deeper into their discography.

4 more volumes! 4 more volumes!

Really good album. The hits are great, other songs are good. Not much else I can say about such an iconic band. Love the sludgyness of some of the riffs and I know that that was their big trademark at the time. RIP Ozzy

How high were these guys when they recorded "FX"? And at what point did they listen to the record sober and think, "Oops?" Also it's amazing that "Supernaut" isn't as canonical as some of Black Sabbath's biggest hits. That song rips.

Greatest album of all time. Love this album so much, made me a huge fan of Black Sabbath. No skip album. 10/10

Now THIS is a classic. The fourth in an unparalleled six-album run of masterpieces that laid the groundwork for the entire metal genre, it is packed full of excellent metal songs such as "Snowblind" and "Supernaut". However, it also shows plenty of sonic variation with "Changes" and "Laguna Sunrise" being more mellow tracks that serve to counterbalance the album's heaviness well. "FX" is nothing, but at least it's fairly short.

Ikkje så dumt

It's embarrassing, but even when I was deeply into hard rock, I somehow managed to miss this album, even though I knew it was awesome. It's a solid record, but for me, the two previous albums are much stronger.

Very good

I think it might be a weird decision to some that this album’s on the list and not Master of Reality. But while I agree that album’s a classic, I’m a little inclined to prefer Vol. 4 over it. Maybe it’s because it’s a little different from the band’s other discography or maybe classic rock radio made me a little sick of Sweet Leaf. The album’s a little disjointed, but it doesn’t matter. I’d fuck with Supernaut and have room for Changes, which might be one of my top 5 Black Sabbath songs. Kind of love how a band considered to be controversial at the time produce one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard. Like Rick James said: Cocaine’s a hell of a drug. It’s really sad I got all the Black Sabbath albums on the list after Ozzy’s death. So here’s one last RIP to a real legend. Favorite track: Changes and Supernaut (they tie) Other hits: Wheels of Confusion, Snowblind, Cornucopia, Under the Sun, Laguna Sunrise

Another rather strong entry by Black Sabbath although I kind of wish this website would pick one album per band or artist. But this was a fun, more mature aspect of Black Sabbath that I didn't know. I personally liked Changes and Laguna Surprise which had hints of Les Zeppelin in them.

Fav new album for me!

laguna sunrise was very pleasant

Laguna Sunrise was a welcome surprise on this album, not a fan of the rest of it

I really haven't gone past the first three records with Sabbath. This will all be new to me. This is pretty much what I expected, though that's not a bad thing. Changes is a really interesting turn. I actually never realized this song is originally theirs. Laguna Sunrise is gorgeous. Really nice chord movement and acoustic playing. I wonder if they were being influenced by the prog movement of the early 70s at this time. Of course he is a groundbreaking legend, incredibly influential, and this may just be because of his missing fingertips, but I feel like Tony Iommi is kind of a messy guitarist. There's a few runs where it feels like he didn't really bother to figure out the notes. Maybe that's part of the charm. Under the Sun/Every Day Comes And Goes sounds like the foundation of all modern doom metal and metalcore. This is definitely a very cool record, and you can hear the influence it had on the metal world. They introduce some new interesting stuff here vs. first three records. Curious to listen to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath now!

Laguna Sunrise is the best track here, but overall a great album.

Part of Sabbath's early run of magnificent albums, Vol. 4 invents the entire genre of sludge-infused doom metal. Filled with terrific riffs and Ozzy at his arguable finest, it's a great listen from start to finish and one of the greatest hard rock / metal albums of all time.

I've struggled with Ozzy's voice - but Black Sabbath have some great tracks - Changes in particular of course.

Bon vieux album de métal comme on les imagine !

Was shocked when a cover of Changes came on. Dug it.

Actually pretty diverse but once they get into their grungy stuff its a bit tragically bad. I think i have to round to a 3 though because their range is pretty creative

Me when im trying to remember the title of Black Sabbaths fourth album On some normie type shit Too many drugs I guess Rest in peace, Prince of Darkness

Classic metal

Some monumental tracks, here, with Ozzie's great voice

You can see how big a band made some one, you can see the shirts everywhere and even own one without knowing just how good that band is. I believe this is the third Black Sabbath project on this project and everytime I’m blown away by how good the music is. It helps you understand what’s behind the popularity, I enjoyed this listen!

First Time Listening To Black Sabbath And Its Awesom

There’s often a lot of talk about which bands had the rest 3/4 album run. Sabbath clears that easily with probably the best 6 album run ever, with Vol.4 obviously sitting around the middle. It’s here where songs get longer with multiple sections, the production gets cleaner and the palette of sounds gets wider. It’s crazy that heavy, proggy songs like Wheels of Confusion and Supernaut can sit comfortably alongside ballads like Changes but Ozzy’s always on-point vocals anchor everything and make it flow. Other albums in this run have more iconic songs, are heavier or darker. But Vol.4 feels like it expands the sound of their first 3 classic albums and sets them up to deliver the further classics that followed.

When you look up perfection in the dictionary, this album is the cover photo.

Classic metal, Black Sabbath is always a good listen. This album shreds.

man Changes is so good, Black Sabbath and Ozzy were a staple in my house growing up, and it blew my mind how much of this album I recognized. Trademark early metal sound but a bit on the softer side if that makes sense. Also all these breakdowns making me want to thrash.

Really great album. More melodic and less heavy metal than other Black Sabbath albums and I dug that. Plus “Changes” is an all time classic so good for them!

When it boils down to it, I can’t really be arsed with heavy metal. But of course that’s a blanket statement whereas in reality it’s a spectrum, and for me Black Sabbath are at the end that isn’t too far removed from good blues-rock. They do have their Spinal Tap moments but Ozzy Osbourne’s lyrics and vocal stylings are relatively grounded and thus more engaging for me than heavy metal of a more grandiose stamp. Some of the riffs are pretty cool too. And the ballad Changes is Stones-ish and a nice song. Plus I have affection for BS songs like Paranoid and War Pigs (not from this album of course) that were part of the journey to punk rock in the 70s. And Supernaut on this album is a bit Hendrix-y, in a good way. Not really my thing though.

Very much early 70's Sabbath style. Despite it being a pretty heavy rock album, there's still place for the Changes and Laguna Sunrise tracks, both of which I like. Tony Iommi's guitar riffs are always top quality and bring a great melody to all tracks.

Its fine. Some good songs, Changes will forever be awful.

Great music and didn’t know “changes” sample

Rock and Roll at its Finest

Changes had taken on a new meaning since Ozzy’s passing and is still the best (and most surprising) track on here but this is a belting collection of songs.

Как-то я раньше пропускал этот альбом, и вобщем-то я понял почему. Честно говоря, и сейчас местами он мне кажется скучноватым. Но - я понимаю, что просто нужно внимательней расслушать. Пятерку не поставлю, но четверку точно заслуживает

God they just didn't mess about did they

Ok but quite an odd collection of tracks that doesn't seem that cohesive as an album. A few good classics metal tracks but interspersed with some quite average tracks.

Black Sabbath 4 doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s a near perfect heavy metal album. They did what they did better than anyone else. Even the sequencing tropes of having one ballad and one instrumental was standard for the genre for years to come.

Ned so viel in erinnerg bliebe aber het mi i keinere wiis gstört und bi paarne tracks doch sehr freud gha 3 mönet sabbathical uf das

Ich wirde nöd warm mit black sabbath. isch mir zu rockig - alt gebacken. Darum schlah ich es album rebranding for Sta. 2

Classic metal. RIP Ozzy.

Changes er så god! Men resten er ikke lige mig

Best song is Snowblind, Changes close second. 7/10 album.

interesting, a departure from the typical metal sound

one of the greatest albums of history

I didn’t realize how much I like Black Sabbath until now. It’s fun that on some of the tracks, Ozzy sounds like he’s on the other side of the room from the mic. RIP Ozzy.

++: Tomorrow's Dream, Changes, FX, Supernaut, Snowblind, Cornucopia +: Wheels of Confusion, Laguna Sunrise +-: St. Vitus Dance, Under the Sun 7,7/10

a classic, the beginnings of that well-known raw and hard sound. cornucopia one of my favourite songs by them. a very good listen, would recommend

Love a 7-minute opener. Great heavy fuzzy guitars. Acoustic instrumental "Laguna Sunrise" is a lovely change of pace.

This is a weird album. Apparently, there are metal artists who understand that there are tempos that exist slower than allegro and dynamics quieter than fortissimo. Seriously, though, I did like this. I don't think I want to hear it often, but the lyrics are compelling and work with the music. It's got a driving beat when it suits the song, but there's more range here than the FanThrashtic 4 have between them.

Classic Sabbath great album

Another great Sabbath album. These guys just put out good tunes. Vol. 4 seems a little less heavy than previous entries but it's no less fun. It starts strong and carries through the whole album. I can't find much to fault on this album. The ambient track "FX" is kinda dumb, but it's so short who really cares? The songs are all catchy, the lyrics are pure Black Sabbath, the band is killing it, it's all great. The piano/acoustic guitars/mellotron are a really cool change of pace and work well with in the slower songs. Standouts were "Wheels of Confusion" - those verses are just, chefs kiss - "Changes," and "Supernaut" Another 5. It's a cool metal album with a lot of nice variance track to track. The whole thing feels well thought out. RIP Ozzman

Good, but not the best Sabbath album

It deleted my comments!!!! Damnit

Okay so I listened to the entire album and didnt even notice when it ended and moved into a new one. Loved it! Black Sabbath always hits though. It was interesting to hear Ozzy sing about love and loss, although now that I consider it, I guess that is kinda always what his jams have been about. I wondered if Changes was about Sharon. They did break up a few times, right? Idk. More research required.

Somewhat mediocre Sabbath album with some real standouts on it. Supernaut again presaging doom/stoner rock. All hail

it was a good album with great songs like changes for me its one of the best black sabbath album after war pigs

This might be my fourth favorite Black Sabbath album. I think I stopped checking out their discography after the Self-Titled, Paranoid, and Master of Reality. I never made it to Vol. 4. I can kind of see why. Some of the songs are pretty great, I liked the opening track and really enjoyed Supernaut. I wasn't sure why FX was on there as a track, sounded like my kids trying to mess with my guitar and someone recorded it. Kind of a waste of a track. I'm not sure why Changes is such a popular track, too, it has the most listens of the album on Spotify. Not all that impressive of a ballad, imo. I think this is a good album, but as far as Sabbath goes, the first three albums belong on this list, not sure if Vol. 4 does.

Rocking album!

Absolutely bananas that “Changes” is a Black Sabbath original. I had no idea. Lovely song with a great, earnest vocal performance from Ozzy. Rips pretty damn hard. I’d feel comfortable calling myself a casual Sabbath fan at this point. A cut above the hard rock of its time.

i love the wall of sound but its sometimes tiring to hear just guitar solos over and over

Tälle levy pystyy antamaan ainoastaan viisi tähteä, koska Black Sabbath. Levyn parhaimmistoa on ”Supernaut” ja ”Changes”. Toimii!

Great album. I was surprised at the quality of the recording sound, and at how melodious these tracks are. Many people negatively connote devilry and heavy metal to Sabbath, but this album reminds listeners of their musical prowess and even a classical sensibility to many melodies. Bravo.

Changes. Snowblind.

piacevole ma non riascolterei attivamente

Mi secca mettere 4 come "Born in the usa" ma 5 mi sembra troppo. Album strafigo imho. "Changes" hit, un cantante heavy metal che fa una ballad romantica su una base così semplice mi fa ascoltare un sacco il testo e la sua voce un po' aspra rende il brano molto diretto. Fun fact: mi piace un sacco cantarla da solo al piano

My religious dad named Black Sabbath as one of THOSE bands...you know, a bad, satanic one that makes you sin and whatnot. I thoroughly enjoyed the album, the pure grime of it made me happy.

Its fine, I don't dislike it, just not sure we need another Sabbath album on the list when it's weaker than the previous two. 2.5/5. Raising to 3.

Nicht so mein Fall. Zu hektisch!

All just blended into one for me

RIP Ozzy

- I don't support Zionists and SAers. - Lucikly, I also find the music pretty boring - it just doesn’t move me, except for small parts like the sudden melody in Snowblind, and Laguna Sunrize is a pretty break from the aggro vibe throughout. I honestly don’t remember any of the album after listening to it (other than Changes, I guess, which is pretty enough, but the "cat-hat-sat" style lyrics take me out of the vibe). I wouldn’t reach for this album again, even if it wasn’t off the table because of Ozzy. - The solo guitar work is pretty great, though.

Sabbath has still got it here but by now the formula isn’t as novel or exciting as it was on the first few records. Still got the riffs, still got the mood and it’s got a few departures from the sabbath formula with one “Changes” working out really well for them. This album for me is where the quality in Sabbath material starts to drop a little though. 6/10 Favorite tracks “Changes” “Supernaut” “St. Vitus Dance”

🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

Actually a good album!! I didn’t realize I liked the general sound of Black Sabbath, I just know their anthologies.

3.5 RYM

Liked the 2nd side much more than the first. Really evolves into the sound thry are kmown for

A bit heavy for me!

I realise, hearing it again after a fair few years, that this album means a lot to me.

I thought that was excellent. My favourite Sabbath offering so far. I enjoyed it way more than the vast majority of 4s that I’ve given. So, although it’s probably a very high 4, it deserves a 5 to separate it from the pack. Can’t wait to review Black Sabbath 23 in 2029.

Worst of the 3 so far. Still not bad.

Marking down to a 4 because of Changes

Yep, pretty consistently good again

Quick album to listen to. Was a blast hearing Black Sabbath with a very different sound for the most part.

7/10

Rock on brother 🤙It's not quite Paranoid, but even on first listen wow is it close. A lot of nice touches outside the pure heavy metal sound too.

same as always they don't have a bad album

So good

Very heavy. Incredible vocals from Ozzy. Some songs are a surprising change of pace. I really liked the song "Changes"

Grungy, greasy, dark, heavy amazing music from the metal masters.

Really great album. Lacks the "big" singles of Paranoid but has more variety of songs. Really good album.

Nunca entendí lo de este grupo. El cantante tiene la voz más desagradable del rock. Hoy al escucharlo me ha parecido que sonaba mejor (era una versión remasterizada) a nivel instrumental. Incluso me han parecido mejores las canciones. No obstante, la voz sigue siendo insoportable.

Great workout album!

i like the other sabbath albums on the list more but last track was really very good

7/10 Highlights: Snowblind Under the Sun Changes Wheels of Confusion Laguna Sunrise St. Vitus Dance

Solid rock album, and after reading some other reviews I have a fuller appreciation for what it is and the time that it came from. It would have been a heavy sound at the time, and still is now, paired with some slower and more introspective tracks.

I haven’t listened to a lot of Black Sabbath. I know the hits. Listening to the whole album was a pleasantly surprising experience.

Great stuff. RIP Ozzy

Maybe as good as Paranoid. Great balance of loud rock and quiet, more psychedelic songs like Changes.

Black Sabbath was the first full-on metal band, and this album made me start wondering if they were the best metal band. I previously got Paranoid from this generator, which was an easy 5, and though I think Paranoid is better, this album had a lot of what I loved about it, like the incredible musicianship an the strong songwriting. Though this album had great performances from every member, it felt like the bass was mixed way too quiet. The extra power that louder bass could have supplied may have pushed this to a 5, but I think a 4 is slightly more fitting. 4/5

A couple of good songs, but not my style

Not a fan. But did enjoy more than I thought I would. I have always liked Supernaut. However, I had listened to the 1000 Homo DJs cover first and prefer it.

Pierwszy raz słuchałam black sabbath, dobrze mnie motywowało do pracy

i expected quick 1/5 and turn off after 1st song, but first 20 seconds convinced me to listen a bit more and this dark version beatels is listenable strong 3/5

Spodziewałam się bandy rozwrzeszczanych odpałów grających mi na nerwach, a dostałam naprawdę ciekawą muzę Momentami za intensywnie ale overall stabilna trójeczka

Ponderous

It’s good but master of reality should be here

This was amazing. An absolute 10/10. But in this case, 5/5. I saved “Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener,” “Changes,” “Supernaut,” “Snowblind,” and “Under The Sun/Every Day Comes And Goes”. Every other song that i didn’t favorite was still great.

Favourite Sabbath album

70s metal about cocane use. Not my bag.

Good album. Some songs I did not expect on it.

Vol 4 is probably the early Ozzy Sabbath album I’ve listened to the least. I don’t think it’s as strong as their self titled or Paranoid, but any album with Supernaut on it is pretty damn great.

Noen fete riff. Men ikke sikker på disse balladene.

Third BS album on here that I’ve enjoyed. Never knew I was such a fan. Been missing out. Listened to running!

One of my favorite CDs in middle school was Black Sabbath's greatest hits. This is my second Black Sabbath album on this site, and in both cases, my favorite songs were not actually on the greatest hits. And, in both cases one or two songs makes it just shy of a five star album to me. In this case I would hardly call "FX" a song, and other than that "Changes" was easily my least favorite. So, if it weren't for that one to punch of WTF, this would easily be a five-star album. These guys absolutely kick ass, and I'm guessing there's more of their stuff to come on this site. 4.5

Sabbath. Need I say more.

This album is pretty good. I was going to give it 3 stars as I'm sorry to say O.O.'s voice really irritates me but the music is magnificent and not boringly repetitive like the Oz's voice. It's amazing to think that this was released in 1972. It must have been mind-blowing at the time.

Easy listening but not for me. 2

really good but not my favorite. changes isn't that good i feel like i need to be in the right mood for it

I've already listened to his album (23). Canonical Black Sabbath.

Why? If you have it on this setting, you can barely hear the music.

Le métal c’est vraiment pas mon truc

Je m’étais préparé à écouter un album de giga métal avec des mecs qui crient dans des micros mais en fait c’était plutôt du rock j’étais un peu déçu

Great

One of the best albums of all time. The peak of Sabbath songwriting. Wheels of Confusion and Tomorrow's Dream are great, Under the Sun might be my favorite. Absolutely stacked track list. FX still sucks.

Fun album to listen to. Very good vibes.

Its great, but sometimes creative choices in the tracklisting makes you go... huh... FX, Laguna Sunrise.

Least favorite Sabbath album so far, but that's like saying my least favorite type of pizza.

Not as good as led zeppelin but not the heavy heavy death metal I was expecting. I like it.

Music is fine. Voice rather annoying…

I enjoyed the album I've never listened to it before

1. I fucking love Black Sabbath. They have been an important part of my musical life since I was in middle school. 2. I also love that this is now my 3rd Sabbath album on this list. Given how much shit there is, it's refreshing to see a band that really deserves multiple entries is getting them. 4. RIP Ozzy 3. 5 stars bitches.

Fine, but not my thing.

Sensational, a visceral album - full of reflection and creativity. Incredibly, I knew some of the songs through other artists. It was a very good experience!

Second Sabbath album, with the first one coming the day after Ozzy's death (much like many others who got an Ozzy/Sabbath album that day). This album is good, and while it's close, it's not as great to me as the original Black Sabbath album. There are some excellent songs on this, no doubt. Snowblind is a great rock song. I'm sure many might consider this metal but that's solely because Ozzy is fronting it. In truth, it's much more of a straightforward rock track. What made this album different for me, though, was how they showed more musicality on this, mixing in cool ballads like Changes and Laguna Sunrise amongst all of the very powerful tracks. A testament to how talented the entire group truly was. Meanwhile, Ozzy's voice just is so amazing, it really soars throughout this record. I do think it is a more complex, more refined, and more diverse record, I just happen to not like it as much as the initial Sabbath album, probably because the original was so raw, and yet, still completely beyond what anyone else was doing at the time. Nevertheless, a 4 star record for me.

Never thought much of Black Sabbath, but this album was GREAT! 🤯Best songs: Changes, Supernaut

They are okay. When you make as much music as they make you are bound to have a few hits.

Amazing album First and last songs are crazy

Amazing album. Amazing instrumentals (including the solos) and Osbourne's voice is magnificent, especially on "Changes." While I was walking through the halls and listening to the closing track, someone remarked that I was "aura-farming."

As Henry Rollins says “You can only trust yourself and the first six Black Sabbath albums” I’d expand that to include at least the Heaven and Hell record but I digress. It’s undeniable how bulletproof the 70’s Sabbath catalog is, Vol. 4 being no exception. While not my absolute favorite of the catalog, it’s one of the best albums they ever made. Sabbath is so foundational to my musical upbringing, reviewing an album is akin to making pros and cons lists about my own genetic code. What I think about it is irrelevant. It’s in me all the way down to the core. The crushing groove of “Wheels of Confusion” starts the record off in true Sabbath form. It’s impossible not to rock out on the blistering solo/instrumental section dubbed “The Straightener”. Changes is such a simple yet underrated ballad. The way Ozzy delivers the message with his emotional vocals proves what range he had as an artist. The lyrical pendulum swinging from this wistful tune into the depths of cocaine madness on “Snowblind”; one of the heaviest songs of all time. You don’t have to be mired in 70s excess to feel Ozzy’s pain on this song. It’s raw, vulnerable, with his still beating heart pinned to his sleeve. The whole album is a masterclass in guitar work. From the monster riffs like “Supernaut” to the delicate arrangement of “Laguna Sunrise”; a tropical island doober jamboree. Lest we forget Bill Ward’s ripping drums of thunder on Under The Sun. Throw it on driving through the desert at top speed. You won’t regret it.

Sabbath's early records, before the drugs took over and the creative spark faded, were special. They created a genre, taking much from what had come before, and before that new genre took off they went and created a couple of off-shoots. No content with creating Heavy Metal, this album saw them move further from Doom Metal and into sludge territory. People forget, or may not be aware just how great the musicians in this group were, effortlessly flowing from jazz to heavy rock to funk in their own demented way.

The primordial soup of perfect riffs

One of the best made metal albums of all time. Everything to the guitars and vocals make this a perfect album.

Wieder Ozzy, schon spannend wie die damals dem Metal gespürt/rfunden haben,Visionär! c

freedom is yours just pay your dues

Nem hallgattam vegig. Eljart felette az ido

This the the album with Supernaut! A few great tunes on here, keeping Black Sabbath on the path of pioneers of metal

Better than I expected actually.

Surprisingly melodic and not at all what I had expected. I should perhaps check my prejudices.

An old high school favorite.

A classic, even if it doesn't quite reach the peaks that their first couple albums did.

Starting to really love Black Sabbath. I knew I enjoyed all the big hits. And have grown to know a handful of lesser known hits from WSP and other bands that cover them regularly, but getting to know the full albums has been a very good thing.

Excellent metal.

Incredible album. I didn't know a lot of these songs, but I enjoyed the listen. It's funny how far music has come since this. This didn't seem "heavy" at all to me, but more just regular classic rock. I know that when it came out though it was probably the heaviest thing around. Thankful for bands like this that led the way.

Really liked this one, just some lovely hard rock that really just sounds good, don’t know how else to describe it, just really nice. 4 stars

Never listened to sabbath before, but I actually enjoyed this. Thought it would be "heavy metal" as i understood it, but it's more like prog/rock ala king crimson or similar.

Good Sabbath album, loved the strigns-acoustic guitar combo in Laguna Sunrise

They made a new heavy sound and they never moved from there

Ok ….

Оззи был живой хоть куда.

Haven't ever listened to Black Sabbath before. Didn't hate it. Thought it would be more aggressive. Changes was downright sweet, but whoever approved FX should be fired.

Not my style but can see how some might like it

Оззи Озборн - сигма, но всё такое однообразное у группы…

I think its a good album. Some classics, it was for sure nice to comeback to it. But i wouldn't say it is the best from black sabbath, even less the best of all time. Clean album, nice sounds. Nothing much more to say. I would give it a 3/5 or a solid 7 out of 10

not as metal as you'd think, mostly just gothic, honestly not that exciting of an album.