Vol. 4

Good one

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

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

8/10

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

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

да

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

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

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

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

liked songs: yes Great 4.25

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

4 stars

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

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

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

Not my favorite Sabbath album but still not terrible.

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoyed this. Sabbath with Ozzy is the best Sabbath.

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

3.8

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

so good! cant believe i havent listened to it before

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One of the best outro tracks I've ever heard

BOWWAHHHWHHWHWAAAAH

Prefer Master of Reality, but a real one nonetheless.

Блестяще

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s great

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great album, I already loved Sabbath.

Underestimated.

Not their best (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath) but great nonetheless.

I was only familiar with Black Sabbath's first two albums. So, I never heard this before. I like it a lot. However, I could only give it four stars because the first two albums are definitely five stars and this is not quite as good as they are. It's still rocks.

I'm not a fan of metal/heavy metal but this is beautiful and really surprised me. Osbourne's vocals and the instruments are heavy rocking but at the same time are also harmonic, symphony-like even.

Probably their 4th/5th best album but some classics on here. Snowblind is the best track on here, Supernaut and Wheels of Confusion are also top tier Sabbath. Changes is a great song but its position in the album is very strange 4.25/5

Great

It’s not paranoid Can’t believe it it’s 1971

4 for 4

Never heard this album or any of the songs but really enjoyed it. They were way more than just OZZY

Immediately when I saw the album cover, I thought this would be my first 5-star review. But no. Although this album contains a few of my Sabbath favourites, the album as a whole doesn't reach the highest peak of these reviews. Uneven album, contrary to my memories, surprisingly stale sounds. Still shining 4 stars.

Back in basics. This album has been spinning on my analog and digital turntable for years. Not the best Black Sabbath to me as an album, but still very good. I don't know if it's Ozzy's voice or Iommi's guitars but Black Sabbath goes never to backround-music -category. It is always music that needs to be listened.

Amazing that they were blinded by that much snow and their songwriting is still that good, must have had winter tires on….

245/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

Reminded me of the '90s wishing I grew up in the '70s.

Another classic album. Not the one that blew my mind, but I still do really like it and think it is very important. Not much else to say. This will always be a progenitor of a lot of music I listen to and something that still is very listenable and enjoyable today that I will continually go back to.

I do love me some black Sabbath, but can't say I actually listened to this album. Pretty good. Didn't realize they wrote changes. Ozzys career in the 80's makes more sense

Volume 4? Solid 4. Not the best album by the band but still very good.

Nice stuff. Some good guitar riffs here that I zoned out to 4 ⭐️

A lot better than I was expecting.

Solid Black Sabbath album. FX is odd, but besides that the usual stuff from them. They were such a inspiration for all of metal and hard rock. Highlights - Cornucopia, Supernaut, Changes, Wheels of confusion Lowlights - FX, Laguna Sunrise

(8.6) ★★★★

I keep this album at 4 stars, like I had it when I did the Sabbath dive. A solid album, but not my absolute favourite Sabbath album.

More accessible than I had anticipated. Sounds dated, but clearly a good example of its genre. Love Ozzy’s vocal!

X,y,z

Before this exercise in music I assumed I knew what Black Sabbath was. I was wrong and I love it. 🤘

O Vol. 4 do Black Sabbath é uma jornada sonora intensa, a atmosfera densa e opressiva criada pelos riffs pesados e pela bateria implacável é contrabalançada por momentos de beleza melódica. A voz e Ozzy Osbourne, combinada com as letras que exploram temas obscuros e psicodélicos, cria uma experiência auditiva única. Assim como o álbum remete ao numero 4, Vol. 4, minha nota é 4: um clássico atemporal que continua muito bem nos alicerces do rock.

Damn, this is an absolute banger??? Surprisingly amount of diversity for Sabbath, really liked it.

Wasn’t expecting to like this as it’s not really a genre I like. However, was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it in the end.

Enjoyed it will listen again

4.0

Ahead of its time. Hard pounding, grungier sound before grunge.

Super awesome they r the fucking kings of heavy rock. Also amazing pretty stuff on here

AYY AY AY AY Black Sabbath delivers

Not a big fan of Sabbath, still a solid record for me

Didn’t know this album well at all. Was actually pretty good- loved supernaut and snowblind. Still very much sabbath although more nuanced in a way than other albums I had heard. Not my favourite but solid.

4 - Black Sabbath was much better than I thought, also so many projects

Liked thus more than I thought I would. I know they are considered Godfathers of Heavy Metal, but also can see the throughline to Grunge acts like Soundgarden.

sick. liked the songs that were a little melancholy or thoughtful

Vol. 4 is the fourth album from Black Sabbath, the band that arguably defined "heavy metal." Their first four albums are often regarded as among the best metal albums ever released. Vol. 4 does not include any of the bands biggest hit singles, but the album was still remarkably successful; a testament to the broad influence and appeal of the band's work. Black Sabbath's distinct sound comes from Ozzy Osborne's wailing vocals and Tony Iommi's screaming guitar riffs. The created the basis of heavy metal, and influenced generations of musicians in the range of genres that metal has evolved into.

This was an amazing album! It was a lot more complex than I expected. I have listened to them in my youth but I can’t say that I am a Black Sabbath fan but I think this is worth listening to more than just once for this project.

And thoroughly grungy rock album. Thick fuzzy guitars with non traditional arrangements. Ozzy sounds great although I’ve found is voice to be a little grating as I’ve gotten older. This album has clearly influenced everyone from Metallica to the Queens of the Stone Age. Probably my favorite Sabbath album.

This was cooler than I remember. I quite like this.

banco

not as perfect as the first 3 sabbath albums but still incredible

Good

Black Sabbath Vol. 4 shows why they’re legends in rock. The drumming hits hard, the guitars rip with heavy riffs, and Ozzy’s voice. They try new things here, and it all lands—especially “Changes,” which lets them step outside their usual sound. The opening track is classic Sabbath, starting things strong with that two-songs-in-one vibe. This album is solid and I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve listened to it.

This album didn’t do much for me, I liked the guitar parts but the overall sound and vibe got old for me fast. Lyrics were interesting which earned it an extra point. Favorite songs were: 5. Supernaut 6. Snowblind 7/10

This album is fun. Black Sabbath have such a distinct sound, they are unmistakable. "Changes" was a cool tone switch. This is the first song I recognize myself. "Supernaut" and "Snowblind" both rock. "Laguna Sunrise" is another nice tone switch to break it up a little. I enjoyed this album. The sound is a little too repetitive to give it an incredible rating, but I do like the sound a lot. They mix it up here and there to prevent it getting stale and the album has a pretty good run-time. 7/10

70S Sabbath is very good! One thing that Sabbath do well is mix heavy rock with beautiful moments. Changes followed by FX is a great example of that. I love Ozzy’s voice on this album. This album is great. Favourite song: Changes Least favourite: I hate a not needed guitar solo. Wheels of confusion has a very long one Album artwork: Cool cover.

Pretty solid

🤘

Not something I would typically listen to but it's a great album. Good driving music!

8/10 Truly some of the best guitar riffs ever on this album. Tony Iommi is a genius. Favourite Song=Changes Least Favourite Song=FX

Not really my genre, but there is no denying that this album rocks

None of the Black Sabbath songs I'm familiar with, but none of them really disappointed. Although, would be hard to pick a standout

I've always known and heard Black Sabbath, but it's only now, in my 50s, that I've heard a full album of theirs. Anyway, I think music is like books, they come to us and choose us when they think it's most appropriate (and not the other way around, as many people think!). Good album, I liked it... but now, for me, it's much easier to appreciate “heavy” music anyway :-)

Absolutely loved it. Only down side was two whiney songs that abruptly broke the grove imo. Why did metal bands in those days insist on making balads, even if they clearly werent very good at it?

My introduction to Black Sabbath was through my mom (my intro into most music), who always changed the station any time they came on because HER earliest memories of them are of my uncle locking himself in his (their shared) room, blasting Sabbath, and stinking up the place with weed. It was such a visceral experience for her when they came on and naturally, I was excited to discover a new way to annoy her. So, with my limited resources (I was 12) I acquired a Vol. 4 CD—not quite enough resources to also get weed—and would play it non-stop when she got home from her long workday. Anyway, Changes is an all-time favorite for me and I love its melancholic departure from their usual sound. That said, it's followed by one of the most baffling choices on any album ever. FX is an immediate skip with no hesitation from me. An experiment that doesn't come close to fitting the flow of the album at all. This is nearly a 5-star album for me for many reasons. But despite how much I love this album, it's the only Black Sabbath record I've listened to front-to-back. It makes me wonder why I never really explored them further. Also, I'm going to call my mom and apologize.

This is the Black Sabbath album I am handing to someone who has only heard the big hits. Changes is their best ballad and Snowblind rules but, I'm not sure who FX is for and the breakdown in Supernaut is really silly.

Not my favourite Sabbath album but enjoyable all the same

rock on

Solid rokk. Djöfulsins Ozzy. Góður experimentalismi, þetta er svo early stöff en samt svo satanískt og grjóthart. Love it.

Before: VERY curious, never really listened to them before After: LOVED IT! Loved the minor cords, the drama, everything. 10/10 (except changes, FX and laguna sunrise)

They went all in. There’s a beautiful range here that brings this album to another level. It rocks the fuck out even though there aren’t any of Black Sabbath’s big hits on here. Pitch perfect vocals, gorgeously innovative instrumentation, incredible writing. A bit of experimentation that worked in some areas and not in another, but mainly, fucking sick the whole way through. I’d give it a nine out of ten but I’m limited to half a denominator. 4/5

Preferred this to the previous Sabbath offering. Especially liked Supernaut.

Some classic metal, you can't really beat Sabbath. Stand out tracks: Changes, Snow blind and wheels of confusion

though this doesn't have any of their earth-shatteringly massive hits, this album still hits hard as only 70s hard rock and metal can. changes is a tune and ozzy is in prime form here. i listened the whole way through twice, and could see myself coming back to this from time to time. favorites: changes, supernaut, snowblind, laguna sunrise

Great easy listening metal album. So not really metal?

Great album - RIP Ozzy 🥲

Some real departures from their past work here, focusing on straight metal-oriented bangers, some acoustic work, and then the unexpected but unforgettable synth-charged ballad "Changes". You can really hear Iommi's presence in the production booth on this one, stretching his wings stylistically. While the heavy rock songs are often not quite as memorable, the explorations are warranted and interesting. There's plenty of takeaways such as the 1-2 punch of Supernaut and Snowblind to satisfy. No regrets on this listen, Sabbath forever.

While I know who Black Sabbath and Ozzy are I havent relly listened to a whole album of theirs before. Dreamer is the stand out song for me but the whole album was a good listen. FX as an instrumental song in the middle seemed a bit out of place but from what I knew about the band I guess I shouldn't be very surprised. Laguna sunrise as a later instrumental song fit the album much better in my opinion. A strong album but not something I would listen all the way through again.

fantastic album by one of the seminal bands in the history of heavy metal. while this album’s predecessor “master of reality” is often credited with creating the genre known as stoner metal, this album doesn’t simply retread those grounds, but expands upon them; the distortion is still there but the guitars are not always as dense. just a fine effort from the entire band, really. “you can only trust yourself and the first six black sabbath albums.” tis a quote attributed to henry rollins, and honestly it’s hard to disagree with that. you can’t go wrong with any of them. highlights: “wheels of confusion” “changes” “supernaut” “snowblind”

I have heard of Black Sabbath. I certainly know who Ozzy is, but mostly because of his reality show, which was, for a minute, somehow unavoidable. Before today, I'd never knowingly listened to Black Sabbath, and wouldn't have been able to name a song, album, or even that this was the band Ozzy was in. Honestly, this was great. I really appreciate that Ozzy actually sings with some skill, and the guitar and percussion are fire. Love the instrumental, Laguna Sunrise. This is far more melodious than I would have guessed.

Listening to Black bloody Sabbath and enjoying it, thoroughly? Who'd have guessed it. Wheels of Confusion, Changes and Laguna Sunrise as my favourites. Listened to this while walking along the Seine from Trocadero to Monnaie, odd choice for such a setting but it worked!

I loved this and was surprisingly prog-rock too. Will listen again.

Very good, unique instrumentally and sounds a bit like Jimi Hendrix/Cream.

While not quite as popular as paranoid, it is just as good, and a bit more experimental.

Oh man, this will be my last Black Sabbath album to review. I was really surprised by how much I loved their self-titled album and Paranoid, which both got five stars from me. I have pretty high expectations for Vol. 4 as well, so let's get this Metal Monday started! I thought Vol. 4 was a bit of a step down from the other Black Sabbath albums I've reviewed, but it was still really good. It seemed to me that this album had a bit more emphasis on rhythms that the previous Sabbath albums, and that made it really fun to groove to as I listened to it. Really fun to groove to. This album felt more like a traditional hard rock album than a heavy metal album, and while Sabbath excels at any hard rock, I think they're at their best when they're darker and more chaotic. Despite that, I really enjoyed "Changes," because I think it shows the band's talent and range as musicians and songwriters. "Laguna Sunrise" fell into the same boat, as far as being really different that the other songs on the album, and while it was good, I liked "Changes" better. On the other Sabbath albums I've reviewed, I really loved the drumming, but on Vol.4, "Supernaut" was really the only one that stood out to me when it came to the drumming. The additional percussion elements used on "Supernaut" were great too. One of the other miscues for me on Vol. 4 is that the more traditional metal songs (like "Cornucopia" and "Wheels of Confusion") just didn't have that special 'Sabbath touch' like their other songs typically do. Overall, this was a really good album, it just fell a little short with me.

The recording was plagued with problems, many due to substance abuse. In the studio, the band regularly had speaker boxes full of cocaine delivered. Ozzy: "Eventually we started to wonder where the fuck all the coke was coming from ... that coke was the whitest, purest, strongest stuff you could ever imagine. One sniff, and you were king of the universe." Prvo se pitam... kak su svi oni još živi... Drugo, album tako i zvuči. Odličan bend odličan album, omogućio je stvaranje jednih od mojih dražih žanrova glazbe doom i stoner. Vrlo dobar album! 8/10

8/10 Doslo ko naruceno! Sabbathe volim u zadnje vrijeme pustiti, pogotovo kad je ciscenje doma na redu ili mi nesto ide na k, ali valjaju i kad se zelim malo maknuti od 'svakodnevne' glazbe. Changes mi je odmah zapela za uho jer znam samo obradu od Charles Bradleya, Supernaut mi se odmah svidio a Snowblind me vratila u tinejdzerske godine jer sam ju iz nekog razloga cesto ubacivao u plejlistu kao crnu ovcu medju sve zivo sto nije slicno ovome (mislim da je Limewire tu bio zasluzan) Mozda premalo metal u odnosu na druge njihove albume (sto mi ne smeta) i neke stvari mi se cine tise od ostalih produkcijski, ali sve u svemu - good time!

Never listened to this. It rocked. Supernaut is an awesome track. Barely misses a 5 for me cause it was a bit draggy in a couple spots and it's not my style is music totally.

Pretty much exactly how I expected a Black Sabbath album to sound like. Stand-out: Under the Sun

8/10. More consistent but highs aren’t quite as high as the ‘Black Sabbath’ titled album.

Undeniable classic, very significant for rock music, but I just didnt jam with it. Ynn

\m/ one of the pioneers of heavy rock/metal music. Legends.

super

Nice blend of heavy and progressive

Ozzy

So much cocaine went into this that it had to be one of the more expensive albums of all time. Is this prog metal? I can’t tell, but it’s a great listen.

Great

Crazy to listen to this album after my Jazz Sabbath exposure. In a funny way, Jazz Sabbath made me appreciate “Snowblind” and “Changes” even more. Big fan of “Laguna Sunrise.” 4 stars.

Solid first track and can't beat changes.

Bra album med heavy riffs och experimentala låtar, inte helt lika bra som paranoid

Not my favorite Black Sabbath but still Black Sabbath. Laguna Sunrise was a nice surprise as well!

Test

Solid album that was really easy to listen to. I liked this one.

Great album. I was familiar with “Changes”, but there were some deep track surprises. Nice bonus for a Labor Day.

This is a surprisingly kick ass album. Maybe not quite as great as their first two, but really good throughout. From face melter riffs to unique time signature switching to ballad feels on songs like Changes, the band really starts to spread their wings here into the sounds that they would eventually be known for. Rock n roll indeed.

Another great one from the early years of this band. Couple weird inclusions here keep it from getting full marks, but honestly that feels nit picky given how much good stuff is on this.

Dang, Changes hits the feels button. Very simple lyrics but written and performed so well.

I feel a little silly about not exploring more of Sabbath’s catalog outside of their big hits. This is another solid record. Not on the same level as their debut and Paranoid but still great. 4/5

Pretty heavy but melodic guitars riffs, plus Ozzy, what’s not to like?

lækker! tror jeg foretrækker den en smule over s/t. så mange metalgenrer der virker meget påvirket af det her album

Helt vild guitarlyd på den her plade, super hårde riffs. Helt ok at der er lidt flere stille numre end på de andre Sabbath plader vi har haft, de var egentlig ret cool

Vanvittig plade når man tænker på hvor langt væk de var på coke. Det virker lidt mere "voksent" end de tidligere plader, så sangene er noget mere anderledes komponerede end BS/Paranoid

Marty McFly: “This album is heavy, Doc.” Doc Brown: “Is there something wrong with Earth’s gravitational field?” Marty: No, it’s just Black Sabbath. Tommy Iommi stands out on Vol. 4 (Snowblind). His guitar is the whole thing. It’s mostly heavy, but sometimes light as in the beautiful Laguna Sunrise. He taught himself piano during recording this album and wrote Changes, which is mind blowing. He also happened to collapse from doing too much cocaine too. So there’s that.

Melodic yelling Softens this metal album While guitars still shriek

Honestly, I'm as surprised by this as anyone.

Nice

Solid Standout songs: Supernaut Cornucopia Under the Sun

One of the best Black Sabbath albums

Lekker scheuren Ozzy osbourne is een medisch enigma

I’m not much of a metal/hard rock guy, but this is my kinda stuff. Never actually listened to a sabbath album in full before although I do own Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and a live LP. Will definitely be returning to this album in the near future, looking forward to the other BS albums to come… 9/10

not as good as van halen or anything but I can’t resist an electric guitar

Thought it was gonna be death metal screaming down the mic... Actually really enjoyed it

Classic Black Sabbath. Though not quite on par with their previous two albums, Vol 4 is still excellent. The riffs are as heavy as ever and the whole group seems exceptionally comfortable and in their element. I particularly liked Snowblind, and I also enjoyed Changes, which marks a big departure from Sabbath's normal sound.

I’ve got often ignored Black Sabbath because I have never liked any similar bands. But they are consistently good. The main reason I am doing this challenge is to force myself to visit music I’ve missed, ignored or discounted for whatever reason. So a Big Black Sabbath Success (BBSS) on that front.

While I feel is a solid album, is nowhere as classic and epic as the first two albums.

When I looked over the track list I struggled to recognize any songs. So I started to look at their other albums and it's weird that Paranoid is like their only radio album, with maybe a song or two elsewhere. I would have loved to hear this in the time, because now it has just a classic rock feel and a bit dated. I want to be smashed by the weight of these tracks being the heaviest stuff I've heard. Some genres I have a better ability to take the time gap out of my ear-quation. It's a fine album and I think it's kind of a bummer some of these tracks don't get the exposure they should have had. Favorite track "Supernaut" 3.5/5

I was surprised how much I liked this one! 🤘

Solid album

A more mellow Black Sabbath album that has lovely moments

And this for me is very sadly the point at which Sabbath albums start to include some filler feeling tracks. Still, 4 albums in isn’t too bad going. Some absolute killer tracks on here, such as Supernaut (which spawned whole bands sounds on its own), Tomorrows Dream, Snowblind. But it’s something about the production and some of the song writing which feels a bit hollow in places, and just doesn’t have the same oomph and swagger/swing as the earlier stuff. But that’s a mega high bar. I’ll give it a slightly harsh 4.

I had listened to a little Black Sabbath other than their Paranoid album, so I knew they weren't a one-trick pony (like Guns 'n' Roses). Yet, this still surprised me -- I don't think anyone would put this in their top three Sabbath albums. Nonetheless, it's very good. It doesn't have a hard rock anthem on par with some of their best, but "Supernaut" and "Cornucopia" are very good. And it's the slower songs that actually make the album. 4 stars.

classic metal album by the all time greats, everyone should hear this one absolutely essential

Not my favorite Sabbath album, but still a classic. Heavy, catchy in parts, dynamic. Gotta skip "Changes" though.

riffs emerging from the lake of time. very important band

Actually really dig this

Great early metal album from giants of the genre as they start to experiment. Knocking a point off because of FX.

Love their sound

While I acknowledge that the mixing is ass half the time and the album is practically just Black Sabbath trying to be Led Zeppelin for some reason, it is extraordinarily fun with riffs for days, tunes to split a head open, surprisingly even decent vocals from nasal king Ozzy, and every other song a classic (and a handful of duds in between, sadly, but whattaryagonnadoo)

Absolutely killer album. Great early era metal and some of the true GOATs

Poetic heavy metal

Great album. Up there in their top albums. Changes, Snowblind and Supernaut are highlights.

Great album by the masters themselves. Not their best but far from their worst.

A few interesting songs and most of it sounding like acid songs

What a wonderful listen, this album has a bit of everything for everybody to listen to! I might need another listen to fully adore it

yep i get it

Love me some black sabbath first full album of theirs I've listened to. It was as hard, heavy with a little melancholic tenderness ml.

Solid album!!! Didn’t like it as much as Paranoid but still very nice. Last tracks slaps

Thoughts before listening: I love Black Sabbath, and Paranoid is one of the best albums I have heard from this project. I know that this is one of their classic albums, but I feel like I don't know as many of the songs on this one. I am sure it will be great. Review: Definitely not as many well known songs on this one as compared to the earlier albums, but this is still great. Black Sabbath was just so good with riffs and had a sound that was fully their own. The metal songs are obviously great on here (i.e. "Supernaut" and "Snowblind"), but I also love the tender ballad curveball they throw in "Changes". All in all another enjoyable listen from Sabbath. 4-stars

Liked it more than I thought. The song “Changes” is the theme song of the cartoon “Big Mouth”. I never knew it was by Black Sabbath. Crazy juxtaposition there lmao

Black Sabbath seems to be one of the handful of groups from this era of rock I enjoy

Notable tracks: Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener, Supernaut, Cornucopia

### **Black Sabbath - Vol. 4: In-Depth Review** **Introduction** "Vol. 4," released in 1972, marks Black Sabbath's fourth studio album and a pivotal moment in the band's career. As heavy metal pioneers, Black Sabbath continued to explore and refine their sound with this record. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and overall influence, providing a balanced analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. **Lyrics** The lyrics on "Vol. 4" reflect a band grappling with the dichotomy of their success and the hedonistic lifestyle it afforded them. Themes of escapism, substance abuse, and existential angst permeate the album. 1. **Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener**: The album opens with a track that delves into the disillusionment of adulthood. The lyrics convey a sense of lost innocence and the harsh realities of life, encapsulated in lines like "Lost in the wheels of confusion, running through valleys of tears." 2. **Tomorrow's Dream**: This song captures a desire to escape from pain and heartache, with Ozzy Osbourne's plaintive vocals expressing a longing for a brighter future. The refrain "I'm leaving tomorrow at daybreak" highlights a yearning for change and renewal. 3. **Changes**: A poignant ballad, "Changes" stands out for its emotional depth and departure from the band's heavier sound. The lyrics, which talk about the end of a relationship, reveal a vulnerability not often associated with Black Sabbath. Lines like "I'm going through changes" resonate with a universal sense of loss and transformation. 4. **Supernaut**: This track's lyrics are celebratory and hedonistic, reflecting the band's indulgence in the rock 'n' roll lifestyle. "I've seen the future and I've left it behind" captures a sense of living in the moment, free from concerns about the consequences. 5. **Snowblind**: Perhaps the most direct song about substance abuse, "Snowblind" deals with the band's cocaine addiction. The lyrics are candid and raw: "My eyes are blind but I can see, the snowflakes glisten on the tree." This metaphor for cocaine use is both haunting and poetic. **Music** Musically, "Vol. 4" showcases Black Sabbath's evolution, blending their trademark heavy riffs with more experimental elements. 1. **Instrumentation**: Tony Iommi's guitar work is a highlight throughout the album, delivering powerful riffs and solos that are both innovative and influential. Songs like "Supernaut" and "Cornucopia" feature complex and memorable guitar lines. Geezer Butler's bass playing complements Iommi's guitar, providing a solid and dynamic foundation. Bill Ward's drumming is versatile, ranging from the hard-hitting beats of "Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes" to the subtler rhythms of "Laguna Sunrise." 2. **Arrangements**: The arrangements on "Vol. 4" are more intricate than on previous albums. The band experiments with different time signatures and song structures, creating a more diverse listening experience. "Wheels of Confusion" transitions seamlessly into "The Straightener," showcasing the band's ability to blend multiple musical ideas into a cohesive piece. 3. **Dynamics**: One of the strengths of "Vol. 4" is its dynamic range. The contrast between heavy tracks like "Tomorrow's Dream" and softer, more introspective songs like "Changes" adds depth to the album. The inclusion of instrumental tracks such as "FX" and "Laguna Sunrise" further diversifies the sonic palette. **Production** "Vol. 4" was produced by Patrick Meehan and the band, with Tom Allom engineering. The production reflects both the strengths and weaknesses of early '70s recording technology. 1. **Sound Quality**: The album's sound quality is generally robust, with a warm, analog feel that complements the heavy guitar tones and dense arrangements. However, some tracks suffer from a slightly muddy mix, particularly in the lower frequencies, which can obscure the clarity of the bass and drums. 2. **Innovative Techniques**: The band and producers experimented with various production techniques, such as the use of Mellotron on "Changes" and the phasing effects on "FX." These elements add a layer of sophistication to the album's sound, though they can sometimes feel out of place compared to the more straightforward heavy metal tracks. 3. **Consistency**: While the album benefits from its experimental approach, the production can feel inconsistent at times. The shift from the raw power of "Tomorrow's Dream" to the orchestral flourishes of "Changes" may be jarring for some listeners, though it also showcases the band's versatility. **Themes** The themes on "Vol. 4" are varied, reflecting the band's personal experiences and societal observations. 1. **Disillusionment and Escapism**: Many songs on the album deal with feelings of disillusionment and a desire to escape from reality. This is evident in tracks like "Wheels of Confusion" and "Tomorrow's Dream," where the lyrics express a longing to break free from life's hardships. 2. **Substance Abuse**: "Snowblind" is the most explicit example of the band's struggles with addiction, but the theme is present throughout the album. The lyrics often hint at the darker side of fame and the toll it takes on mental and physical health. 3. **Emotional Turmoil**: Songs like "Changes" and "Cornucopia" delve into personal and emotional struggles. The former deals with the end of a relationship, while the latter addresses feelings of existential dread and inner conflict. 4. **Celebration of Life**: Despite the darker themes, there are moments of celebration and hedonism. "Supernaut" is a prime example, with its upbeat tempo and lyrics celebrating the thrill of living in the moment. **Influence** "Vol. 4" has had a lasting impact on the heavy metal genre and beyond. 1. **Musical Legacy**: The album's blend of heavy riffs, intricate arrangements, and experimental elements has influenced countless bands in the metal and rock genres. Tony Iommi's guitar work, in particular, has been cited as a major influence by many guitarists. 2. **Thematic Depth**: The exploration of personal and societal issues in the lyrics set a precedent for future metal bands to tackle complex and often dark themes. This thematic depth has become a hallmark of the genre. 3. **Innovative Production**: The experimental production techniques used on "Vol. 4" have inspired other artists to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the studio. The use of non-traditional instruments and effects has become more commonplace in modern rock and metal production. **Pros and Cons** **Pros**: 1. **Innovative Guitar Work**: Tony Iommi's riffs and solos are a highlight, showcasing his creativity and technical prowess. Tracks like "Supernaut" and "Snowblind" are prime examples of his influence on the genre. 2. **Diverse Arrangements**: The album's varied song structures and dynamics create a rich and engaging listening experience. The contrast between heavy and softer tracks adds depth to the album. 3. **Emotional Depth**: Songs like "Changes" add an emotional dimension to the album, demonstrating the band's ability to tackle a wide range of themes and moods. 4. **Influence on Future Generations**: "Vol. 4" has had a lasting impact on the heavy metal genre and beyond, influencing countless bands and musicians. **Cons**: 1. **Inconsistent Production**: The production quality varies across the album, with some tracks sounding muddier than others. This can detract from the overall listening experience. 2. **Experimental Missteps**: While the band's willingness to experiment is commendable, not all of the experiments are successful. Tracks like "FX" feel out of place and disrupt the flow of the album. 3. **Thematic Repetition**: Some themes, particularly those related to substance abuse, can feel repetitive. This may diminish the impact of individual songs for some listeners. **Conclusion** "Vol. 4" is a landmark album in Black Sabbath's discography and the broader heavy metal genre. Its blend of innovative guitar work, diverse arrangements, and emotional depth makes it a compelling and influential record. While the album has its flaws, particularly in terms of production consistency and some experimental missteps, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. "Vol. 4" remains a testament to Black Sabbath's creativity and enduring legacy, continuing to inspire and influence musicians and fans alike.

Sabbath: 👀 (cracks knuckles menacingly) You: 😐 Sabbath: Drugs? You: No thanks, I’m good. Sabbath: I meant are you in here for drugs? You: Why are you here? Sabbath: Drugs. This album rules.

grossartiger Klassiker, aber listig das das mal als evil/devilish galt

Surprisingly enjoyable for me. Love the Big Mouth theme tune. Fave Tracks: Changes, Snowblind 3.8/5

Not their best, but pretty high up.

so i am listening to this one just a few short weeks after we lost the prince of darkness. i'm familiar with the huge Black Sabbath hits, but Vol. 4 has some absolute bangers that are overshadowed by Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs, etc. within this album, 'Changes' is so freakin beautiful. the fact that this heavy ballad is track number three, just shows how confident they are in their writing and composition. Snowblind is a fire song, Under the Sun rocks super hard, and Laguna Sunrise is a surprise heavy hitter. super awesome album, that is just barely outside the perfect 5 stars for me.

Good stuff. Not as strong as their earlier material, but still some of the best in the proto-metal genre. I think Ozzy Osbourne said this was his favourite Black Sabbath album. Tomorrow's Dream has a great, relatively short guitar riff – almost reminiscent of Led Zeppelin (who had recently reached their songwriting peak in terms of iconic riffs). Contrast it to tracks like Supernaut, which have single riffs lasting the length of an entire verse. (Dang.) The bass is also not to be underestimated in either of these two tracks, pumping out some dynamic, melodic lines even as it's mixed underneath the lead guitar. I'm normally pretty indifferent to mellotron as an alternative to strings, but I really think strings would've suited the song Changes much better. The mellotron contrasts a little too sharply with the warmer piano timbre. Osbourne's vocal has a bit of a harsh attack on the melody here, where something a little mellower would've worked better. As far as ballads go, Black Sabbath has better to offer – but that's not to say this isn't a fantastic track. (It is.) The piano riff is played with gentle emotion, and it's one of the more memorable parts of the album. Snowblind is a solid track, showcasing the drums more than anything else. The percussion is very forward in the mix, overlaying a repeating two-chord sequence, so the drum patterns and fills are easy to latch onto. (Man, the musicianship in this band is impressive.) The following track, Cornucopia, has a completely different drum sound; while they seem similarly active to the previous track, there's some kind of mute (or mic adjustment) that's mellowing the sound out. Fun choice – I'm interested to hear how hard-hitting this track would be with a more "live" mix. Overall, this album's pretty dang great. Each song showcases a different facet of Black Sabbath (and heavy metal music as a whole), and it's cool to see Black Sabbath testing the waters. 4/5 Key tracks: Tomorrow's Dream, Changes, Supernaut, Under the Sun

Great

Before the start of this Project, there were a lot of bands that I lumped together as 'not for me'. What I've discovered is that while a band like Deep Purple is indeed deserving of that category, I'd really screwed the pooch by putting Black Sabbath (and Led Zep!) in there too. This is a really, really good album. Very spacey, heavy without becoming noise, great vocals and enough variety in the songs to keep it interesting. The only song I knew - Changes - is a little bit too overwrought, but I really like how that's followed up by FX and Supernaut, as it totally breaks the spell. Good stuff.

Never listened to this before for some reason, despite liking the three earlier Sabbath albums. This absolutely stands up to the rest of them and shows their range of sounds. I can't really get over how good Changes is and how different it is to their heavier tracks. Very close to 5*, might be there after a few more listens. Fav tracks: Changes, Snowblind, Cornucopia

Very solid album coming from the pre British wave of metal. The thing that jumps out at me the most is the similarities with Led Zeppelin though Ozzy’s voice is much more suited to the heavy side than Robert Plants. Snowblind is my favorite track here, but aside from the track that is basically just 2 mins of discordant sounds they are all good.

4/5

What an album. Tomorrow's Dream, Supernaut, Snowchild and the opener and closer are the Standouts.

Exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for with this project -- an album that I really enjoyed (and will be looking to add to the collection) that I never would have listened to before simply because of the band.

Love Sabbath and think I always will. Is it their strongest album, not in my opinion but still amazing.

Was never heavily into them as much as others in the genre (almost all of which followed them), but really enjoyed this album

I enjoyed that a lot more than I was expecting. Definitely one to revisit.

This album kicks ass. I listened to it twice today. This is probably dumb but my favorite track is Changes.

A real pleasure to listen to

The album ranges from amazing to average and so back and forth. If I wanted to listen to it every day, I would skip some tracks.

Not my favorite Black Sabbath album but still good enough.

Despite "knowing" a bunch of their music, I think this is the first Sabbath album I've listened to from start to finish, and I gotta say - I'm a fan. More so than I expected to be. I actually listened to this one twice which is rare for me in this daily album endeavor. I'm taking half a star off for a couple of weaker songs (FX??!) and rounding down because I just don't see this in the very top tier but I am very pleasantly surprised at this and look forward to the next Sabbath album that comes along.

Changes чья песня то ?

Bare sejt, og stilsilkert hele vejen igennem. Hvis man kan lide hvad man høre her, så kan man lide alt med Black Sabbath. 😁👌

Nogle tracks fungerer bedre for mig end andre. Der er desværre lidt for mange fyld tracks, og her tænker jeg ikke kun på FX. Men når det rocker, så rocker det tungt🤘🏻 Og så fungerer både piano-balladen og den akustiske hyldest til havet overraskende godt på et tidligt heavy album. Hvem vidste at Black Savbath kunne det? Ikke mig 😅

Strong start, decent mix of tracks. The whisper of "cocaine" on Snowblind is comical - Spinal Tap had to base their act on something. Still a solid and enjoyable album

the rockers that once validated many rebellious angsty now-grandparents. NEVER LET THE SPIRIT DIE!!!!!

I underestimated them.

Classic

This sounds exactly like I would expect an early 70s heavy metal pioneer to sound. Very raw and unpolished. At times I felt like I was listening to Soundgarden in the 90s. Cool stuff even now and would have probably been amazing to discover when it was first released. "Changes" and "Laguna Sunrise" felt a little out of place, but I'll allow it.

This is not my favorite album from them, but it's from one of my favorite bands, I can't be objective on it.

Showcases the heavy metal sound but also showed a breadth of sound with Laguna Sunrise and Changes. Supernaut is an excellent song. Ozzie's voice definitely because a classic sound in its own right. Lyrics are not bad overall but overall are hit or miss for me.

"Changes" and "Laguna Sunrise" are great. The rest is trippy, weird proto-death metal. 3.5 rounded up.

Het voelt een beetje als meer van het zelfde, meer heavy metal uit de beginjaren. Geen gebrul, geen grafherrie, gewoon muziek maken. Met een lollig instrumentaaltje ertussen. Dus vooruit maar weer.

De grote namen zijn aan de beurt. Na Led Zeppelin krijgen we nu Black Sabbath. Maar eens even goed voor gaan zitten. Het album Black Sabbath kregen we al eerder van ze. Nummer 4 kan daar toch niet aan tippen. Ik mis het mysterieuze samengaan van schijnbaar uiteenliggende zang en muziek. Opvallend is dat ik juist het afwijkende Changes het fijnst vind om te luisteren. Goed, flink minder dan het eerste album. Maar ik kan er een ruim punt van aftrekken en nog steeds kom ik op een mooie 4. Stelregel voor een 4 voor mijzelf; zou ik het nog eens opzetten? Jazeker! Heb ik al gedaan!

We hebben al 2 albums gehad van Black Sabbath en die heb ik allebei een 5 gegeven. Ook dit album zou ik een 5 kunnen geven, want ik vind het heerlijk om naar te luisteren. Maar eerlijk gezegd voegt het niet zo heel veel toe in vergelijking met de eerdere albums. Het wreekt zich misschien dat er niet een echte signature song opstaat. Het instrumentale Laguna Sunrise kende ik al wel, maar verder is het bekendste nummer natuurlijk Changes. Wat beter past in het 'solo' oeuvre van Ozzy wat mij betreft. En daar kom ik gelijk bij het volgende punt: waarom staat het solodebuut van Ozzy niet in deze lijst? Blizzard of Ozz heeft namelijk het iconische Crazy Train, en ook Mr Crowley is een bekend nummer. Verder speelde de legendarische (en legendarisch omgekomen) gitarist Randy Rhoads op dat album. Ingredienten te over om dat album in de snoblijst op te nemen wat mij betreft. Dus ga ik dat album nu uiteraard even opzetten, want dat verdient mijn 5 sterren wel. En ondanks dat ik dit 4e album van Black Sabbath een 5 zou kunnen geven, krijgt het het aantal sterren dat ze zelf waarschijnlijk al wel hadden verwacht gezien de titel.

I had never heard this album before but enjoyed it.

A solid Black Sabbath project. Had I not been introduced to Sabbath I might have been more suprised by the quality of this one. 'Changes' shows Sabbath's range with more of a ballad style song which I think is executed well. Most of the album is quality, the band is really in their bag on this project. I don't think there were as many sonic risks but it's all very well executed. Favorite song was Snowblind. Closing track was also very strong. The guitar on this album is really strong, it takes a powerful instrumental to pair with Ozzie's voice and Sabbath really came through with a good balance on this album. It's a great collection of tracks that feel like the band has found their sound but they aren't stagnating on it. Worth noting that I listened to the 2021 remaster. Not sure how the original sounds and it sounds gorgeous..

Good cover, they changed some lyrics though…“Ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strange…time may change me, but I can’t trace time”

I have this on vinyl and I've already listened through it multiple times.

Fun, more intricate, more complicated, darker

Never really listened to Black Sabbath, just know the more famous tracks. Yeah, liked it.

Black Sabbath on the softer side with a mix of their classic heavy riffs and rocking, enjoyed this one all the way through.

I like this in the end, it's on the better end of the rock that I consistently rate 2 and 3, so I'll give it a 4.

This wasn't what I was expecting. It was a softer, blues-ier Black Sabbath. I liked it.

Day109 - i didn’t think i knew any of these songs but i realized black sabbath is ubiquitous and i hear these songs in tv shows and ringtones

Slaps

Pretty cute!

I ignored all non-Paranoid Sabbath albums for a while, but then gave the first five or six albums a listen not that long ago, and really liked them. This is maybe my second or third listen to Volume 4 and I keep finding stuff to like. It certainly doesn’t top Paranoid and I’d have to listen to Master of Reality again to compare them, but, standing on its own separate from one of the best discographies in rock, this is a great album. Maybe someone will correct me but I think of these first Sabbath albums as essentially creating the genre of heavy metal and establishing some of its earliest and most enduring tropes. It blows my mind.

Solid

I love how Ozzy is The Prince of Darkness but also sings Changes. Good metal has range and emotion and Sabbath is great at it.

Interesting stuff going on here. Some real gems, like Changes and Supernaut. But I almost hesitate to go with a higher score here because of some of the choices for the album as a whole. I like a lot of it but it has some almost jarring tonal shifts. But aside from that view it has peeked my intrest to dig a little deeper with Sabbath.

One of the most surprising finds doing the 1001 Albums Generator is how much I like Black Sabbath. Vol. 4 only continues this trend. 4 stars!

Not as much of a metal sounding album as Black Sabbath’s style usually commences, but that isn’t entirely a horrible thing. It’s nice that they delve into a little experimentation with Vol. 4 and ‘Changes’ is undoubtedly a highlight for me. I had no clue this was the original!! To begin with I thought they were simply sampling Charles Bradley’s title track of his album ‘Change’ then I got to the end and realised it was identical. I them checked the dates on both and realised Black Sabbath’s version was released 40 years before Charles Bradleys and I felt a fool, it came as a complete shock to me especially since I would never have corollated them to such a style but here we are. Love that track. Another highlight for me is Supernaut, it has an incredible sound and plays brilliantly, however after this track I find there is a large downhill ride, each track steadily declining in quality after the other until eventually the final track Under The Sun, concluding the album with a bang. This is my third and final highlight of the album, it begins with a drum riff and throughout the song the other instruments compliment and assist the drums inceptively, this works so well and makes for a really strong final track. 80/100

im not the biggest black sabbath fan. decent record but i much prefer sabbath bloody sabbath and paranoid. low 7/10

Heavy metal, hard rock. A pretty enjoyable album full of riffs. I definitely enjoy other Black Sabbath albums over this one, I prefer the doom roots rather then just heavy metal. Ozzy is still great though, good lyrics and delivery. Like I said, full of riffs, but that's kinda where my enjoyment mostly ends. I like some of the softer moments in this record, and I especially liked Changes with it's piano and sombre mood. Some of the instrumental moments were great too, loved when so gs would get a little psychedelic with it. I think overall it's a good album but it's just missing the hits, the melodies, that other early Black Sabbath albums have. Would like to revisit in maybe a discog run, other than that just choice songs. 4/10

Not my favorite Sabbath, but a strong effort nontheless. Their cocaine album. Carries their signature sound with some evidence of development and maturation in their songwriting. The album is definitely heavy, but still had more sensitive and lighter moments. Lots and lots of riffs. As per usual, they’re great riffs and playing across the board. Iommi and Butler light it up, Ward holds it all together, and Ozzy does his Ozzy thing.

Polished Sabbath. They may have been flying high on grade-A coke for the entire album, but Iommi knew precisely what the sound should be from his seat in the booth. Compared to some sloppier work on Paranoid and Master of Reality, nearly everything on this project screams practice, despite the handicaps of a variety of intoxicating substances. From the driving "Wheels of Confusion" to the sorrowful piano of "Changes" and everywhere in between, little time is wasted, save for maybe "FX" and arguably the waffly "St Vitus Dance". A splendid effort.

FINALLY. It is about time that I got a Black Sabbath album. What's funny is that I got this after an album from The White Stripes. I got white and black. That's funny. Anyways, I am very happy to finally get to this band since, in my opinion, they are one of the most important bands to have ever existed. I say that because, for all intents and purposes, Black Sabbath created metal music. They may not have made the first metal song, but they were the first true metal band. However, Vol. 4 isn't an album that I've seen a ton of discussion on. My research brought me to the conclusion that this is generally considered to be one of their better albums, but there isn't as much cultural impact for this one compared to the band's other albums on this list, those being their self-titled debut and Paranoid. Despite that, this is a great album. The sound is just amazing. Every member brings something to the table. Tony Iommi's guitar work is practically perfect, Geezer Butler serves as a great bassist, I really like Bill Ward's drumming, and of course, I can't forget about Ozzy Osbourne's impeccable vocals. There's a decent amount of variety on this album. It's mostly heavy, but you also have the song "Changes" which is just a straight up piano ballad. I certainly didn't expect that. There really isn't a bad song on here. I think my favorite may be "Snowblind," which was originally supposed to be a title track before they changed the name of the album. This song is particularly notable to me not just because it may be my favorite of the album, but because it was covered by System of a Down, which is a band that I have gone on record to say that they are my favorite band. Honestly, I don't know which version of the song I like more. This album is great, but I feel like there's probably going to be better on here, so I'll save the 5s for those. High 4/5.

Black Sabbath is always nice, but, to be controversial, I prefer Ronnie James Dio's voice.

I prefer the 3 albums before this one but it's still great

iconic the beer thief

Changes is cool!

Sabbath isn't my favorite band, but the first four albums are hard to deny. 4/5

Great!!!

Better than I thought it would be. Changes is just a banger

Really surprised by how much I liked this.

Changes is an amazing song and really stood out. The rest of the album was good as well

A solid hard rock/metal album with everything one expects of Black Sabbath. Heavy riffs, solid drums, Ozzy's sometimes eery voice, and, as a counterpoint, Changes and Laguna Sunrise. And let's forget FX entirely.

Gotta love Ozzy!!!!! This album was a great listen front to back!

I didn’t know any songs before but I thoroughly enjoyed this! Slow, sludgey, and doomy, you can see how Black Sabbath gave birth to metal

I have to admit I inwardly groaned when this came up to review so soon after Paranoid. But this feels like a very different beast. With some stripped back tracks, including the instrumental Laguna Sunrise, and Ozzy's more established and plaintive vocals, I found this an unexpectedly soothing listen. Favourite track: Changes

Ok yeah this is good. Hit my head on the car rear view mirror peaking at Cornucopia. 4s and 5s but I think I'll land this at a 4

Gritty, proggy and wild! A serving of essential metal.

Good rock album. Really enjoyed Under the Sun.

Better than most sabbath albums.

This album was a fun listen. It has slick riffs and the messing around tracks like FX and Laguna Sunrise were good breaks from the "action". Overall a good album.

Surprisingly pleasant. I did not expect Bkack Sanbath to make good background music while studying Grimm fairy tales. So many decapitations in both….

Deutlich besser als erwartet!

Always a good time with a Sabbarh album - meaty, dark and fun. Nice addition of Changes and of course Snowblind are the obvious standouts but there really is no bad song here.

Hell yeah

Similar to other Sabbath that I have listened to. I dig the kind of medieval sound. Not sure what that is but I think it's really cool

Black Sabbath are one of the central pioneers in the metal genre, while Beatle song's such as Helter Skelter or I want you or Jimi Hendrix's Manic depression were also very heavy it's Black Sabbath that puts the whole package together. The low end heavy and at times dissonant riffs, the iconic imagery, the often times dark lyrical themes. What sets Sabbath apart though from other metal icons is their versatility, the drummer's funkiness, the authentic vulnerability of Ozzy's lyrics on songs like changes. The riffage of Tony Iommi sometimes leading the way to beautiful almost celtic sounding ballads. This is pure metal, darkness explored in a way that is meaningful and real. Not the cartoonish "edgy-ness" of later bands, nor the dick-measuring contest of who can shred faster or play louder. Heavy, funky and at times beautiful 4.5 stars

Snowblind var bra, Changes inte dålig men inte heller bäst. Kommer antagligen inte lyssna jättemycket på skivan men får ändå en 4a för det förtjänar den.

Helvete vilken bra första låt. Den sätter sig direkt. På första lyssningen. Underbart. Håller väldigt hög nivå rakt igenom.

4.25

This album is great! The riffs! Ohhh the riffs! It's retreat going back in Ozzy's career and hearing just how incredible he was. His voice was fantastic in this record. He adds so much emotion with his voice to the song Changes. Typically I want riff forward, heavy Sabbath, but this was easily welcomed. There really isn't a bad song on this record. Except the song FX - why even put that song on this record? It doesn't need its own track listing... It's stupid. Keep it at the end of a song, or make it a lead in? Even at that, it isn't good to even be any of the aforementioned. The acoustic guitar and the strings in Laguna Sunrise is beautiful. Very peaceful. A great contrast to what one would expect from Sabbath. Usually with records I don't want a lot of songs. I want quality songs over quantity. But this album felt too short for me. A lot of short songs. But they're great songs. Definitely would listen to again. Can't wait to hear more Sabbath!

Bão

I'm surprised by how much I liked this album, given that I know very little about Black Sabbath and associate Ozzy Osbourne with the early-aughts reality TV show about his family more than anything else. Vol. 4 made me feel a lot of different emotions: moody, elated, introspective, hyped, etc. Would listen again.

"Vol. 4" by Black Sabbath is a testament to the band's evolution and experimentation. Released in 1972, this album marks a departure from their earlier heavy blues sound, incorporating elements of hard rock and even progressive rock. Tracks like "Supernaut," "Snowblind," and "Changes" showcase the band's musical diversity, with heavy riffs, intricate arrangements, and poignant lyrics. The production on the album is also notable, with Tony Iommi's guitar work shining through alongside Geezer Butler's bass lines and Bill Ward's drumming. Lyrically, "Vol. 4" explores themes of addiction, introspection, and social issues, adding depth to the band's sonic palette. While not as commercially successful as some of their other albums, "Vol. 4" is a critical favorite and a fan favorite, showcasing the band at the height of their creative powers. Overall, "Vol. 4" is a standout album in Black Sabbath's discography, showcasing their musical evolution and fearless experimentation. It earns a solid 4/5 rating for its boldness and musicality.

It isn't as good as Paranoid but it still has charm. It's my first time listening to this so it might grow on me. "Changes" is a nice song, different from Black Sabbath's back catalogue but it's fine as itself. Another highlight is "Supernaut". I'll give it a 4.

Even with the MASSIVE drug and alcohol abuse, Black Sabbath put out an amazing record. A veritable blueprint for Heavy Metal albums to come.

Ozzy: Boobs Sharon: boobs ozzy? Ozzy: These filmmakers are just f***** boobs Kid: what do u mean dad Ozzy: well they’re using the same f***** joke as the last Austin powers movie. Ozzy is a legend. I liked this a lot more than I anticipated