Cheap Vol. 4 (Music) (Black Sabbath) Price

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Customer Reviews of Vol. 4

By the time they reached 1972, Black Sabbath had already released three excellent albums - each one more excellent than the last (in my opinion anyway.) But, of course, the band was beginning to realize that they needed to broaden their horizons. And thus, Black Sabbath's experimental era began. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward all knew that their fans loved the sound they had used so far, but they knew they couldn't just keep doing the same things over and over again. The first album to emerge from their experimental era was their fourth studio album - Vol. 4. Read on for my review.

This is probably Black Sabbath's most uneven album with Ozzy at the helm, but it's a solid album nonetheless. Rockers and ballads alike can be found on this album. They kick things off with Wheels Of Confusion/The Straightener, an excellent hard rocking tune. This song will grab your attention and hold it - which is exactly what an album's opening track should do. Perhaps one of the best things about this album is that it gives us a chance to see Tony Iommi doing some acoustic guitar work - something we're not used to seeing him do. Tomorrow's Dream and Laguna Sunrise are softer, more melodic tunes that beautifully demonstrate that there is more to Mr. Iommi than a hard rocker. And, of course, we get Sabbath's classic ballad, Changes. This is a piano-heavy track that features some really cheesy and simplistic lyrics, but that doesn't mean it's a good song. And, of course, what would a Sabbath album be without some rockers? Snowblind, my favorite track on the album, is a straight-up classic metal-style rocker that will not fail to please if you like classic hard rock. Supernaut is another excellent rocker of a similar style, even if the lyrics are a bit strange. Although this album has its share of blunders (what the hell is FX supposed to be?), it's a good album overall.

THE TEXT IN THIS PARAGRAPH REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE WARNER BROS. AMERICAN REISSUE OF THE ALBUM. Warner Bros. did a fine job remastering and rereleasing the Black Sabbath catalogue, as did they several other artists. Unfortunately, they didn't really do anything outside of improving the sound quality. You don't get expanded liner notes, interviews, bonus tracks, or anything. This means you might as well buy the bargain version of the album. The bargain versions of Black Sabbath's albums tend to usually pop up in gas stations, drug stores, or any other place that has a small CD selection, consisting of mostly budget-priced compilations. I'm not sure if a budget version of this album was released or not, though, so you may end up having to get Warner's reissue.

My final verdict is simple. This is an excellent album, for the most part. However, it is NOT the place to start if you're new to the band. If you're new to the band, start with the band's self-titled debut and work your way forward. Or better yet, get the recently-released Black Box and get all their albums with Ozzy at the helm at once. Don't bother with hits compilations; one of them could never do this band justice.

Incredible!
Before Ozzy started biting heads off animals, he was in this incredible Blues-meets-Metal combo! GET IT!

Volume IV
Being overlooked by the fans most of the time (because of its name maybe?!), Volume IV definitely stands among the strongest albums of Black Sabbath. I also perceive it as the last album of their "childhood" period. The next work they would do "Sabbath bloody sabbath" is definitely Sabbath on the next level. Partly due to that fact, the album is quite cherished... Once again, Ozzy delves into the gloomy side, speaks about sorrow, loss and darkness. While lacking the overall completeness (Which would most definitely be present on their subsequent works), I give this album 5 stars, because the songs are as always incredible.