Check out the latest video featuring Tony Martin and Tony Iommi discussing the iconic BLACK SABBATH album “Headless Cross”
This insightful discussion offers fans a unique glimpse into the creation and significance of the album. “Headless Cross” holds a special place in the band’s history, and its inclusion in the upcoming “Anno Domini 1989-1995” box set showcases the enduring legacy of BLACK SABBATH‘s Martin-era recordings. Set to be released on May 31 via Rhino, this box set is a must-have for fans eager to delve deeper into the band’s evolution during this period.
Despite BLACK SABBATH‘s extensive history with iconic vocalists like Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio, the band’s tenure with Tony Martin, their second-longest-serving singer, has been somewhat overlooked in terms of comprehensive collections.
However, this gap is finally being addressed with the upcoming release of a boxed set specifically dedicated to BLACK SABBATH‘s era with Martin at the helm. This milestone collection promises to shed new light on Martin‘s contributions to the band’s legacy, offering fans a deeper dive into this often-underappreciated chapter of BLACK SABBATH‘s history. From classic albums to hidden gems, this boxed set is sure to provide a comprehensive and long-overdue exploration of the band’s evolution during Martin‘s tenure.
Rhino explores this prolific period from the godfathers of heavy metal in a new collection that brings four albums back into print after an extended absence. “Anno Domini 1989-1995” will be released in four-LP and four-CD configurations. The set contains newly remastered versions of “Headless Cross” (1989),“Tyr” (1990) and “Cross Purposes” (1994),plus a new version of “Forbidden” (1995) that guitarist Tony Iommi remixed specially for the collection.
Several albums make their vinyl debut in the LP version of “Anno Domini”, while the CD version contains three exclusive bonus tracks: the B-side “Cloak & Dagger” and the Japan-only releases “What’s The Use” and “Loser Gets It All”. A booklet comes with the set featuring photos, artwork, and liner notes by Hugh Gilmour. The collection also contains a “Headless Cross” poster and a replica concert book from the “Headless Cross” tour.
“Anno Domini” picks up BLACK SABBATH‘s story in 1989, two decades and multiple lineup changes into the band’s groundbreaking career as metal originators. At the time, membership had solidified around riffmaster and founding member Tony Iommi, legendary drummer Cozy Powell (JEFF BECK, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE),singer Tony Martin, and longtime BLACK SABBATH collaborator and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls (QUARTZ, BANDY LEGS).
The group originally released “Headless Cross” in 1989 on I.R.S. Records, the first of four albums SABBATH recorded for the label. Praised by fans and critics alike, the band’s 14th studio release produced three singles: “Devil And Daughter”, “Call Of The Wild” and the title track. Bassist Neil Murray (WHITESNAKE, GARY MOORE) joined for the “Headless Cross” tour and stayed to record SABBATH‘s next album, 1990’s “Tyr”. Named for the Norse god of war, the album explores similar mythological themes in songs like “The Battle Of Tyr” and “Valhalla”. On “The Sabbath Stones”, the band channels Old Testament fire and brimstone into a classic bruiser.
In 1992, following a successful world tour, this incarnation of BLACK SABBATH was put on hold when the band reunited temporarily with Ronnie James Dio. Two years later, Martin and Nicholls were back in the studio with Iommi to record 1994’s “Cross Purposes”. The band was completed with the addition of founding SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bobby Rondinelli of RAINBOW.
The “Tyr”-era BLACK SABBATH lineup reunited in 1995 when Powell and Murray returned to record “Forbidden”. It was the band’s 18th studio album, and its last for nearly 20 years. (In 2013, Iommi, Osbourne and Butler released BLACK SABBATH‘s final studio album, “13”.) “Forbidden”, produced by Ernie C of BODY COUNT, the hard rock band fronted by rapper/actor/SABBATH fan Ice-T, who appears on the song “Illusion Of Power”. Since its release, sonically improving the album has been one of Iommi‘s pet projects.
He explains: “I was never happy with the guitar sound, and Cozy was definitely never happy with the drum sound… So, I thought it would be nice to do it for him in a way.” He adds, “I just felt that, without changing any of the songs, there was an opportunity to go back and bring out some of the sounds and make it more what people would expect SABBATH to sound like.”
Included in the set:
* “Headless Cross”, “Tyr” and “Cross Purposes” newly remastered
* “Forbidden” newly remixed by Tony Iommi
* 1989 “Headless Cross” tour replica concert book
* 40-page book with photos, artwork and new liner notes
* Replica color tour poster
Disc 1 – “Headless Cross”
01. The Gates Of Hell (2024 Remaster)
02. Headless Cross (2024 Remaster)
03. Devil & Daughter (2024 Remaster)
04. When Death Calls (2024 Remaster)
05. Kill In The Spirit World (2024 Remaster)
06. Call Of The Wild (2024 Remaster)
07. Black Moon (2024 Remaster)
08. Nightwing (2024 Remaster)
09. Cloak & Dagger (2024 Remaster)
Disc 2 – “Tyr”
01. Anno Mundi (2024 Remaster)
02. The Law Maker (2024 Remaster)
03. Jerusalem (2024 Remaster)
04. The Sabbath Stones (2024 Remaster)
05. The Battle Of Tyr (2024 Remaster)
06. Odin’s Court (2024 Remaster)
07. Valhalla (2024 Remaster)
08. Feels Good To Me (2024 Remaster)
09. Heaven In Black (2024 Remaster)
Disc 3 – “Cross Purposes”
01. I Witness (2024 Remaster)
02. Cross Of Thorns (2024 Remaster)
03. Psychophobia (2024 Remaster)
04. Virtual Death (2024 Remaster)
05. Immaculate Deception (2024 Remaster)
06. Dying For Love (2024 Remaster)
07. Back To Eden (2024 Remaster)
08. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2024 Remaster)
09. Cardinal Sin (2024 Remaster)
10. Evil Eye (2024 Remaster)
11. What’s The Use (2024 Remaster)
Disc 4 – “Forbidden” remix
01. Illusion Of Power
02. Get A Grip
03. Can’t Get Close Enough
04. Shaking Off The Chains
05. I Won’t Cry For You
06. Guilty As Hell
07. Sick And Tired
08. Rusty Angels
09. Forbidden
10. Kiss Of Death
11. Loser Gets It All
Vinyl:
LP 1 – Side A
01. The Gates Of Hell (2024 Remaster)
02. Headless Cross (2024 Remaster)
03. Devil & Daughter (2024 Remaster)
04. When Death Calls (2024 Remaster)
LP 1 – Side B
01. Kill In The Spirit World (2024 Remaster)
02. Call Of The Wild (2024 Remaster)
03. Black Moon (2024 Remaster)
04. Nightwing (2024 Remaster)
LP 2 – Side A
01. Anno Mundi (2024 Remaster)
02. The Law Maker (2024 Remaster)
03. Jerusalem (2024 Remaster)
04. The Sabbath Stones (2024 Remaster)
LP 2 – Side B
01. The Battle Of Tyr (2024 Remaster)
02. Odin’s Court (2024 Remaster)
03. Valhalla (2024 Remaster)
04. Feels Good To Me (2024 Remaster)
05. Heaven In Black (2024 Remaster)
LP 3 – Side A
01. I Witness (2024 Remaster)
02. Cross Of Thorns (2024 Remaster)
03. Psychophobia (2024 Remaster)
04. Virtual Death (2024 Remaster)
05. Immaculate Deception (2024 Remaster)
LP 3 – Side B
01. Dying For Love (2024 Remaster)
02. Back To Eden (2024 Remaster)
03. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2024 Remaster)
04. Cardinal Sin (2024 Remaster)
05. Evil Eye (2024 Remaster)
LP 4 – Side A
01. Illusion Of Power
02. Get A Grip
03. Can’t Get Close Enough
04. Shaking Off The Chains
05. I Won’t Cry For You
LP 4 – Side B
01. Guilty As Hell
02. Sick And Tired
03. Rusty Angels
04. Forbidden
05. Kiss Of Death