''Anno Domini 1989–1995'' is a box set by English heavy metal band

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath are an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. After adopting the Black Sabbath name in 1969 (the band ...

, released on 31 May 2024. It includes four of five albums from the 1987–1997 Tony Martin-era of the band, with '' Headless Cross'' (1989), '' Tyr'' (1990) and '' Cross Purposes'' (1994) all remastered, and '' Forbidden'' (1995) remixed by guitarist

Tony Iommi Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (born 19 February 1948) is an English musician. He co-founded the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and was the band's guitarist, leader, primary composer, and sole continuous member for over ...

, making this the first time those albums have officially been reissued or remastered.

Background

Iommi mentioned re-releases of the Martin-era catalogue as early as March 2016, explaining, "We've held back on the reissues of those albums because of the current Sabbath thing with

Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead singer of the heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which per ...

, but they will certainly be happening... I'd like to do a couple of new tracks for those releases with Tony Martin... I'll also be looking at working on ''Cross Purposes'' and ''Forbidden''." In February 2019, Iommi stated that he was working on a remix of ''Forbidden'' "on and off" with Mike Exeter. On 14 May 2020, in an interview with

Eddie Trunk Edward Scott Trunk (born August 8, 1964) is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author, best known as the host of several hard rock- and heavy metal-themed radio and television shows. Biography Trunk was born o ...

, Iommi stated that the remix of ''Forbidden'' was complete, but added that he was just waiting for "the right time" to release it. On 31 December 2023, Iommi announced that a Black Sabbath box set of Martin-era albums was due for release in May 2024. On 21 March 2024, ''Anno Domini 1989–1995'' was revealed as the title of the box set and it was announced that it would be released on 31 May. The day after the box set was announced, the remastered versions of "Headless Cross" and "Anno Mundi" were released to streaming services, together as a two-song single. On 24 May 2024, a newly-remixed version of "Get a Grip" and a remastered version of "Evil Eye" were released together as a two-song single. A remastered music video for "Get a Grip" was released on Iommi's YouTube channel on the same day.

Release

The box set does not include '' The Eternal Idol'' (1987), Martin's debut with Black Sabbath, as it was released by

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (known as Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) is an American record label. A subsidiary of Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division ...

while

I.R.S. Records I.R.S. Records was a major American record label founded by Miles Copeland III and Jay Boberg in 1979. I.R.S. produced some of the most popular bands of the 1980s, and was particularly known for issuing records by college rock, new wave and a ...

released all the albums from ''Headless Cross'' to ''Forbidden'' (1992's '' Dehumanizer'', which featured Ronnie James Dio instead of Martin, was released on I.R.S. in the UK while

Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Green Day, En ...

released it in North America). An additional song was added to three of the four discs. "Cloak and Dagger" from the ''Headless Cross'' disc was previously available as a B-side to the "Headless Cross" single, and also appeared as a bonus track on the vinyl picture disc edition. "What's the Use?" on ''Cross Purposes'' and "Loser Gets It All" on ''Forbidden'' were previously available as bonus tracks to the Japanese editions of the respective albums, while the latter also appeared on the 1996 compilation album '' The Sabbath Stones''. ''Tyr'' is the only disc from the box set with no bonus material. On 15 November 2024, the four remastered/remixed albums included in the box set were also released individually on CD and vinyl.

Track listing

''Headless Cross''

''Tyr''

''Cross Purposes''

''Forbidden''

Personnel

Black Sabbath *

– guitars * Tony Martin – vocals * Geoff Nicholls – keyboards *

Cozy Powell Cozy Powell (born Colin Trevor Flooks; 29 December 1947 – 5 April 1998) was an English drummer who made his name with major rock bands and artists such as The Jeff Beck Group, Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Gary Moore, Graham Bonnet, B ...

– drums (''Headless Cross'', ''Tyr'', and ''Forbidden'') *

Bobby Rondinelli Robert Rondinelli (born July 27, 1955) is an American rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/ heavy metal bands Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, The Handful, and Rondinelli. In July 2013, Rond ...

– drums (''Cross Purposes'') * Neil Murray – bass (''Tyr'' and ''Forbidden'') *

Geezer Butler Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July 1949) is an English musician, best known as the bassist and primary lyricist of the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He has also recorded and performed with Heave ...

– bass (''Cross Purposes'') Additional musicians *

Laurence Cottle Laurence Cottle (born 16 December 1961) is a Welsh bass guitarist and composer. Career His solo recordings have been mostly in jazz and jazz fusion. He was a member of the fusion quartet The Fents and appeared on their second album, ''The O ...

– bass (''Headless Cross'') *

Brian May Sir Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, animal welfare activist and astrophysics, astrophysicist. He achieved global fame as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Queen ...

– first

guitar solo A guitar solo is a melody, melodic passage, instrumental section (music), section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, classical, electric guitar, electric, or acoustic guitar. In 20th and ...

on "When Death Calls" *

Ice-T Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop music, hip hop and heavy metal music, heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground r ...

– additional vocals on "The Illusion of Power"

Charts

References

{{authority control 2024 compilation albums Black Sabbath albums Reissue albums BMG Rights Management albums Rhino Entertainment compilation albums