Black Sabbath
"Forbidde"
© I.R.S.
March 16 - 22, 2025
Year of Release: 1993
Rating:
The Illusion Of Power
Get A Grip
Can't Get Close Enough
Shaking Off The Chains
I Won't Cry For You
Guilty As Hell
Sick And Tired
Rusty Angels
Forbidden
Kiss Of Death
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Black sabbath - of course, the Ozzy years were the best; the Dio albums were a close second. But this week, we look at
one of the Tony Martin albums, lead singer of Black Sabbath. Forbidden was Tony Martin's last album as lead singer.
He had been on a total of 3 consecutive albums - The Eternal Idol (1987), Headless Cross (1989) and Tyr
(1990). Martin left the band in 1991, but returned in for two more albums Cross Purposes (1994) and this week's
review, Forbidden (1995). The Tony Martin era was period often overlooked or dismissed by fans. (Most of the Black
Sabbath and Martin albums did received negative reviews.) While some consider this era to be essential listening, others
have relegated it to the realm of "zealous-only" status. Martin was the band's second-longest-serving vocalist after Ozzy
Osbourne.
"The Illusion Of Power" starts the album, and if you're looking to hear any similarities to the previous Black
Sabbath (Ozzy and/or Dio), it is totally different. It's much more Heavy Metal than Ozzy and Dio. What is also interesting
to hear, rapper (and future actor) Ice-T delivers a spoken word part during the song's bridge. (Ernie C of the rap metal
band Body Count, of which Ice-T was a member of, was the album's producer. He also mixed and recorded the Forbidden
album. "Get A Grip" continues the Heavy Metal sound. As most heavy rock albums having a loud sound, there is a
calmness needed, and the third track, "Can't Get Close Enough" starts out slowly, yet kicks into more Heavy Metal
sounding Rock. However, "Shaking Off The Chains" continues to the heavy sounding hard rock again. Another slow-paced
introduction to 'I Won't Cry For You," and again, it kicks into another hard rock sound, and returns back to
slow-pace. This song does work very well; a power ballad so-to-speak. "Guilty As Hell" kicks into another hard
rocking sound, and this one works as well; a very good hard rock/metal tune. It has a resemblance to Deep Purple in
(updated) sound. Hard Rock with a Blues feel gets "Sick And Tired," and yes, it's another good hard rock styled
track, with a good drum intro (by Cozy Powell), and great guitar solos (by original founding member Tony Iommi.)
"Rusty Angels" is a good song, however, there are other tracks better. "Forbidden" continues the loud,
hard rock sound. "Kiss Of Death" ends the album, similar to "I Won't Cry For You." It's another good track.
Black Sabbath's Forbidden is an album where it gets better towards its end. Highlight tracks: "Can't
Get Close Enough", "I Won't Cry For You", "Guilty As Hell", "Sick And Tired." This is not an Ozzy Black Sabbath album.
Nor is it a Dio Black Sabbath album. Critics panned the album, giving it only one and a half stars. (Really? I gave it
two and a half.) Critics commented the album as "having boring songs, awful production, and uninspired performances,
this is easily avoidable for all but the most enthusiastic fan." Also, "a sad state of affairs," given the band's long
history. Another magazine called Forbidden "an embarrassment... the band's worst album." At the time, there were
was a mention that Black Sabbath was to reunite with Ozzy in the future. Forbidden was produced by a rap artist.
Ernie C, of Body Count. Many stated that his producing wasa mistake. (Ernie was trying to get drummer Cozy Powell to
play hip-hop-styled drum parts, which quite rightly offended Powell. "You don't tell Cozy Powell how play drums.")
Again, Tony Martin is NOT Ozzy. He is NOT Dio. Yet, Black Sabbath was moving on with a new lead singer,
to take the course, and where it would lead them. Forbidden is a Heavy Metal/Hard Rock album. And it's sound is
generally common with other Heavy Metal/Hard Rock albums. Give it a listen. It's an album that gets better throughout
each track. Forget that the band's name is Black Sabbath. It's not what you would be expecting. Expect Forbidden
as a common, good, Hard Rock album.
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