Many bands may lay claim to inventing or popularising the term 'heavy
metal', but few would deny that Black Sabbath have defined the genre in
the minds of many, and have come to embody its popular image. From the
'classic' first decade with singer Ozzy Osbourne, through the Ronnie
James Dio period and the oft-overlooked later albums, the Sabbath name
has always been a trademark of quality, despite some less celebrated,
though often fascinating, periods.
To commemorate the final retirement of the band, lifelong devotee Steve
Pilkington takes the reader through every song on every one of the
band's studio albums, taking in the highs and occasional lows, as well
as looking at the cover artwork and stories behind the albums. He also
discusses live recordings and DVD releases. The result will surely be
regarded as the most exhaustive guide to the band's music yet produced,
as critical opinion rubs shoulders with facts, trivia and anecdotes to
provide the ultimate guide to this legendary band. Whether you are a
hard core fan, or simply want a guide to what lies beyond Paranoid, this
book is for you.