70/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

#DeepPurple album no. 12 is the 2nd one after the Mk. II reunion and it is called "The House of Blue Light".

It is the first one where they used guitar synthesizers and electric drums.

🎵 The Unwritten Law
💿 The House of Blue Light (1987)
▶️ https://song.link/y/FneuvAcASRg

Ian Gillan didn't like the album title and of course they started fighing again.

71/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Oh I love the intro to The Spanish Archer!

🎵 The Spanish Archer by Deep Purple
💿 The House of Blue Light (1987)
▶️ https://song.link/y/3HzHJciqtwU

#DeepPurple

72/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

On The House of Blue Light Deep Purple lash out a bit more compared to Perfect Strangers, but overall I prefer the latter.

The Spanish Archer and Strangeways are standout tracks for me, but there was also a lot of "meh" on the album.

3/5

Dead Or Alive is a good closer to the album.
Mk II is dead, though.

🎵 Dead Or Alive
💿 The House of Blue Light (1987)
▶️ https://song.link/y/TESpRDWaxj4

#DeepPurple Ranking:
1 In Rock 5
2 Machine Head 4.5
3 Burn 4.5
4 Perfect Strangers 4
5 Fireball 4
6 Stormbringer 3.5
7 DP 3.5
8 WDWTWA 3.5
9 Strangeways 3
10 Taliesyn 3
11 Come Taste the Band 2.5
12 Shades 2.5

73/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

1987 was the first year after a 12 year break that had both Deep Purple and Black Sabbath album releases.

After a throwaway album whose name shall not be mentioned, #BlackSabbath hires Tony Martin as their new lead singer. They release "The Eternal Idol" and a new era begins.

🎵 The Shining
💿 The Eternal Idol (1987)
▶️ https://song.link/y/Kdv1jx3QLg8

74/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Two songs in and I like what I am hearing!

Tony Martin's vocals remind me a bit of Dio and stylistically this is closer to Dio era Sabbath...

...if you pour some sugar on it.

(I guess Def Leppard was the shit back then, because this sounds very much like Def Leppard)

🎵 Ancient Warrior by #BlackSabbath
💿 The Eternal Idol (1987)
▶️ https://song.link/y/FRAl9I_MDfc

EDIT: 4 songs in and Dio era Sabbath is completely gone. This is Hysteria.

75/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

The title track closes the album and also builds a bridge to the beginning of the album where they started in a Dio era manner.

🎵 Eternal Idol by Black Sabbath
💿 The Eternal Idol (1987)
▶️ https://song.link/y/CjWWzvbevAg

The album is very interesting. The opening songs and the end are great, but everything in between is a bit too cheesy 80s to my taste.

3 out of 5

#BlackSabbath Ranking:
1 Sabotage 5
2 Paranoid 5
3 Heaven and Hell 4.5
4 Master of Reality 4.5
5 BlackSabbath 4.5
6 Vol. 4 4
7 Mob Rules 4
8 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 3.5
9 Born Again 3.5
10 Never Say Die 3.5
11 Eternal Idol 3
12 Technical Ecstasy 2.5
13 Seventh Star 2

76/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Headless Cross is Black Sabbath's second album in the Tony Martin Era.

4 songs in I can tell that I like this one much much better than Eternal Idol.

They removed almost everything I disliked before (mostly the heavy use of echo effects) and Tony gave his best to sound like Dio.

🎵 When Death Calls by #BlackSabbath
💿 Headless Cross (1989)
▶️ https://song.link/y/SNIeaytly_k

77/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

#BlackSabbath did a lot of things right with Headless Cross. It sounds like the proper successor to Mob Rules.

Great album: 4/5

🎵 Cloak and Dagger
💿 Headless Cross (1989)
▶️ https://song.link/y/AId0MbsWoFw

Ranking:
1 Sabotage 5
2 Paranoid 5
3 Heaven and Hell 4.5
4 Master of Reality 4.5
5 BlackSabbath 4.5
6 Vol. 4 4
7 Mob Rules 4
8 Headless Cross 4
9 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 3.5
10 Born Again 3.5
11 Never Say Die 3.5
12 Eternal Idol 3
13 Technical Ecstasy 2.5
14 Seventh Star 2

78/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

We enter the 90s. It is now 20 years ago that Black Sabbath released their self titled debut.

Now they released Tyr, their 3rd album with Tony Martin. And 4 songs in, I can already tell that this will be my favourite one of those.

I only have one criticism, and maybe I'm doing him injustice, but Tony Martin tries to sound too much like Dio.

🎵 The Sabbath Stones by #BlackSabbath
💿 Tyr (1990)
▶️ https://song.link/y/9xRZCMe1EvE

79/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

10 years after Heaven and Hell Black Sabbath release another masterpiece! #Tyr is easily my favourite Tony Martin era album (so far). It is very back to the (Dio) roots without all that 80s nonsense. Give me more please!

4.5 out of 5

#BlackSabbath Ranking:
1 Sabotage 5
2 Paranoid 5
3 Heaven and Hell 4.5
4 Master of Reality 4.5
5 BlackSabbath 4.5
6 Tyr 4.5
7 Vol. 4 4
8 Mob Rules 4
9 Headless Cross 4
10 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 3.5
11 Born Again 3.5
12 Never Say Die 3.5
13 Eternal Idol 3
14 Technical Ecstasy 2.5
15 Seventh Star 2

🎵 Heaven In Black
💿 Tyr (1990)
▶️ https://song.link/y/vLj77H-99dw

80/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Joe Lynn Turner replaces Ian Gillan and #DeepPurple release "Slaves and Masters", their 13th studio album.

🎵 King of Dreams
💿 Slaves And Masters (1990)
▶️ https://song.link/y/CXVLjfY8ZE8

81/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Deep Purple's Slaves and Masters sounds like a Soft Rock album which is largely due to Joe Lynn Turners vocals.

This album didn't do much for me. It wasn't bad, but I won't pick it up again.

2.5 out of 5 ...meh

🎵 Fire in the Basement by #DeepPurple
💿 Slvaes and Masters (1990)
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/829213623

82/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

#Dio is back!

It is 1992 and Black Sabbath release "Dehumanizer".

My immediate thoughts after 3 songs: this might be the most #Ozzy era sounding Dio era Sabbath record. What a sentence.

Oh wow this is heavy 🤘

🎵 TV Crimes by #BlackSabbath
💿 Dezumanizer (1992)
▶️ https://song.link/y/2Lo17sVDPg0

83/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Sins Of The Father is by far the most #Ozzy era Sabbath sounding #Dio era Black Sabbath song so far.

...and I love everything about it!

🎵 Sins Of The Father by #BlackSabbath
💿 Dezumanizer (1992)
▶️ https://song.link/y/dRI-kpde9gc

84/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Oh man, Black Sabbath really delivered with #Dehuminizer. Tyr was already great, but this one puts the cherry on top.

Is the cherry #Dio?

I'd say no. It's the heaviness and the overall darkness that makes this album stand out. It's more than a nod to their past, this IS back to the roots.

Heaven and Hell lacks the "original" #BlackSabbath sound. Dezumanizer has the original Sabbath sound with Dio.

What a great listen this was 🤘

4.5 out of 5. Instant masterpiece.

So here is my Dio era Sabbath ranking:

1. Heaven and Hell 4.5
2. Dehumanizer 4.5
3. Mob Rules 4

🎵 Buried Alive
💿 Dehumanizer (1992
▶️ https://song.link/y/GM3n3DlxKz4

85/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Moving on. "The Battle Rages On..." is Deep Purple's 14th studio album and it is their final one with the legendary Mark II line-up.

Unfortunately I can't find this album on any streaming service, so I have to listen to a crappy YT video and share songs that are featured on compilations. Sorry for that.

The intro sounds like it could have been on Perfect Strangers...

🎵 The Battle Rages On by #DeepPurple
💿 The Battle Rages On... (1993)
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/463326787

86/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

The Battle Rages On... is more than an album title, it perfectly describes Deep Purple's band relations at that time.

Everyone wanted Ian Gillan back.
Everyone except Ritchie Blackmore of course.

Gillan's third return to the band was the final nail in the coffin, Blackmore left during the "Battle Rages On..." tour.

The album however sounds absolutely amazing! Mk. II at their finest, and this song is really something else:

🎵 Anya by #DeepPurple
💿 The Battle Rages On... (1993)
▶️ https://song.link/y/-Lomc2PTQpA

87/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

The Battle Rages On... is neither fan nor critics favourite.

I don't care, I really liked it. I found it great actually.

4 out of 5.

Gillan is back for good.
Blackmore left for good.

#DeepPurple ranking:
1 In Rock 5
2 Machine Head 4.5
3 Burn 4.5
4 Perfect Strangers 4
5 Fireball 4
6 The Battle Rages On... 4
7 Stormbringer 3.5
8 DP 3.5
9 WDWTWA 3.5
10 The House of Blue Light 3
11 Taliesyn 3
12 Come Taste the Band 2.5
13 Shades 2.5
14. Slaves and Masters 2.5

🎵 Solitaire by #DeepPurple
💿 The Battle Rages On... (1993)
▶️ https://song.link/y/QJNkqJqqmAI

88/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Once again, egos collide and #Dio is gone. Once again.

Tony Martin - who did his best to imitate Dio on his first three Black Sabbath albums - is back for a second stint.

The album is called Cross Purposes and starts off with a rythm guitar section that reminds me of Queen's "Hitman".

And at least on the first track, Martin didn't sound like Dio any longer.

🎵 I Witness by #BlackSabbath
💿 Cross Purposes (1994)
▶️ https://song.link/y/txng7SIKG8E

89/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Doom. Cross Purposes might be the most doomy doom album Black Sabbath ever released.

🎵 Virtual Death by #BlackSabbath
💿 Cross Purposes (1994)
▶️ https://song.link/y/0nv46KoslTY

90/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Cross Purposes did surprise me.

It sounded different. Darker - even darker than Dehumanizer. Everything was toned down even more. Also it sounded very 90tyish.

I was entertained and I verdict as follows:

Cross Purposes is good. 3.5 out of 5.

🎵 Evil Eye by #BlackSabbath
💿 Cross Purposes (1994)
▶️ https://song.link/y/KGg6_Iz_ljk

91/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

The year is 1995 and Black Sabbath released their penultimate album "Forbidden"

This album doesn't at all sound like a #BlackSabbath album. It is some almost generic 90s hard rock/metal thingy I have problems getting into.

I have a theory...

🎵 Shaking off the Chains
💿 Forbidden (1995)
▶️ https://song.link/y/ZlURjy2rvSY

92/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

#Forbidden was not liked at all when it was released.

A lot of the critics was because of the poor production.

Luckily this album was remixed some years ago and I am able to listen to a good sounding record.

It is a very generic one though and is only remotely what most would call Black Sabbath. But I don't really care about that.

Somehow I still like it, I'd say it's solid: 3/5

A lot of things happen in the #BlackSabbath cosmos in the next years, but no new album is in sight, until...

🎵 Kiss of Death
💿 Forbidden (1995)
▶️ https://song.link/y/xZeQqeCcaKU

93/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

1996. Ritchie Blackmore has left #DeepPurple for good. Steven Morse picks up the axe and completes the Mark VII line-up consisting of Morse, Ian Gillan, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice.

Mark VII is Deep Purples second longes lasting line-up, believe it or not.

🎵 Loosen My Strings
💿 Purpendicular (1996)
▶️ https://song.link/y/QTq7LUHrr6I

94/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Oh that was a surprise! I really liked listening to #Purpendicular, it reminded me a lot of Fireball. Also it sounds a lot like the most recent albums (which - spoiler alert - were all good).

Great album, 4/5 🤘

My favourite track was Soon Forgotten, I caught myself banging my head to it:

🎵 Soon Forgotten
💿 Purpendicular (1996)
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/324161858

Purpendicualar was the first of 5 Deep Purple records before another #BlackSabbath release would see the light of day.

95/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

In 1998 Deep Purple release #Abandon, but they were not a band done, they were a band on!

Unfortunatelly this album doesn't seem available on any music streaming service, so you have to live with crappy YT links. I apologise in advance!

🎵 Any Fule Kno That by #DeepPurple
💿 Abandon (1998)
▶️ https://song.link/y/K0-h8nUrXtg

96/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Halfway through "Abandon" and I am not really sold.

Apart from "Seventh Heaven" and "Watching The Skye" it just ripples along.

🎵 Fingers To The Bone by #DeepPurple
💿 Abandon (1996)
▶️ https://song.link/y/1PlKfnNDqGg

97/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

I have mixed feelings about Deep Purple's Abandon. There are some good numbers (Seventh Heaven, Watching The Sky, '69), but overall it didn't really grab me.
Like something was missing or so.

2,5 out of 5. Solid, but I probably won't pick it up again.

🎵 '69 by #DeepPurple
💿 Abandon (1998)
▶️ https://song.link/y/Onb6LeyJm7g

34 albums done, 7 more to do.

98/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

It is 2003. It took Deep Purple 5 years to release their next album called #Bananas

Don Airy replaces Jon Lord after his retirement. Airy is yet another musician who was active in both Purple and #BlackSabbath

With 20 years, the Mark VIII line-up is the longest reigning in Deep Purple's history and I am afraid that it'll stay like that.

🎵 House of Pain by #DeepPurple
💿 Bananas (2003)
▶️ https://song.link/y/3NHTnYS8mMU

99/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Picture Of Innocence is a nice blues rock song. Stylistically Deep Purple continue where they left with Abandoned. Overall really good, but a bit of variety wouldn't hurt.

🎵 Picture Of Innocence by #DeepPurple
💿 Bananas (2003)
▶️ https://song.link/y/FAxq8SUKccs

100/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Ok, so I am done with Deep Purple's Bananas.
To be frank I don't like the album title and the album art.
But I liked Bananas and overall I liked Bananas.

I don't need more Bananas though, so 2.5 out of 5 is a rating I can live with.

🎵 Bananas by #DeepPurple
💿 Bananas (2003)
▶️ https://song.link/y/Y1DlKkKezW4

101/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

#BlackSabbath was not unactive after the release of Forbidden. They reunited with #Ozzy went on a tour and released a live album "Reunion" which also features two new songs. But no new studio album was in sight.

Meanwhile in 2005 Deep Purple release Rapture of the Deep, which arguably has the worst album cover. Did they use Wordart there?

🎵 Money Talks by #DeepPurple
💿 Rapture of the Deep (2005)
▶️ https://song.link/y/vbqLfkw4Yh8

102/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Deep Purple's Wordart cover art album "Rapture of the Deep" closes with an epic track:

🎵 Before Time Began by #DeepPurple
💿 Rapture of the Deep (2005)
▶️ https://song.link/y/FkUMjEE1jSQ

This one is another solid album and better than Bananas and Abandon.
3 out of 5 wordart textures.

Ranking (excerpt:
...
10 The House of Blue Light 3
11 The Book of Taliesyn 3
12 Rapture of the Deep 3 🆕
13 Bananas 2.5
14 Abandon 2.5
15 Come Taste the Band 2.5
...

103/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Dio, Geezer and Iommy realasing an album. Must be Black Sabbath, right?
Wrong. They release it as Heaven & Hell so technically it wouldn't qualify for this Metaljourney.

But after 4 Deep Purple albums in a row, I need a bit of the #BlackSabbath sound.

So here we go, let's make it 42 albums instead of 41.

🎵 Atom and Evil by #HeavenAndHell
💿 The Devil You Know (2009)
▶️ https://song.link/y/7k7AKTA1CBo

104/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

I don't remember that "The Devil You Know" was this good. The last time I listened to it was already 7 years ago, so I guess it aged like fine wine.

This album has a very modern heavy sound which I prefer to 80s and 90s production. Yes, I am serious.

If I would rank this album in my joint #DeepPurple and #BlackSabbath list, it would be placed between Mob Rules and Purpendicular.

Here's a question to all Metalheads: does The Devil You Know belong into the Black Sabbath discography?
IMHO it has a stronger case than 7th Star.

🎵 Neverwhere by #HeavenAndHell
💿 The Devil You Know (2009)
▶️ https://song.link/y/B5VezIuQFkE

105/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

8 years have passed since Rapture of the Deep.

Now what?

Now What?!

A Simple Simple song might be simple, but it is fantastic!

🎵 A Simple Song by #DeepPurple
💿 Now What?! (2013)
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/616738334

106/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourey

What did the lads of Deep Purple do during their 8 year break between Rapture of the Deep and Now What?! questionmark.

Have they bathed in a fountain of youth?
Now What?! is banger after banger.

I said it before and I'll say it again, and I'll probably say it again a couple of times, but: Deep Purple's late work doesn't get the attention it deserves!

🎵 Hell to Pay by #DeepPurple
💿 Now What?! (2013)
▶️ https://song.link/y/lNofQY3ppME

107/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourey

I have no idea what #DeepPurple changed, but it worked. Now What ?! sounds fresh, modern and powerful but doesn't neglect their past. It has everything any Purplehead could ever ask for.

Now What ?! is one of Deep Purple's best records.
In fact, it is their best album since Burn which makes it their best album in almost 40 years!

4.5 out of 5, masterpiece level 🤘

🎵 Uncommon Man
💿 Now What ?! (2013)
▶️ https://song.link/at/i/616738344

Ranking (excerpt):
...
2. Machine Head 4.5
3. Burn 4.5
4. Now What ?! 4.5 🆕
5. Perfect Strangers 4
6. Fireball 4
...

108/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Is this the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end?

2013 is the first year since 1990 that had both Deep Purple and Black Sabbath releases.

#13 marks #Ozzy's first album with Sabbath in 35 years. It will also be Sabbath's last ever studio album.

The album kicks off with the end of the beginning.
When I listened to it the first time I was immediately in love.

And Iommi, oh my god Iommi! This part at 5:15... goosebumps, always!

I love this album! 🤘

🎵 End Of The Beginning by #BlackSabbath
💿 13 (2013)
▶️ https://song.link/y/Y1MVogBNKhw

109/ #DeepSabbath #Metaljourney

Dear father, why is "13" so good?

🎵 Dear Father
💿 13 (2013)
▶️ https://song.link/y/7GEzSBxRVNw

Ok I admit, I am biased. Before 13 I only listened to a couple of #BlackSabbath songs, you know, the obvious ones, but 13 really got me into them.

13 is fantastic and Iommi's solo in "The End of the Beginning" is my favourite of his, by a large margin.

4.5 out of 5, a masterpiece.

With this, the Black Sabbath path of my DeepSabbath Metaljourney is almost at its end.
What is still missing is my final ranking, which should also answer where I am in the #Ozzy vs #Dio era #Sabbath discussion.

You'll find that in the next toot.