Totally agree KAB2112 but Back In Black is up there too. I'm not sure that AC/DC were up and coming with this LP. They'd already been going for many years and had their heyday with If You Want Blood and Highway To Hell. Probably the best Rainbow LP is their double live album but all are at least good, particularly Love Live Rock & Roll.
ReviewThis album came out after Black Sabbath had faded somewhat by their standards. The early albums with Ozzie Osbourne were excellent and they had started to go downhill after Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Punk had emerged and black sabbath were now “has beens”. Ronnie James Dio had shown his prowess with Elf and with Richie Blackmore’s Rainbow, making good albums especially Rainbow Rising. Dio was the outstanding Vox of that genre, along with the Riff Master Tony Iommi with Geezer Butler and Bill Ward cut this outstanding record. It was Black Sabbath reborn. Every track on it is a gem which still stands up there today. Like many others, I think I have a top ten best albums (which changes back and forth). There are not many where every track is a gem. “Blue” and “Court and Spark” - “Argus” and “There’s the Rub” – “Fire and Water” – “The Last Puff” - “Marauder” along with “Hemispheres” come to mind where every track is as good as the one before or after it. Heaven and Hell comes into that category.
Punk had had it’s day, Led Zeppelin had finished as had Lynyrd Skynyrd and new “Hard Rock” bands were up and coming, Van Halen, AC/DC, NWBHM etc. but this album was up there with any of those produced by the up and comers.
I’m not saying this is my favourite album – it can be depending on my mood for the day – but it has to be one of my all time favourites.
Has there ever been a better heavy rock album than this, every track is pure gold. There may be other albums up along side it, but I don't know of any better !!! R.I.P. RJD