BLACK SABBATH's Ozzy Osbourne-era undoubtedly changed rock music and expedited the rise of heavy metal with the landmark work they released in the early '70s. That lineup however had been running on empty with their last two albums. 1976's "Technical Ecstasy" and 1978's "Never Say Die" were solid rock albums with a few catchy songs here and there but were not befitting of what they had built with their previous records. Ozzy Osbourne's 1979 firing put an exclamation point on that decline. Ronnie James Dio's vocal energy and lyrical craftsmanship was the exact injection of life that was needed to guide BLACK SABBATH into the 1980's, and Rhino's new Deluxe Edition of "Heaven And Hell" celebrates over forty years of the record's legacy with its new remaster, released with a generous helping of bonus live tracks spotlighting the greatness of that short-but-legendary chapter of the BLACK SABBATH story.
The new remaster of the main album doesn't really reveal too many
nuances unheard on prior issues, but any excuse to revisit this classic
record is well-appreciated. Tony Iommi's guitars and Geezer Butler's bass performance do feel slightly warmer on the new master, but once again Dio's vocal performance is the biggest star of the show.
Disc 1: Original Album (2021 Remaster)
01. Neon Knights (2021 Remaster) (3:52)
02. Children of the Sea (2021 Remaster) (5:34)
03. Lady Evil (2021 Remaster) (4:24)
04. Heaven and Hell (2021 Remaster) (6:57)
05. Wishing Well (2021 Remaster) (4:07)
06. Die Young (2021 Remaster) (4:44)
07. Walk Away (2021 Remaster) (4:25)
08. Lonely Is the Word (2021 Remaster) (5:49)
Disc 2: Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 12/31/1981
01. Children of the Sea (Live B-Side) (6:26)
02. Heaven and Hell (Live B-Side) (7:19)
03. Lady Evil (7-inch Mono Edit) (3:57)
04. Neon Knights (Live at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 8/10/1980) (5:11)
05. Children of the Sea (Live at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 8/10/1980) (5:52)
06. Heaven And Hell (Live at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 8/10/1980) (12:20)
07. Die Young (Live at Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT, 8/10/1980) (4:36)
08. E5150 (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 12/31/1981) (1:16)
09. Neon Knights (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 12/31/1981) (4:37)
10. Children of the Sea (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 12/31/1981) (6:01)
11. Heaven and Hell (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, 12/31/1981) (14:31)
