Black Sabbath Anno Domini box set: Birmingham's heavy metal icons highlight Tony Martin era with new box set

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Black Sabbath: Anno Domini 1989-1995 is released on Friday 31 May 2024

Four 'lost' albums by Birmingham’s metal legends Black Sabbath will be made available again for the first time in some 25 years tomorrow (Friday May, 31 2024).

The four albums date from the period 1989-1995 and have not been officially re-released since, or made available for streaming.

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Among them is Black Sabbath's penultimate studio album, 1995's Forbidden.

Previously described as being "really crap" by co-founder Tony Iommi, the album - which was made with Ice T and Ernie C from rap metal combo Body Count - has now been extensively remixed by the Sabbath guitarist with the new version heralded as a major improvement by band members.

"Back then I didn't like it at all,” recalls Forbidden's vocalist, Tony Martin. “Neither did [drummer] Cozy Powell, and neither did [keyboard player] Geoff Nicholls. We were all like a bit uummmm ... that's that's not a very good idea."

Early writing and rehearsal sessions were positive, and the band and producers got on well. However, once in the recording studio, creative decisions by the producer left the elder metal musicians confused, frustrated and bewildered.

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"The first time I realised I was actually on the album was when I heard it," recalls Martin, who thought Ice T might replace his vocals.

“And then they did the artwork for the album cover - a cartoon thing - and we went, ‘No, that's not a Black Sabbath cover!’ So we all sort of sort of despaired, you know?

“It was all a bit depressing, a bit disjointed.” But hearing Iommi's 2024 version, Martin is stunned by the upgrade.

Black Sabbath 1989 - Pete Cronin - IconicPix.jpg
Left to right: Tony Martin (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), Neil Murray (bass).Black Sabbath 1989 - Pete Cronin - IconicPix.jpg
Left to right: Tony Martin (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), Neil Murray (bass).
Black Sabbath 1989 - Pete Cronin - IconicPix.jpg Left to right: Tony Martin (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), Neil Murray (bass). | BW

"Tony sort of ripped it apart, remixed it, and it's brilliant. It actually sounds like a Black Sabbath album now - I wish Cozy [who passed away in 1998] was still around to hear that because I'm absolutely certainly he’d love it now," says the singer.

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"[The] album sounds brilliant now, and I'm thrilled at what they've done,” Martin continues.

"I went down to Iommi’s studio and heard the first track and I just smiled, and Tony looked at me and he smiled ... 'Yeah, it's good, isn't it?'"

Alongside Forbidden, 1989's Headless Cross (featuring a guest appearance from Queen's Brian May), 1990's Tyr and Cross Purposes from 1994 are all being made available again as part of a chunky box set, Anno Domini 1989-1995, with each LP remastered. The collections will also be available on streaming services for the first time too.

All four albums all feature Sabbath guitarist Iommi and Aston-born Tony Martin. Their sixth singer, Martin joined the iconic band for their 13th studio album, 1987's Eternal Idol (which was previously re-released in 2010). Martin stands as the band's second longest serving vocalist (after Ozzy Osbourne).

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Long unavailable for contractual (rather than quality) reasons, Iommi first mooted the four albums possible return in 2016. But with the band, who by then included Ozzy again, consumed with their farewell tour, The End, it's taken eight years for the project to see fruition – finally filling a large gap in Black Sabbath's chequered history.

"I'm very honoured to have been part of the story," says Martin today. "It's 10 years of my life and 10 years of the Sabbath history that I've been part of."

Hearing the albums again after ignoring them for so long, both Martin and Iommi are impressed by the quality of the songs and musicianship across all four releases.

"I think Sabbath was just a little bit out of fashion back then," Martin says of the lukewarm reception that greeted the albums at the time. "But now people are looking at them with fresh eyes and going ‘F------ hell, that's quite good!’" he laughs.

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And what makes the physical release extra special for Martin, is that he now finally has his own copies!

The albumThe album
The album | BW

"I haven't had these albums actually physically in my hand for like, 25 years. I gave mine away thinking I'll just get some more ... and then I never did."

Since being usurped by Ozzy in 1997, Martin - who now resides in Solihull - has continued to write and record, as a solo artist, collaborator and guest, and estimates he's now been involved with "89 albums and projects." Drawn back into Sabbath's orbit by the box set, he admits he'd love to work with Iommi again, should the opportunity arise.

"I said to him, if you're interested and you wanna do something ... I'll have a go at it."

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• Black Sabbath: Anno Domini 1989-1995 is released on Friday 31 May 2024 via BMG (CD and LP); each album will also be available via major streaming platforms on the same date.

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Anno Domini: What’s in the box set?

• The box includes remastered versions of Headless Cross (1989), Tyr (1990) and Cross Purposes (1994), plus a new version of Forbidden (1995), remixed by Tony Iommi.

• The CD version of the box contains three exclusive bonus tracks: Headless Cross era B-side Cloak And Dagger, and Japan-only releases What’s The Use (from Cross Purposes) and Loser Gets It All (from Forbidden).

• In addition, the box also contains a Headless Cross poster and replica tour programme, and a 54 page booklet featuring interviews with band members.

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