All Black Sabbath Albums Ranked From Best to Worst

When we’re talking about influential metal bands, there is no more single influential band to heavy music than Black Sabbath – Full Stop. Whether it’s Ozzy’s bizarre singing style or Tony Iommi’s thimble-fingered guitar tone that could cut through even the darkest Birmingham fog clouds, the band’s unique sound was not the responsibility of one individual but instead a sum of parts. 

Admittedly, A lot of their music may not be “heavy” compared to contemporary Meshuggah standards and the streaming loudness wars, but we have to separate loudness from cultural impact and shock value. It was the cultural dissonance of radio music at the time, and how much guts it took to write a guitar riff like War Pigs, where the main features are “Slow”, “Feedback”, and “Air Raid Sirens”.

Since there are 18 different albums we’ll be splitting them into tiered categorical rankings:

Top Tier

Not only did these albums reflect a time period in England, and almost single-handedly invent a genre, But they will continue to be imitated by lesser creative minds for the next hundred years.

These albums still crush in every category: musically and sonically, and though their production stylings might be dated, none of the decisions are off-putting. They are preserved perfectly in vinyl.

1. “Black Sabbath” (1970) 

The best Black Sabbath album of all time is their self-titled debut, ‘Black Sabbath’. This is because it marks the beginning of the heavy metal era, perhaps the popularization of the entire genre, and the reason why we’re all here in the first place. Unimpeachable. 

2. “Paranoid” (1970)

An impossible follow-up album to maybe the most influential heavy metal album of all time. Except this time, the songs are good on their own and propelled the band even further by allowing them to take over the radio. 

3. “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” (1973)

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, is my personal favorite of the albums, even if the Yes influence might have taken them a little bit too far afield for many fans. I hear what would eventually become Ozzy’s solo records, and his squealy voice fits so well in the mix of the album. 

4. “Master of Reality” (1971)  

Stereo Panning Coughs set the beginning of this album on fire, and heavy metal never recovered from it. Stereo panned tom-tom fills! Classic rock production that just kicks a**. Turn it on and go change the oil in your car, and you’ll see why so many of us fell in love with the genre. 

5. “Heaven and Hell” (1980)

Ronnie James Dio had an impossible task – take over for Ozzy Osbourne. There was no way it was going to go well and fans were heartbroken that the original Sabbath was gone for good (or at least until 2013ish).

Somehow he pulled it off and led the band to a triumphant return, even if it was just for one good album. 

6. “Vol. 4” (1972)

The album that truly established Tony Iommi as a pivotal lead guitarist and melodic guitarist, instead of just a slow-riffsman Though not universally approved, as quoted by Fred Thomas of All Reviews, 

“Though clouded by substance abuse, Vol. 4 found Sabbath at a creative peak that teetered on the edge of going off the rails completely. It’s messy and bewildered, but stands as one of the band’s most captivating and influential documents in all of its bizarre, damaged brilliance.”

Mid Tier

Many of the albums on this tier will be disputed by fans, but I think that the top tier is, in fact, so high that unless something is as good as paranoid, it does not belong in the company of paranoid. Very few bands even have one album that is as good as anything on the top tier, and we are blessed with many.

Additionally, the records of this tier are often seen as a departure from form, sometimes that comes at the cost of using new musicians, or different palettes of instruments. 

7. “Dehumanizer” (1992)

Some people will defend this album as a return to form by Ronnie James Dio, but with the benefit of hindsight – the production and theatrical themes are a little well-worn by 1992. 

8. “Mob Rules” (1981)

Another Ronnie James Dio Attempt, but it does nothing for me. All style, no substance, but there’s enough here to enjoy if you’re a completionist. 

9. “Sabotage” (1975)

Ozzy was not infallible, and I think this album proves that. He may be God, but “Am I Going Insane” is a terrible radio single. The guitar riff references a far superior track “All The Madmen” from a far superior album by David Bowie, “The Man Who Sold The World.”

Additionally, it is the only song from Sabotage that appears on Sabbath’s Greatest Hits. 

10. “13” (2013)

As much as we fans might’ve wanted this to be a continuation of the early love of music, a lot of the fire in the performances is gone – even though we miss it. Ozzy unfortunately sounds tired, the lyrics are trite rhymes AB rhymes, and as much production magic Rick Rubin is trying to put on this, doesn’t quite complete the illusion. 

11. “The Eternal Idol” (1987)

Though it was released in November 1987 in the UK, it has never found its footing. It is the first Black Sabbath album to feature vocalist Tony Martin. Chronically underrated, but not my cup of tea.

I think production value diminishes Sabbath. 

Low Tier

These are albums that would be forgotten if they were made by a band of lower status. Mostly these are here to complete the total catalog, but I wouldn’t be surprised if most of these songs they’ve never played live, and even the most devoted fan would never choose a record from this year over something from above. 

12. “Technical Ecstasy” (1976)

I love keyboards, synths, and vocal FX. Hell, I even think they work great in heavy metal and rock music, but this album lacks the quintessential darkness and fear associated with Black Sabbath.

I don’t think they should’ve called the 6th track “Rock N’ Roll Doctor.” I’m not making that up, it may as well be Black Sabbath Boogie-Woogie. 

13. “Never Say Die!” (1978)

The last album to feature Ozzy, and it starts with an almost note-for-note riff cover of “The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy from only two years earlier. Perhaps it was time to say die. 

14. “Born Again” (1983)

The second track on this album is why we have the Stonehenge joke in Spinal Tap. While a terrific movie, and a better joke, you have to know that Sabbath wasn’t kidding. 

15. “Seventh Star” (1986)

This mustache didn’t save the album, even though they prayed it would. 

Another decade and another vocalist switch, this time to Glenn Hughes. Everyone wants to sell records like Iron Maiden, but very few can pull it off theatricality and ass-kicking, especially not in this era of Black Sabbath. 

Very Low Tier

These last five albums are so poorly recorded, played, and composed without seemingly any effort that it’s hard to even write about them.

They all sold less than 1 million copies globally, which is almost impossible when you consider that even a less popular album like Sabbath Bloody Sabbath sold over 1 million in the EU alone. 

16. “Headless Cross” (1989)

Late 80s production was going wild during the creation of this album, “Headless Cross”. I don’t believe that kind of drum and room reverb belongs on a Sabbath album, but who knows. Additionally, a headless cross is just a T. 

17. “Tyr” (1990)

People online seem to like this record a lot more than when it was released, but I don’t think Sabbath and the Doom-Stylings of the 90s fit together. Sabbath incorrectly gets put in the sludge/slowcore genre, but that’s just because of the time their music was released.

In reality, however, their tunes are pretty up-tempo, the riffs are just very long. 

18. “Cross Purposes” (1994)

It’s the 17th album, and it’s so forgettable you won’t even notice that Tony Martin is back for the second time, replacing Ronnie James Dio… again! 

19. “Forbidden” (1995)

This is the worst Black Sabbath album because it is Forbidden. Good, then, let’s leave this one forbidden. I forbid you to listen to it. Listen to Paranoid again instead.