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Black Sabbath: Headless Cross

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Artist: Black Sabbath
Title: Headless Cross
Released: 1989.04.01
Label: EMI Records
Time: 40:30
Producer(s): See Artists ...
Appears with: Ozzy Osbourne
Category: Hard Rock
Rating: *****..... (5/10)
Media type: CD
Purchase date:  2001.08.06
Price in €: 6,40
Web address: www.black-sabbath.com




 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] The Gates of Hell (Black Sabbath) - 1:06
[2] Headless Cross (Black Sabbath) - 6:29
[3] Devil and Daughter (Black Sabbath) - 4:44
[4] When Death Calls (Black Sabbath) - 6:55
[5] Kill in the Spirit World (Black Sabbath) - 5:11
[6] Call of the Wild (Black Sabbath) - 5:19
[7] Black Moon (Black Sabbath) - 4:06
[8] Nightwing (Black Sabbath) - 6:38

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


TONY IOMMI - Guitar, Producer
LAURENCE COTTLE - Electric Bass
COZY POWELL - Drums, Producer
TONY MARTIN - Vocals

BRIAN MAY - Electric Guitar
GEOFF NICHOLS - Keyboards

SEAN LYNCH - Engineer, Mixing
JERRY EWING - Liner Notes

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1989 LP IRS X2-13002
1989 CS IRS 32002
1991 LP IRS 13002
1989 CS IRS X4-13002
1990 CD IRS 13002
1997 CD IRS 13002
1998 CD EMI 41005
2001 CD EMI-Capitol Special Markets 30414
2001 CS EMI-Capitol Special Markets 30414

Recorded at Soundmill, Woodcray and Amazon Studios



By the late '80s everyone had pretty much given up on Black Sabbath... and why not? Guitarist Tony Iommi was the only remaining original member and the band had seen an outrageous number of musicians and frontmen (six overall) slip through its ranks since Ozzy Osbourne's departure. So it was quite a shock when singer Tony Martin returned for a second go-round on 1989's pleasantly surprising Headless Cross. The album also benefited from the arrival of journeyman Cozy Powell — one of the few drummers who's sound is instantly recognizable. Arguably the finest non-Ozzy or Dio Black Sabbath album (along with 87's The Eternal Idol), Headless Cross is certainly the most consistent. Its songs place all emphasis on the almighty riff (from whence all rivers flow), with the drums, bass, keyboards, and voice playing only a supporting role. Morbid monsterpieces, such as the title track and "Kill in the Spirit World", possess massive power chords, but still manage to flow seamlessly into the more radio-friendly, yet still incredibly heavy material like "Devil and Daughter" and "Black Moon". For sheer malevolent power, "When Death Calls" is one of Iommi's most stunning compositions ever, while "Nightwing" flips the coin by introducing beautiful acoustic playing and, daringly said, highly poetic lyrics. For those who feel the need to stray from the Osbourne and Dio classics, there can be no better place to start.

Ed Rivadavia
All-Music Guide, © 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



Zeremonienmeister Toni Iommi bittet wieder mal zur Schwarzen Messe. Als Meß- diener steht dem Black-Sabbath-Gitarristen mit Cozy Powell einer der besten Heavy-Drummer zur Seite. Und auch Sänger Tony Martin verkündet die myste- rischen Lehren überzeugend - wie einst Ronnie James Dio in den besten Tagen. Mit "Headless Cross", ihrer 13. Studio-Langrille, will die okkulte Schwer- metall-Legende aus Birmingham an alte Hiterfolge anknüpfen. Die Chancen stehen nicht schlecht, handelt es sich doch um das Überzeugendste, was seit langem aus der Feder von Iommi & Co. floß.
interpret.: 07-08

© Stereoplay



If you've read these pages in the past year-and-a-half, you probably know that Black Sabbath played dates in Sun City in July of `87, breaking a U.N. cultural boycott. I find that sleazy beyond belief, but from what I understand, all kinds of U.N. organizations have accepted their apology, so let's wipe the slate clean. This is actually the first Sabbath LP that feels like it was made by a real band Since Mob Rules, and is helped in no little way by the talents of drummer Cozy Powell; guitarist and only remaining founding member Tony lommi has alto shaken off a lot of the dust and is coming up with better riffs than he has in years. That said, the arrangements here are far too reliant on Geoff Nichols' keyboards, and vocalist Cat Martin, while a superb singer, sounds just like Ronnie James Dio, and the lyrics leave a lot to be desired. All in all, Headless Cross is a promising album, but not the back-from-the-dead blockbuster it probably could have been. Picks: "When Death Calls," which features a monstrous lommi riff but clocks in at 6:56, "Kill In The Spirit World," and especially the ballsy "Black Moon."

CMJ New Music Report Issue: 168 - Apr 21, 1989
© 1978-1999 College Media, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.



First question: Can BLACK SABBATH be compared with BLACK SABBATH? I don't think so, the eras are too different, but in music and vocals, even though it always has been BLACK SABBATH. "Headless Cross" can barely be compared to the beginnings with Ozzy Osbourne, because firstly the music here is quite epic, but still powerful Doom and secondly Tony Martin's voice alone is so very different... But anyway, "Headless Cross" stands in one line with the long series of classics and after a short keyboard-intro the title-track impressively shows what is BLACK SABBATH: Majestic riffs, a very good flow of the song and, of course, Martin's brilliant vocals. That there is a bigger emphasis on the melodies (also or maybe just because of the keyboards) than before doesn't place any flaw on it. The two following "Devil & Daughter" and "When Death Calls" keep the extremely high level and also offer epic Power Doom of the top-class. After that it turns a little more shallow, because the compositions turn a little catchier, unfortunately not keeping the same emotional/atmospheric depth than the first half. Still "Headless Cross" is essential to everybody, who feels even just roughly appealed by the above-mentioned sounds!

Alex - The Metal Observer
metal-observer.de



Erste Frage: Kann man BLACK SABBATH eigentlich mit BLACK SABBATH vergleichen? Ich denke nicht, denn zu unterschiedlich sind die Epochen, sowohl gesanglich als auch musikalisch, obgleich es eigentlich immer BLACK SABBATH war. "Headless Cross" ist daher kaum mit den Anfängen mit Ozzy Osbourne zu vergleichen, denn zum einen ist die Musik hier recht epischer, aber dennoch druckvoller Doom und zum anderen ist Tony Martin schon von der Stimme her sehr, sehr anders. Aber egal. "Headless Cross" reiht sich dennoch nahtlos in die lange Kette an Klassikern ein, nach kurzem Keyboard-Intro zeigt der Titeltrack gleich eindrucksvoll, was BLACK SABBATH ausmacht: Majestätische Gitarrenriffs, ein sehr guter Fluß im Song und natürlich Martins herausragender Gesang. Dass dabei mehr Wert auf die Melodiebögen gelegt wird wie früher (auch und vor allem durch die Keyboards) fällt dabei nicht einmal ansatzweise negativ ins Gewicht. Auch die beiden folgenden "Devil & Daughter" und "When Death Calls" setzen das sehr hohe Niveau fort und bieten epischen Power Doom der Extraklasse. Danach wird die Sache ein wenig flacher, da die Kompositionen irgendwie lockerer herüberkommen, noch eingängiger, was ich persönlich etwas schade finde, denn hierdurch wird die emotional/atmosphärische Tiefe leider nicht so fortgesetzt, wie ich es mir nach der ersten Hälfte erhofft hätte. Dennoch ist "Headless Cross" jedem zu empfehlen, der sich auch nur grob von den oben angesprochenen Sounds angezogen fühlt!

Alex - The Metal Observer
metal-observer.de



More conventional metal with a pop edge, but at least the tunes are a bit better ("Nightwing"). Sabbath's old hedonistic heaviness is still MIA: "The Gates Of Hell" and the title track serve up the same metal clichés as the previous disc; "Kill In The Spirit World" and "Call Of The Wild" are the same corporate style Heart was using at the time; "Black Moon" has a syncopated heavy riff recalling Led Zeppelin. Though derivative, none of those tunes are bad, and Iommi contributes a tasty solo to "Call Of The Wild." There's no driving reason to put this on, but once it's playing you won't feel compelled to take it off either. Tony Martin serves up his usual high-pitched mishmash of religious images ("Devil & Daughter"), and the rest of the band is anonymous: Cozy Powell joined on drums (also co-producing), and Laurence Cottle is often inaudible on bass.

DBW - www.warr.org
 

 L y r i c s


THE GATES OF HELL

Instrumental


HEADLESS CROSS

Look through the people and on through the mist
To the hill of the headless cross,
Where all witches meet, on a night such as this
And the power of darkness is host
They come face to face, eye to eye, soul to soul,
With an angel that fell from the sky.
Borne on the air, lot of screams and the wails
Of the masses appointed to die.

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross.

From the first evil night, when a black flash of light
Cut the crucifix half to the ground.
There's been no escape from the power of Satan.
On a nation so brave and so proud

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross.

Ahahahohohoh Ahahahohohoh
Ahahahohohoh Ahahahohohoh
Ahhhhhhh...

How do ya feel when the locks refuse the key.
And the master is calling your name?
Does the luck of the charm, really keep you from harm?
Does the tallisman protect you from pain?

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
At the headless cross, at the headless cross.

From the first evil night. when a black flash of light
Cut the crucifix half to the ground.
There's no escaping from the power of Satan.
For a people so brave and so proud

Listen for the feet as they pound the land to a tune of thunder
Watch as the legions ride again to a fate of death or torture,
oh no oh
oh!
(Headless Cross), at the Headless Cross
(At the Headless Cross), ohh, at the Headless Cross.
Ooh where will you run to?
At the Headless Cross.
Look to the Headless Cross oh


DEVIL AND DAUGHTER

Silence is mocking the dawn of a new day.
Devil and daughter are both on their way.
The Evil of her nature collects in her eyes.
With him there's no fear, of the dawn bringing light.

Baptised with fire, too wild to be tamed
She's hot, evil, and ready to take any man
Let no one put assunder the power the pain
He is the master of hell, riding again
(Ahahahah)
Devil and Daughter - pleasure and pain.
(Ahahahah)
Devil and Daughter - is this the end?

A thousand times over, you'll hear on the wind
In the name of hell, these sinners never sinned
But Satan never listens, to the words that they send
Drenching the soul with blood when will it end?
(Ahahahah)
Devil and Daughter - Oh he's got the power, she's got the pain.
(Ahahahah)
Devil and Daughter - She'll break any woman and take any man, ohh-oh.
(Ahahahah)
Devil and Daughter - Hand in hand with the reaper.


WHEN DEATH CALLS

He saw the world, dim with glow of the vertical sun
His skin crept cold, knowing that this is the hours of dying
Misguided mortals you'll burn with me
Spirit of man cannot be free

When Death calls - This is the hours of dying
When Death calls - The spirit of man can't be freed
When Death calls - Ohohoh, there's no tommorrow
When Death calls - Oh, just an evil shadow. Ohoh. Oh.

Tell me not, fear of the flames means that Heaven is closer
For I believe Satan lives in the souls of the dying
Misguided mortals you'll burn with me
Spirit of man cannot be free

When Death calls - Ahh, Heaven/Hell is closer
When Death calls - Feel the heat of the flames from the souls of the dying
When Death calls - Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes
When Death calls - You're gonna burn!

Don't look in those sunken eyes
Don't look and you'll stay alive
Don't laugh in the face of Death or your tongue will blister
Can't die until Satan says you'll die
And Satan takes your soul, in the face of Death, or you're tongue will blister

Don't look in those sunken eyes
Don't look and you stay alive
Don't laugh in the face of Death or your tongue will blister
Can't die til Satan says you die
The Devil takes your soul
With all his wrath he calls the reaper

When Death calls - This is the hours of dying
When Death calls - The spirit of man can't be free
When Death calls - Ahahahoh, there's no tommorrow
When Death calls - Just an evil shadow, evil shadow
When Death calls - Feel the heat of the flames from the souls of the dying
When Death calls - You're gonna burn, burn, burn, oh no
When Death calls - Heaven is closer
When Death calls - I can feel it, it's gonna take you down
When Death calls - Can you hear it calling you
When Death calls - Tell me, tell me, ahhh won't you say it?
When Death calls - Ain't gonna send us down. Ahh.


KILL IN THE SPIRIT WORLD

There's something wrong, there's a chill in the air
And the blood in my vein's running colder.
The Eastern sky is beginning to silver
And the words that you speak start to falter.
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed,
In the house of the dead there's a taker.
Some say that this is the ultimate sin
When the spirit world turns to the alter.

There's been a kill in the spirit world
There's been a kill in the spirit world

Behold the dead, clutching at fading hands, out of reach forever
"In glory die" calls the voice from the void
You assasin has cursed every spectre
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed,
And the house of the dead seeks the master
Stretching every muscle, I wait for the end
And the kiss on the wind whispers murder, (murder)

There's been a kill in the spirit world
There's been a kill in the spirit world
There's been a kill in the spirit world

When heaven is closer, it's pleasure and pain
Blood kill in the spirit world ah

Did ya see another in black
Is the blood in your veins running colder?
If ya did, then there's no turing back
As the spirit world turns to the alter.
The seal is broken, the oath has been crossed,
And the house of the dead seeks the master
Stretching every muscle, I wait for the end
And a kiss on the wind whispers murder

There's been a kill in the spirit world
There's been a kill in the spirit world

Oh here it comes, no no no-oh oh
Your seal is broken, the Eastern sky is beginning to silver, oh oh oh.
There's something wrong, there's a chill in the air, ah.
You feel the evil, I feel the evil.
Oh somebody whispers murder.

A kiss on the wind whispers murder


CALL OF THE WILD

In this last and final hour, you can't hide
There's nowhere now that you can run
All eyes are on you, like a lost eternal light
Princes and kings, and demons with wings
Summon your fears from hell.

It's the call of the wild
Calling you

In this last macabre hour, witches cry
And turn to dust before the moon
Many spirits are lost forever, one survives
To call the tune of Lucifer

It's the call of the wild
Calling me/you

Hero, only in the grave are there no dreams ah.
Hero, don't believe in fate, it ain't what it seems, oh

. All you gotta do now is stay free, oh
You're the one they turn to when Hell screams, oh.

Fear of the Devil, has no place among the brave
Faced with pain, there's a battle to be won
All eyes are on you, like a lost eternal light
Princes and kings, demons with wings
Summon your fears from hell.

It's the call of the wild
Calling me/you

Hero, only in the grave are there no dreams, ah.
Hero, don't believe in fate, it ain't what it seems, oh.

Hero, only in the grave are there no dreams, ah.
Hero, don't believe in fate, it ain't what it seems, no.

Hero, you got the fear of the Devil,
Hero, oh, burning your soul
Hero, it's the call of the wild
Hero, oh, tearing your soul


BLACK MOON

Oh the Devil, is rising with the moon, he cries and my blood runs cold
Oh no never was the darkness so black, no light and nowhere to go.
My spirit is crying for a love so tired of being alone
I remember he came here to steal, and you, the stealer of souls.

I see a Black Moon rising, and it's calling out my name
Oh it's calling my name.

I've been blinded, lost and confused, darkness will call me no more
Aye, Heaven is no friend of mine, no god ever knocked on my door

I see a Black Moon rising, and it's calling out my name
It's calling out my name, oh, it's calling

I see a Black Moon rising, and it's calling out my name
Oh it's calling my name.

I'm standing, on the dark side of time, reaching for the palm of your hand
She's weaving an unholy light and calls from Lucifer's land

I see a Black Moon rising, and it's calling out my name
An angel of hell is rising, heaven's no friend of mine
I see a Black Moon rising, and it's calling out my name, oh

I see a Black Moon rising, and it's causes so much pain
An angel of hell is rising, heaven's no friend of mine
I see a Black Moon rising, and it's calling out my name, on

My spirit's crying for love, oh
Heaven's no friend of mine, angel of hell is rising

See a Black Moon rising.


NIGHTWING

Nightwing has stirred, and taken to flight
The silence is over, he's shattered the night.
No other hunter has the power or the grace,
He is the master of this place.

Tell every creature of the night
The kill is around the bend.
So listen my friend
Nightwing flies again, oh, oh

They say he comes, for those whose souls are weak,
And call his name upon the wind.
The night is cold and thick with mystery
Oh I can feel his beating wings

Tell every creature of the night. Yes.
The kill is around the bend.
Nightwing flies again, oh.

Tell every creature of the night
The kill is around the bend.
Nightwing flies again. Yes, oh.

Nightwing has stirred, and taken to flight
The silence is over, he's shattered the night.
Life ain't for giving and forgivin' ain't free,
No soul will rest while the hunted run free.

So tell every creature of the night. Yes.
The kill is aroung the bend.
Ooh listen my friend
Nightwing flies again.

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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