Listening Post: Purple Sabbath – Black Sabbath – Cross Purposes

Black Sabbath – Cross Purposes – 1994

So, Sabbath decides to open for Ozzy, who is now an international bat biting superstar. Dio thinks this is beneath the band and he up and quits.
What does Iommi do? He brings back his co-hort in the band’s best recent material, Tony Martin.
The result?
Another dark metal entry to the band’s catalog. It’s very riff heavy and I get the feeling that Iommi just sits in a room spitting out licks but the well is running dry….

Cross Purposes is no great shakes. If you want that go to Eternal Idol or Headless Cross. But, if you want amore of that that isn’t as good but isn’t awful, this’ll do fine.

Grade: C+
ASide: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
BlindSide: Cross of Thorns, Cardinal Sin
DownSide: Dying for Love