I am thoroughly convinced those that consider the Martin era the height of Sabbath's existence place the importance of vocals infinitely higher than importance of riffs. Especially since the two least popular Martin albums, Cross Purposes and Forbidden, tend to be the least praised, while being the riffiest. Cross Purposes especially. That and Dehumanizer are the only two Sabbath albums between 1983 - 1995 where Iommi truly shines. "The Ozzy era is so overrated, Ozzy is a shitty singer," Ok, I disagree but fair enough, however it was during the 70s where Iommi showed he was THE ALL TIME RIFF GOD.

Having said that I still don't know how anyone can say with a straight face how the Martin era is better than the Dio era. Iommi's riffs are still excellent and I'm sorry, Tony Martin is not a better singer than Ronnie James Dio.

I am in such an utter mood at present I feel like taking it out via a review.... wonder which album I'll pick.

I am convinced Tony Martin gets largely tossed aside in the Sabbath canon for the sole reason of not being Dio.

I am convinced Tony Martin gets largely tossed aside in the Sabbath canon for the sole reason of not being Dio. The guy has a very different style from him, a lot of that fantastical imagery is backed up by blue-collar cheesiness that just works amazingly with those atmospheric power metal riffs. It simply delivers different things.from what a lot of you are used to. I don't really know of anything else that sounds like Martin-era Sabbath.

Also, all their albums he fronted minus Forbidden are indispensable and you cannot refute this.

I am convinced Tony Martin gets largely tossed aside in the Sabbath canon for the sole reason of not being Dio. The guy has a very different style from him, a lot of that fantastical imagery is backed up by blue-collar cheesiness that just works amazingly with those atmospheric power metal riffs. It simply delivers different things.from what a lot of you are used to. I don't really know of anything else that sounds like Martin-era Sabbath.

Also, all their albums he fronted minus Forbidden are indispensable and you cannot refute this.

Absolute garbage take on Human. Ugh.

Yep, that was some annoying shit... I'm personally more interested in what Annabelle the scary doll has to say about "Human", or any other album for that matter.

I found it an interesting read. Even though I disagree with it.
But I assumed would disagree with it before I had even read one word because I had a suspicion I couldn't agree with someone who gives Cannibal Corpse and even Morbid Angel's Domination a higher rating than Human. But as said, still an interesting read.

Were those clichés really clichés in 1991?

And comparing Death to Megadeth makes zero sense to me whatsoever. What a lot of crap.

Bingo. No they weren't.

It isn't about the score, it's just...poorly written. Guy claims that the album sounds aimless, yet it's clearly a verse/chorus-driven. Then then there's a complaint about Iron Maiden riff played in a heavier setting...I don't listen to Iron Maiden much, so perhaps I'm missing something here, but I really don't hear that (It's not GOthenburg stuff, right?). Were those clichés really clichés in 1991? And comparing Death to Megadeth makes zero sense to me whatsoever. What a lot of crap.

I totally agree with you! I'll even go as far to say that even Forbidden gets some unnecessary hate, Yep....it is the worst of the Martin era, but there are still some gems on there. And remember, it's still not 13!

It's 1994. Chuck Schuldiner goes nuts and decides he's an art metal practitioner now. He surrounds himself with some of the top company in metal around at the time, recruiting the legendary Gene Hoglan on drums and sets off on a quest to make Death as further sounding as it had been to the darker (and equally better) days of 'Leprosy'. The previous 'Human' had already come across as unnecessarily progressive; like the prog element was noticeably forced into the tracks; but this one takes it to a whole new level.

The previous 'Human' had already come across as unnecessarily progressive; like the prog element was noticeably forced into the tracks; but this one takes it to a whole new level.

And the riffs are -always- the same darn thing with prog Death, aren't they ? It's like finding the usual culprits in every subsequent album. Those riffs that stink of metal stereotype that the band seemingly couldn't live without, like they were addicted to them.

Individual Thought Patterns is below 80% REVIEWERS DO SOMETHING

I wish reviewers could be banned for constantly having shitty takes.

ITP isn't my favorite Death album ever, but a 30% rating? That's just a bit much.

I'm convinced this kind of phrasing, the talk about "forcing x unnaturally," means nothing. It basically just means "I don't like this" - just say that.

Turbo is an obvious example

You just really have to describe what you're talking about well to make the case that some element of the music was "forced in." It conjures up the idea of the musicians being like "oh crap, we have to make this sound super proggy or else nobody will like us," when really a band like Death, I think it was most likely just the direction Chuck wanted to go in. Most times when reviewers say that stuff, it just seems like a long, roundabout way to saying "this doesn't work for me."

You just really have to describe what you're talking about well to make the case that some element of the music was "forced in." It conjures up the idea of the musicians being like "oh crap, we have to make this sound super proggy or else nobody will like us," when really a band like Death, I think it was most likely just the direction Chuck wanted to go in. Most times when reviewers say that stuff, it just seems like a long, roundabout way to saying "this doesn't work for me."

I guess he means the glam elements of Turbo? I think a better example of “forcing” in regards to that style would be Cold Lake by Celtic Frost, an album that actually is a super contrived, inauthentic piece of crap designed to try and get in on the hair band craze.

Claiming otherwise would be like someone decided to review Down by Sentenced and claim that it was an out of nowhere shift to gothic metal from death metal, completely ignoring that the band had been drifting towards that kind of sound from album to album beforehand.

A death metal fan may, or may not as I refer back to a lack of extremity here (no blasts, no growls, etc...)

It's not like Sentenced flirted with gothic metal since North from Here or anything and if I remember correctly, Amok is more of a Maiden-inspired album with drunken vocals. So, are you sure about this statement?

Those Dio albums are solely riding on 2-3 great songs each.

Thank you for reminding me that I need to listen to Down again though.