Disco de Black Sabbath: “The Eternal Idol”

THE ETERNAL IDOL marked the lowpoint for Black Sabbath as far as lineup stability. Ironically, it was also the high water mark for Tony Iommi's songwriting. After failed lineups with Ian Gillan, and then Glenn Hughes as singer, Iommi knew that he had to come back with a classic HEAVEN AND HELL style album. That's exactly what he delivered. Recruiting Tony Martin (after Ray Gillen didn't work out), Iommi proceeded to record what is considered by many fans to be the best Black Sabbath album. An all-star lineup of musicians including drummer Eric Singer (KISS, Badlands) bassist Bob Daisley (Ozzy, Rainbow) and long-time Sabbath keyboard player Geoff Nichols give outstanding performances, as everyone involved seemed to know that anything less than great would be viewed negatively by skeptical fans and critics alike in view of the constant personnel shifts. While album opener "The Shining" gets most of the attention from fans, it is actually one of the weaker songs on the album. It is an outstanding track, but songs like "Hard Life To Love," "Glory Ride," and "Born To Lose" are even better. Tony Martin has been called either "the best singer ever in Sabbath," or "a second-rate Dio clone." The truth is that he is neither. His vocals are reminiscent of Dio, true, but they also bring to mind the voice of David Coverdale. His performance on THE ETERNAL IDOL is very strong, despite the fact that most of the vocal parts were written by another singer (Ray Gillen), and he is a much better fit in Sabbath than either Ian Gillan or Glenn Hughes. If Ronnie James Dio had been the singer on this album, it is quite possible that MOST Black Sabbath fans would consider this their best album, or at least equal to HEAVEN AND HELL and MOB RULES. But that is a moot point, as Tony Martin and Tony Iommi made one hell of a great album without Ronnie. THE ETERNAL IDOL is well worth checking out for any Dio-era Sabbath fan.

I think this is one of the best heavy metal albums ever. If they ask me, it's got everything it needs (though I'm really not such an expert in rock music's structure or guitar playing or whatever, I just like to listen to it). This was one of their least succesful albums. Well it shouldn't have been.

They say, if the singer's not Ozzy, then it's not Black Sabbath. Well, maybe it's not Black Sabbath then, but it's still GREAT! Tony Martin IS a great singer too, as well as the others. Also, a band's identity doesn't matter if you like the music.

I won't analyze the songs one by one now, I guess I couldn't even do that. The music is simply fabulous. But this work does have a message in it's entire (which not every album does). I think it says, don't screw up your life and try to live it to the fullest. I like that.

We have to admit, this music was born in the glam period, which most people hate and I don't like it either. So what? We shouldn't judge things by that. All right, the drum snare does sound a bit strange, but that doesn't make it glam music, 'cause it isn't; fortunately, because this style did influence later Sabbath albums.

So you should get this, even if you think it isn't really Black Sabbath.

Tony Iommi is the BIGGEST part of the Black Sabbath sound. On this album he proves himself to be one of heavy metal's most underrated songwriters. It's 1987. Many people have written the band off due to the defection of all other original members and the "revolving doors" lineup changes of the past 3 albums. Tony Iommi digs deep and comes up with one of the all-time CLASSIC Black Sabbath albums. His riffs are biting and huge. The fresh, percussive drive of Ray Singer propels the songs upward and outward. New singer Tony Martin is formidable indeed! He has all the power and depth of Ronnie James Dio but with a greater vocal range. Geoff Nichols keyboards are more front and center here than on any Sabbath album. He's finally a "proper" member of the band, contributing fully to the atmosphere of the tracks. This is dynamic, technically proficient and CLASSY heavy metal. "Born To Lose" has one of the greatest Iommi riffs ever, and a blistering guitar solo to boot. It could have been a hit single, in my opinion. "Scarlet Pimpernel" is a classically drenched instrumental track that hearkens back to things like "Orchid" or "Laguna Sunrise" of old, only much more progressive and virtuoso. "The Shining", "Glory Ride", "Hard Life To Love" have an energy, drive and power not heard since "Heaven and Hell" and "Mob Rules". This album bristles with artistic integrity and DEFIANCE to all the naysayers and those who feel that Sabbath without Ozzy is a lukewarm proposition. Every single track is a winner. The musicianship and composition are first rate. I don't normally write reviews for Black Sabbath. That name alone stands by itself for quality and uncompromising heaviness. But this album is so overlooked that it's pathetic. People had their minds made up without even playing it. And the same still goes on today. Forget the past! This album has nothing to do with old glories. It's about Tony Iommi, the "iron man" of metal, standing alone with a lineup of raw recruits (and one veteran keyboardist) and delivering the goods. If some unknown band had put this out in 1987, it would have made them stars. This recording and this lineup is not for everyone. If you can't get past the lack of an Ozzy or Dio, leave it alone. With a negative preconception it's very hard to LISTEN and to appreciate the classy metal on offer here. But, if you CAN put your prejudices on a hook, the sheer FORCE, POWER and DELIVERY of this music will reach you and convince you that this IS Black Sabbath. A CLASSIC!

i know many people will probably not argee whith that statement but it is the truth, the tony martin era is sabbaths golden age in terms of a string of awesome consistant albums from 1987 to 1990 whith "eternal idol" "headless cross" and "tyr". lets face it, the 70's material with ozzy,while i love it, doesn't compare to this. ozzy just sounds to dated and stale for my taste. tony "the cat" martin is the bands best singer ever,he just fits the sabbath sound so well because he delivers a scary haunting power with his vocals that ozzy or dio could not. "eternal idol" and "headless cross" are sabbaths darkest albums, they just ooz nighttime power.they funny thing is, that when sabbath would support these albums on tour with tony martin, they would includ as much dio and ozzy material as they would new material, and get a kick outa this, tony martin sung the old sabbath songs better then ozzy or dio did, which shows you who there greatest singer was.

The Eternal Idol marks the beging really of the whole revolving line-up for Sabbath seeing Seventh Star wasn't really a Sabbath album. Glenn Hughes isn't brought back and rightfuly so for this album. He was fired after his slughtering of the classic War Pigs and many of you know what I'm talking about. Ray Gillen is brought in to relplace him and recorded the demos for Eternal Idol but left the band after he felt it was "going nowhere." So, enter Tony Martin. Said to be placed in Sabbath for his Dio-sounding vocals which he was greatly criticized for until 1990's Tyr. The album starts off strong with The Shining and goes into Ancient Warrior which is an even better song. The rest of the album continues with Hard Life To Love all the way to the title track which has the feel of old classic Sabbath style in it. The music, while it may not all sound like vintage Sabbath, it is just as powerful and strong. Martin's voice fits in perfect with this style of Sabbath. My point as always is that you have to look past all the complaints of Sabbath's sound after Ozzy left and you have to actualy listen to the music like any other typical Sabbath album. Let's face it people, this was the direction Sabbath was taking ever since Technical Ecstacy. The music wasnt as heavy as it's been. The only album that came close was Born Again. It's about time that we accept Tony Martin as a front man for Sabbath and The Eternal Idol marks the begining of the new Sabbath.