Review Summary: It's one of the most underrated albums in the 80's. Gillan gives a completely different personality to this Sabbath
Another transformation of
Black Sabbath after Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio, now with Ian Gillan. It's by far the most underrated album in the history of
Black Sabbath. For the most devoted of fans, perhaps this is the worst album. In my opinion it's a great heavy metal record and a great alliance between Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi.
Born Again starts really fast with "Trashed", maybe the best of the album for me. Characterized by a great solo, and a pretty cool vocal performance by Ian Gillan. In my opinion the lyrics have a different theme from the typical
Black Sabbath. In this record from 1983 there are two tracks made with the purpose of adding some mystery to the album, two instrumental songs that are really great and very well composed. One of the features added is the mix between the heavy but melodic and powerful tunes, that were so typical in the Ozzy and Dio eras. With Ian Gillan you have both, there is strength, power and melody in most of the songs. The best song is perhaps "Trashed", like I said above it reveals a more familiar
Black Sabbath sound completed with the band's great performance. Another plus to this 1983 reformation of
Black Sabbath is the power ballad "Born Again" that is different from their past, the guitar is so profound but also so heavy, and given added emotion by Ian Gillan. There is a lot of meaning given to that song making the album definitely more complete with a lot of diversity.
Opposing to the best, "Zero The Hero" is a bad moment, it has a good chorus but it's way too repetitive and lasts far too long with 7:40. It would definitely improve
Born Again if shorted, it would make the album more compact, concise and more self oriented.
In my opinion it's definitely one of the most underrated albums in the 80's. It's a great addition for every single one of the fans through the years. Ian Gillan delivers a great performance and gives a different personality to a band that, at the time, was a bit lost without an iconic lead singer.
Black Sabbath would definitely have a "more empty" discography without this album.
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