Review Summary: Probably the best Black Sabbath album recorded with vocalist Tony Martin.
In 1992, Dio and Vinny Appice left Black Sabbath. Tony Martin returned to the band. Iommi and Butler worked together on this album; Bobby Rondinelli played the drums and Geoff Nichols played the keyboards. Cross Purposes was released in 1994.
Sabbath fans already know how good it is to hear Iommi/Butler work, the riffs and the heavy music provided by them. Tracks such as "I Witness", "Imaculate Deception", "Back to Eden", "Cardinal Sin", "Virtual Death" are clear highlights.
In the melodic side of the album, tracks such as "Cross of Thorns", "Dying For Love" and "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle" are noteworthy. In these tracks, Nichols' keyboards really shine.
This album is an enjoyable record, but without the innovative sound that made "Paranoid" and "Master of Reality" to be classic ones. It could be the last Sabbath album... but in 1995, Sabbath released an awful record called "Forbidden"...
Pros:
+ Good songs, riffs and lyrics;
+ Great Production;
+ Prominent bass work;
Cons:
- Some filler songs;
- It doesn't sound like a "classic" Sabbath record.
