Headless Cross
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Headless Cross is the fourteenth album by heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music).
This is the second album to feature singer Tony Martin and the first to showcase the well-renowned drummer Cozy Powell.
Black Sabbath had toyed with Satanic lyrics in the past (Black Sabbath, N.I.B., and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath for instance), but Headless Cross was the first and so far only album to be entirely Satanic and dark in nature, both musically and lyrically.
Though Laurence Cottle played bass on the recording, he did not stick around for the subsequent tour. Whitesnake and Gogmagog bassist Neil Murray joined for the tour and some subsequent albums.
The track "When Death Calls" is known for featuring a guitar solo by Queen guitarist Brian May.
Track listing
- "Ave Satani/The Gates of Hell" – 1:04
- "Headless Cross" – 6:15
- "Devil & Daughter" – 4:32
- "When Death Calls" – 6:41
- "Kill in the Spirit World" – 4:59
- "Call of the Wild" – 5:09
- "Black Moon" – 3:56
- "Nightwing" – 6:19
Bonus songs
- "Cloak & Dagger" (picture disc only)
Credits
- Tony Martin – vocals
- Tony Iommi – guitar
- Geoff Nicholls – keyboard
- Laurence Cottle – bass guitar
- Cozy Powell – drums
- Brian May - guitar solo on "When Death Calls"
Trivia
- "Headless Cross" was praised among critics and fans, being considered the best Sabbath album in years.
- The song "Call of the Wild" was originally going to be titled "Hero", but seeing as Ozzy Osbourne used that title on his album "No Rest for the Wicked" released that same year, Tony Iommi opted to change it to its current title. "Devil And Daughter" also had the original title "Devil's Daughter", but was changed for the same reason. The song itself is about Don Arden and Sharon Osbourne, Black Sabbath's former manager and his daughter, who is also the wife and manager of Ozzy Osbourne, respectively.
- "Call of the Wild" and "Devil And Daughter" are also the only songs that don't end slowly fading out with Tony Martin ad-libbing.
- "Ave Satani/The Gates of Hell" was used as an intro track many times during various tours over the years up till the "Reunion" shows. Also, "Headless Cross" was a quintessential live track performed during said tours.
- "Headless Cross" yeilded two radio singles; the title track and "Devil and Daughter"
- The first recording of "Black Moon" was a B-side to a single off "The Eternal Idol", performed in a different key.
External link
| Black Sabbath |
| Ozzy Osbourne | Tony Iommi | Geezer Butler | Bill Ward |
| Dave Walker | Ronnie James Dio | Vinny Appice | Ian Gillan | Bev Bevan | David Donato | Glenn Hughes | Dave Spitz | Eric Singer | Ray Gillen | Tony Martin | Bob Daisley | Jo Burt | Terry Chimes | Laurence Cottle | Cozy Powell | Neil Murray | Bobby Rondinelli | Mike Bordin | Geoff Nicholls |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: Black Sabbath | Paranoid | Master of Reality | Black Sabbath, Vol. 4 | Sabbath Bloody Sabbath | Sabotage | Technical Ecstasy | Never Say Die! | Heaven and Hell | Mob Rules | Born Again | Seventh Star | The Eternal Idol | Headless Cross | Tyr | Dehumanizer | Cross Purposes | Forbidden |
| Live albums: Live Evil | Cross Purposes Live | Reunion | Past Lives |
| Compilations: We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll | Under Wheels of Confusion | The Sabbath Stones | ' | ' | Greatest Hits 1970-1978 |
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