BORN AGAIN

After two years of silence and the departure of Ronnie James Dio, Black Sabbath returned in 1983 with Born Again!

An album that began almost as a drunken joke and ended up as one of the most fascinating and divisive entries in their discography. With Ian Gillan (from Deep Purple) joining the classic lineup (Iommi, Butler, and Ward), some fans saw this record as a bizarre side project, but for others (myself included) it was a true rebirth of the band, both artistically and musically.

Unlike the Dio era, which tried to position Sabbath as the vanguard of modern heavy metal, or the last two Ozzy albums, where the band seemed lost, "Born Again" brings Sabbath back to darker, grittier ground. The fantasy and epic tones of the Dio years are replaced by twisted riffs, raw production, and an unmistakable doom atmosphere that recalls a bit albums like "Master of Reality" or "Sabotage".

The original mix was infamously bad. The bass was so over-saturated it drowned out the guitars. In the new remastered version, the sound is much more balanced (though the bass still feels slightly too forward at times). Even with its flaws, this version allows the album's qualities to shine.

"Born Again" opens with Trashed, a fast, autobiographical rocker from Gillan that sets the tone with energy and personality. Stonehenge follows, a short ambient interlude that works better than expected. Then comes Disturbing the Priest, the first true classic: unorthodox, theatrical, and menacing, with Gillan delivering one of the most intense performances in Sabbath's history.

The Dark leads perfectly into Zero the Hero, perhaps the best song on the record. Its hypnotic structure, crushing riffs, powerful bass, atmospheric keyboards, and Gillan's commanding vocals build one of Sabbath's most underrated masterpieces. Digital Bitch brings speed and attitude, clearly echoing Deep Purple in the vocal phrasing. Born Again (the track) is slow and heavy, with an astonishing vocal delivery that shows Gillan at his most expressive.

Hot Line and Keep It Warm are solid, with the latter showing bluesy roots and a more positive tone. Personally, I think the album would have ended more effectively with the track Born Again instead.

The remastered edition includes The Fallen (a strong and fast metal track that should have been on the original album), an extended version of Stonehenge (interesting for fans, though the shorter version works better), and a full live set from the Born Again tour. In these recordings, Gillan brings an entirely new energy to classic Sabbath material. He doesn't just fill in. He reinvents, adding vocal flourishes, creative lines, and real depth to songs that once belonged to Ozzy.

His stage presence elevates both the new material and the old classics! It's a shame that Gillan never fully fit into the band due to his very different style and the Deep Purple reunion in 1984, because I believe he could have become a true pillar in the band's history, but unfortunately his time with Sabbath remained a short (yet fascinating) chapter.

Conclusion: "Born Again" remains one of Sabbath's most misunderstood and underrated albums. It's raw, theatrical, dark, and full of character. With the remaster now available, it's the perfect time to rediscover a true cult gem in the band's catalog.

Best tracks: Trashed, Disturbing the Priest, Zero the Hero, Born Again.

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