Best Black Sabbath ’13’ Song – Readers Poll

And then it happened: Black Sabbath’s original foursome announced to the word on 11/11/11 that they were all set to reunite and record their first album together in 35 years!

Then came Tony Iommi’s cancer scare, followed in short order by the disheartening news of Bill Ward bowing out, supposedly after being handed an “unsignable” contract. The latter quickly ignited an internet firestorm and widespread support for the beleaguered drummer but, alas, could not move the remaining members of Sabbath, who proceeded as planned with the session help of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave drummer, Brad Wilk.

All that being said, once the dust had settled and the sessions completed under the watchful eye of producer Rick Rubin, fans and critics had to agree that new songs like 'God is Dead,' 'Age of Reason' and 'Dear Father' certainly sounded just like vintage '70s Black Sabbath, with Iommi’s mighty riffs and scintillating solos leading the way as always, Butler handily holding down the doom-laden bottom-end (and penning his macabre lyrics), while the inimitable Osbourne appearing in fine voice throughout. Sure, at times the band’s efforts to mimic their old aesthetic went a little too far, as in the unapologetic 'Planet Caravan' knockoff 'Zeitgeist'; but this was a small price to pay in exchange for the chance to hear echoes of Sabbath’s uniquely bluesy first album on the likes of 'Damaged Soul.'

So what’s the final verdict? Up to you, really. But it’s safe to say that '13' matches neither the sheer brilliance of a 'Paranoid,' nor the messy debacle of a 'Never Say Die!'