The greatest Black Sabbath albums revealed
As voted for by you!
Last updated 28th Oct 2020
After thousands of votes were cast by Planet Rock listeners throughout Sabbath September in 2019 to determine the greatest Black Sabbath album of all time, it may come as no surprise to find out which one topped the chart...
Coming in at Number 1 in the Planet Rock listener poll is truly one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time; Black Sabbath’s 1970 magnum opus ‘Paranoid’.
Spawning such monumental songs as ‘War Pigs’, ‘Iron Man’ and, of course, the album title track, ‘Paranoid’ is unwavering in its musical magnificence and ominous tone throughout its flawless 41 minutes and 51 seconds. It’s little wonder that Planet Rock listeners voted it in at number one with 16.7% of the total vote.
In second spot and very close behind ‘Paranoid’ is the band’s fifth studio album, 1973’s ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’, which picked up 16.1% of the vote.
In third place is 1980’s ‘Heaven and Hell’, which received 16% of the vote. Black Sabbath’s first album to feature Ronnie James Dio, it’s the late-great singer’s highest position in the poll, with ‘Dehumanizer’ and 'Mob Rules' in ninth and tenth spot respectively.
Completing the Top 5 are Black Sabbath’s eponymous 1970 debut album ‘Black Sabbath’ (11.1% of the vote) and 1971’s ‘Master of Reality’ (7.9%).
The vote was also equally close at the bottom of the poll with 1992’s ‘Cross Purposes’ coming last with 0.2% of the vote, and 1987’s ‘The Eternal Idol’ on 0.3% and 1990’s ‘Tyr’ on 0.4%.
Which is the best Black Sabbath album?
19) 'Cross Purposes' (1994) - 0.2%
18) 'The Eternal Idol' (1987) - 0.3%
17) 'Tyr' (1990) - 0.4%
16) 'Seventh Star' (1986) - 0.8%
15) 'Born Again' (1983) - 1.2%
14) '13' (2013) - 1.3%
13) 'Technical Ecstasy' (1976) - 1.5%
12) 'Never Say Die' (1978) - 1.8%
11) 'Headless Cross' (1989) - 1.9%
10) 'Mob Rules' (1981) - 2.2%
9) 'Dehumanizer' (1992) - 2.4%
8) 'Forbidden' (1995) - 4.4%
7) 'Sabotage' (1975) - 6.2%
6) 'Vol.4' (1972) - 7.5%
5) 'Master of Reality' (1971) - 7.9%
4) 'Black Sabbath' (1970) - 11.1%
3) 'Heaven and Hell' (1980) - 16%
2) 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' (1973) - 16.1%
1) 'Paranoid' (1970) - 16.7%
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