The Sabbath Stones: Reviewing the Anno Domini 1989-1995 Box Set 

It’s wonderful seeing Tony Martin getting some love. A great body of work during trying times.

I love the remix of FORBIDDEN

Forbidden sounds so great now. Listened to it six times so far in the past week. So glad this era got its day in the sun!

The 2 Tony's should reform as Headless Cross and give us more music damnit! Headless Cross was my first Sabbath album, and still one of my favourites. Tyr and Eternal Idol are bangers too.

Forbidden sounds like a new record. Love it. I won’t cry for you and Loser gets it all sound amazing. Fan from Nicaragua

LOVE this era of Sabbath 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

I love the tony Martin era

Love the show ! AND let's get that "Born Again" re-mix !!!

Hopefully he does do Born Again next and adds The Fallen to it. Couldn’t imagine how great it would be to add that gem of a song to my favorite Sabbath album.

Glad you guys are covering this! Might get a lot of shit for this but ive had Forbidden in my truck for the last couple days and wow does that remix make that album sound better than ever before!

I ABSOLUTELY loved this show! Thank You! "Forbidden" to me, is a whole new record, a whole new experience, many songs I either didn't like or thought were "OK" earlier, I love now. Love! Its now my third fav of teh Martin records behind Eternal Idol and Headless Cross, above Cross Purposes and Tyr. I think the sound and richness of the mix TRULY shines, and who knew there was such a diamond in that rough.

I was a stubborn Black Sabbath ended when Ozzy left person. Until a few years ago while watching Sea of tranquility, seeing the passion and love that you and chris had for Sabbath. Along with your opinion, of if you like the black Sabbath sound and Iommi's guitar, than think of it as Iommi's Black Sabbath new band with different singer's. Give it a chance. So I did give it a listen with a open mind. I was amazed at how good most of the discography was and then Glenn Hughes was a singer ( love Deep Purple) It was fun discovering old new music to me. I bought the box set not only to hear Tony Martin but to complete my Sabbath discography . I couldn't get Cross purposes, T Y R and Forbidden they weren't available or over priced. I wasn't disappointed.

This set is fucking awesome, my copy arrived yesterday and even though I own the originals I so happy with Anno Domini. Hope that more releases are coming soon like Cross Purposes Live or other unreleased songs from the Tony Martin era. Headless Cross was my first encounter with Black Sabbath and this album is also my most favorite in their entire discography!!!

I love this box set. It's leading me to reassess the Tony Martin era. The remix of Forbidden is fantastic.

From New Zealand it's fantastic Tony is finally getting his due

Of all of the shows on SoT, the Sabbath Stones is the most essential. Thank you, gentlemen. Pete, perhaps a show with Uncle Phil, the Deep Dive or Purple Protocol???

Cross Purposes is my favorite from the Tony Martin era

As someone who was not alive when half of these albums came out and as someone who couldn’t find copies of them in the ensuing years, it’s so awesome to have a great package that has all of them. I really like this era of the band and all of these albums sound great! Loved the show as usual, guys!

Pete I hope one day you do a Black Sabbath album ranking redux to see how things have moved around as well as including the Heaven and Hell - The Devil You Know album in it. Thanks for all the great content!

Tony The Cat Martin is so criminally underrated in the Black Sabbath canon. Am happy that he is finally getting some recognition by way of this box set. I saw Sabbath with Tony Martin, Cozy & Neil Murray, and of course with Mr. Iommi in 1990 on the Tyr tour.......mammoth, thunderous sound - great concert. Tony Martin did all the big songs just right, plus a great job on the new stuff.

I got the CD Boxset. I love it! Great show guys. Sabbath Rules. :)❤😊

Pete, Chris I’m so glad you guys did this it’s a great video and it’s crazy how many people are loving this and it makes me so happy I love that Tony Martin years

Got mine Monday and loving it. All four discs have pretty much been in continuous play.

So much injustice towards Mr. Tony Martin over the years, I'm so happy seeing that he's finally getting his due. Phenomenal singer and I love all his albums. New issues sound amazing, and yes - we need this era reunited under whatever name they choose and see them on tour! :)

Great box set. I still have all the originals, but was thrilled that this is back out there.

Got into the Martin albums a few years ago thanks to this channel. Though I had managed to track down CDs on eBay I had to have this box set. Loving the Forbidden remix which sounds like an entirely different album to me. Also have had Tyr on repeat all week 🤘🏻Pumped for the Born Again remix

I AM SO GLAD WE FINALLY GOT THIS!!! The Tony Martin era is overlooked. Still have the original CDs will buy the Anno Domini Box Set this week. I was looking forward to your guys review on the new box set. 🔥🤟🏽

I hate to miss a live show. Especially this lineup duo. Unfortunately, tonight is Mia’s sports awards dinner ( her final one) and I doubt I’ll be home by premiere time, however I will 💯watch later on. Enjoy SOT 👍💯

Yes I was hoping for this! 🤘🏼

The Forbidden remix is making me really hope even more for the possible Born Again remix

Been waiting for this one! Pete & Chris are the only review that matters to us regarding Black Sabbath. #justsayin #blacksabbath

My copy is coming in the mail tomorrow. Can't wait!

Love this series. Got my box on Sunday and have been loving it. The book has some nice insight into that period as well. The Forbidden remix is great! The extra tracks are nice too. Iommi NEVER runs out of riffs!

I bought the LP and CD versions, and I'm completely satisfied with what I got. Tyr is actually my favorite, not for any particular reason other than I just really dig it. That said, and this is echoing you both, Forbidden has risen drastically in my eyes. I can't believe how damn good it sounds now! Even if we only got a handful of shows and a live album, maybe under the name Headless Cross or something similar (I know Tony Martin used it before at one point, but still), to hear these guys perform the songs live would be a thrill.

After hearing the recent Re-mixes of "Forbidden", "Live Evil" and the title track of "Mob Rules" I´ll have to agree with Chris; Re-mix it all. I´ll buy it all again too. Sonically speaking "Forbidden" is now one of the best sounding albums in the Sabbath catalog. Who would have thought?

It's the I.R.S. years box set. I think they did a great job on this remaster/remix. Definitely worth checking out. Forbidden may still have some subpar songwriting in places but, at least it doesn't sound St. Angerish anymore!

Forbidden was the first Sabbath album I ever owned. I was 12 when it came out in 1995 and someone told me to check out this cool band, Black Sabbath. So I went to the store (Nobody Beats The Wiz in NJ!) and this was the newest release so I figured why not start there? Tony Martin was the first Sabbath singer I ever heard. I didn't even know Ozzy was in the band originally. So I took in all eras of Sabbath equally. When you're 12 and you get only one album every so often, you enjoy it for what it is. I more or less forgot about Forbidden (and the Martin era) almost entirely for the last 30 years. But now this remix gives it so much more life that I'm finding myself smiling from ear to ear while listening in 2024! The whole box set is like a treasure trove of Sabbath, old albums that feel new again because of the lack of attention they've had for so long. I really hope Iommi and Martin can do something new together once more, even if they have to do it under a different name like Heaven & Hell with Dio.

There is a certain prose that Chris has that augments an already great video.

I was never able to enjoy the Tony Martin era as a kid. I'm sure I heard some songs but I was still young and mostly listening to whatever my parents were. My father was mostly into Ozzy Osbourne and Ozzy era Sabbath, along with Judas Priest and Meat Loaf. Because of that by the time I started to listen to music myself I didn't even think of checking out Black Sabbath outside of Ozzy's era. When I finally did I actually enjoyed Dio a lot more than Ozzy in Sabbath and any album outside of those albums I could never find on CD or cassette. I'm now listening to these albums (I preordered it one week before release as I didn't even know about it) and I am in awe at how great it sounds. Cross Purposes and Headless Cross are my favorites and I've already listened to them 3 times a piece. I do need to get Eternal Idol but in the meantime I listened to that off RU-vid and it's another banger. Tony Martin is quickly becoming my favorite Sabbath artist even over Dio (who's still my favorite Rainbow vocalist). I may need to dive into his other stuff. But I'm still in the midst of completing my Meatloaf and Jim Steinman collections as well as now the rest of Black Sabbath. I'm not a hater on Forbidden, I do actually like Rap too and Ice T's band Body Count isn't terrible but it definitely has that early 90's mix to it. Very grunge like in my opinion. Kind of like St Anger for Metallica (which I think is underrated but I can see why many would want a new mix) TYR I do need to listen to more as I've only listened to that album once. I recently got the Sabbath album 13 as well and do find that pretty good too, not great but I do appreciate them trying to go back to their older sounds. Kind of sounded like Ozzmosis era of Ozzy meets the early Black Sabbath era. I do hope the other albums get remixes because I actually do like Born Again another controversial album. The only albums I have are: Black Sabbath Paranoid Master of Reality Sabotage Heaven & Hell Mob Rules 13 (Deluxe Edition) And of course this box set. Have you guys listened to KK's Priest? It's a new album with KK Downing and Tim "Ripper" Owens of Judas Priest. It's fantastic.

Love the boxset!!! Huge sabbath fan here but ashamed to say completely slept on the Martin era until now the whole headless cross album slowly becoming one of my favourite sabbath records

Just got my set today I ordered the Vinyl set. Been waiting for this era for awhile now!

Thanks for posting ! First one I listened to was Cross Purposes. Now I’m looking forward to listening to. Forbidden

Fantastic start to finish

Ahhh sandwiches.. a subject close to my heart .. the question is ..crisps (chips to you guys ). In or out .. definitely in fir me .. love a bit of crunch 😋🤘

Great show Pete n Chris!

Great episode. Sabbath, Sandwiches, Pizza and Beer sounds like heaven. Received the box on release day as well. Love it, would have preferred the book to be a hardcover, though, like in the other super deluxe editions.

For 45 bucks and other reasons I couldn't pass up the opportunity to buy this set. I've never had the originals, kinda hard to find, and now I don't need to keep an eye out for them. I've listened to all four and I'm not disappointed in the slightest.

Well.....I know what I'm listening to this weekend. Thanks, guys.

I hated forbidden, now I love it, I've listened to it everyday since it came out.

Been waiting for this.

Really enjoying the box set. Sound is much better all around 👍.

Great review. I think you said it all.🤘

I’ve been checking out this era of Sabbath at SoT’s recommendation and so far I love it. I think Headless Cross is my favorite so far.

Got my vinyl version of this set today and it is awesome! My favourite period of Sabbath.

Hey guys. Nice job as always

Cozy and Geezer played together working on Dehumanizer before Vinny rejoined. Cross Purposes sounds amazing, Bobby Rondinelli sounds incredible. Virtual Death, Immaculate Deception, I Witness sound huge.. most consistent mix of the 4. Tony Martin is on another level on Tyr.. Martin's lyrics on Forbidden sounds rushed. as Chris said. Shaken Off The Chains and Kiss Of Death are my favorites. Saw them in 89 in Boston. Great review guys.

Had to pause your video and order one. Sabbath is far and away my favorite band but never got into anything after mob rules. I'll re listen

The best Black Sabbath album with Tony Martin is missing in this box: The eternal idol

Great.. Forbidden is the new best of that era! Some great innovative songs. I had the luck to see them live in Santiago, 1994 with Geezer and Bill Ward (1 hour only setlist sadly). Epic.

I'd love to hear Dave LaGreca's thoughts on the remix version of 'Forbidden,' considering he already likes a few songs from that album! Also, I agree with Chris. I'm so down for a 'Born Again' remix!

I have all these CD's already, but you've convinced me to order the box set. Just did it there.

Love it guys you rule!

Love it 🖤🖤🖤🖤

Born in '73, my first Sabbath-records were "Headless Cross" and "Greatest Hits" from '77, so I discovered Ozzy and Sabbath separately, because the first Ozzy album I bought was "The Ultimate Sin". And now I own 'em all!!! Love everything Sabbath & Iommi has put out through the years more or less, but it's nice to see people discovering the Tony Martin-era, those albums definitely deserves to be in the spotlight again. I literally just opened my copy of the box set watching this, so down the nostalgia lane we go. Greetings from Sweden! ;)

I feel Chris' pain: I've been falling down the rabbit hole of Zappa vinyl bootlegs myself. It's a deep hole, I tell ya what!

I have the originals of all these albums on cassette and also have Eternal Idol and Cross Purposes Live ✝to round out the Martin era. I bought each release new or almost new at the time. This box set is a beautiful package and mine is now in regular rotation in the car. 😈 The summer after graduation one of my good longtime friends and I spent many hours cruising around in his '84 Z/28 blasting TYR ⚔with no particular destination in mind, and we'd end up wherever we ended up. Then news of the impending first Dio reunion broke, and man was I excited for that. Seemed like it took forever for Dehumanizer to finally come out the next year. 🤘🤘

The Boxset went on No. 9 in Germany!

Excellent box set - blown away by the Forbidden remix!

My pre-order was delayed dammit!…Still waiting. But what i hear on Spotify i really like. Never heard the albums before. Happy that they released it like this with just the albums. Only thing i need and not too overpriced like the deluxe boxsets.

Great box set.. my favorite TYR never sounded better 🤘

I remember buying the vinyl of the Martin era on clearance, I think I payed $2 per record. I am glad it's getting the respect it deserves now.

I really enjoy the new box set. The remasters of Headless Cross, TYR and Cross Purposes are great! Cross Purposes in particular I find myself really enjoying. But I absolutely love the Tony Martin era of sabbath so to me all the albums are incredible. The Forbidden remix is incredible! It’s like listening to a brand new Sabbath album. A bunch of the songs on that album have now become some of my favorite Sabbath tunes. Guilty As Hell, Shaking Off the Chains, Forbidden and Kiss of Death all kick ass!! Great show as always fellas! Really appreciate you both doing this

Thank you.

Not worth buying for me when I don't like Forbidden or Cross Purposes. I do like the remasters of Headless Cross and Tyr though, so I'll probably download those. Still I'm glad the Tony Martin era is finally getting some recognition.

Great song!!!!🤘

Agree, Pete. I forgot how good Cross Purposes is.

As the Tony Martin era was my first active contact wih the band (meaning live attendance), I always had a soft spot in my heart for these recordings. And of course I had to preorder the Boxset. I'm glad I did, for the records sound great, the pressings (vinyl edition) are superbe, and the original liner notes including the lyrics are in the softcover book (why not a hard cover, dammit). All in all it's a good purchase. And Geezers base on Cross Purposes does kick some ass. Thank you guys for the great review, I enjoyed it a lot.

I just got my vinyl box set today.

Black Sabbath headless cross is a dark one almost satirical of all that's been done before but it was executed masterfully. Tyr takes it to almost White Sabbath territory - experimental and has the balls to have a new sound and identity with familiarity, cross purposes delivers some thunder that was much missed from radio and music in general for some time at that point, stomping clinking clanking metal. Forbidden has American appeal, the same appeal Dio brought. Didn't chart but that's what that is! It feels like an absolute treat to get to buy these albums through a reputable syndicate! Sure you gotta buy them together but it's here now and it's real and in my hands

I saw the cross purposes tour at Hammersmith Apollo,Tony Martin was AMAZING the crowd lapped it up ,how you doing Chris you're the best comedian after trump the orange king.👍

Wow I’m loving Forbidden

It’s very interesting with big bands. They go through their beginnings, become huge, then there’s a middle period where they’re playing small clubs to survive. Then, finally, they become big legacy acts. The hard part obviously, is the middle, where they’re hanging on for dear life. Sabbath is no exception.

Love the box set and Forbidden is massively improved🔥 Cross Purposes my personal favourite!

I always sort of wondered if the line "it's time to kiss the rainbow goodbye" 😗🌈 in the song "Psychophobia" was a bit of a sly dig at Ronnie after the post-Dehumanizer "second split" with Dio. Of course, little did we know then that the new tracks for The Dio Years compilation and the resulting Heaven & Hell project lay in the not-too-distant future, which would produce Ronnie's swan song in the form of the juggernaut titled "The Devil You Know." Who would have imagined in 1994 that we'd ever get a THIRD go around with RJD?

First listen of Forbidden from this box set. I like this WAY better than Never Say Die!

Really pricey here in the u.k. just managed to get a reasonably priced copy today, looking forward to it dropping through my letterbox.😊🎸

cross purposes is my favorite here, glad forbidden is listenable now

Geezer did play with Cozy Powell. The original sessions for Dehumanizer had Cozy, but they replaced him with Vinnie Appice after Cozy was injured. There are Demos floating around with them together.

The vinyl box set has all of the lyric sheets in the book. The albums are in poly lined sleeves. The pressings sound great.

Great Show!! SaBBatH RulEs

I bought them when they came out and cross purposes would be my favourite of the four.

Amen 🧙‍♂️

I will hope tp slide in from the outside as I will be heading out for some music to see indie rock. And I will say that Forbidden I love the remix as its a brand new album with along the remix IMO. about 5-6 songs are alot better and more to the Sabbath catalog of songs to feel for while 4 songs of 10 still are better but weren't good to begin with. Have a good show will catch later.

Weekly Sabbath episodes?? Yes, please 😊

Pleased with box set, the curats egg is definitely the lyrics and bonus track thing. Other reviewers, SOT fans agree. You guys in USA got a great deal @€50 Rhino, BMG here in Europe £88 sterling. Think we have to remember that we have waited so long as Tony said happy to get this he didn't even have the originals!!!. Its still great value as copies on e bay of originals go for stupid money. Great honest review guys.

Big Sabbath fan, but like a lot of folk I let Tony Martin era pass me by. But WOW! Iommi’s riffs crush. And Martin has a fantastic set of pipes. Box set well worth it!

I bought Forbidden and Motorhead's Sacrifice at Tower Records the same night in 1995.

Man I am surprised how good Forbidden sounds, I love that album now 😅, I love the rest of the albums but I have always loved those, is just that it sounds so much better now

Well, on your last show, I said no amount of remixing will fix Forbidden. I readily admit that I was dead wrong. No longer the cave dweller in my music library. It's still not a great album, but really, really improved. The poster in the box set was a nice touch, a black and white version of it was in a limited edition German pressing of Headless Cross on crappy paper, so nice to have this one.

It’s worth bearing in mind that when Tony Martin joined Black Sabbath after all the Glenn Hughes/Ray Gillen turmoil, few people knew who he was. Ronnie James Dio had a name prior to connecting with Iommi, as he’d been quite successful and popular in Rainbow, and of course Ian Gillan was renowned as a member of Deep Purple so fans had a sense of what he’d sound like and how his stage presence would be. Even Glenn Hughes enjoyed notoriety as a valuable member of Mark III/IV Deep Purple, brief though his tenure was in Sabbath. Therefore, Martin deserves credit for stepping into that challenging situation as a relative unknown and doing himself and the band pretty damn proud. When I bought Eternal Idol in fall 1987, after having already heard a few of the new tunes on a late-night metal radio show, I recall being glad they’d snagged a “Dio-esque” vocalist who nevertheless wasn’t a clone. I think Hard Life To Love and Lost Forever were the first songs I heard when it was debuted on the radio.