Black Sabbath to release four new songs on, “The End” to accompany final tour

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This is Black Sabbath.

They invented heavy metal.

Any band that has ever flown the horns in worship of all things heavy, owes their souls to this band… and they give them willingly. Over 45 years ago (!), the album, “Black Sabbath” was unleashed upon the unwashed masses and a new genre of music was born.

Blame this for all heavy metal.
Blame this for all heavy metal.

Loud, heavy, greasy, distorted and darkly beautiful, metal struck a chord through all things rock and made them… meaner.

The genre would go unto explode in a million different directions finding home among niche sub-genres like Death, Black, Nu, Hardcore, Speed, Thrash, Funk, Rap, Symphonic, Viking… yes, there is a thing called, “Viking Metal”… showing the true versatility and wide appeal to this monster called heavy metal.

How can combining two bad-ass things go so wrong?
How can combining two bad-ass things go so wrong?

But all lines are drawn back to the all-mighty Black Sabbath.

Any career in metal that spans decades and includes the truckloads of pharmaceutical abuses these blokes from Birmingham, England endured will have many highs, lows, fights and reconciliations… and Sabbath are classic examples of this destructive cycle. There have been other singers along the way to front the legendary band (Ronnie James Dio holding a respected place in the bands history), but for most hardcore fans, there is only one true vocalist for Black Sabbath… the always entertaining Ozzy Osbourne.

A re-union album released a few years back, called, “13” hinted at the mandatory support tour.

Here is a live track of newer Sabbath called, “Loner”, showing fine form of classic Sabbath in the song writing…

But this is the last tour. Which is not the first time that ‘final tour’ idea has been presented from Sabbath… but when the three remaining core members are all in their late 60’s… the logistical realities of life dictate this is most likely, “The End”. Which is what the band has appropriately entitled this tour… as well as the title of a CD that will be released as a tour companion and feature four new songs.

Four new songs plus exclusive artwork by Shepard Fairey/Obey Giant
Four new songs plus exclusive artwork by Shepard Fairey/Obey Giant

It was recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu with long time producer Rick Rubin during the sessions that created, “13”, the bands 19th and final album that dropped in 2013.

Originally planned to be a full length, the time-line would have severely delayed the tour.

“If we were to do an album before the tour, it would take three or four years to complete the album,” said Ozzy Osbourne, “We want to end it on a high note.”

The second half of the special The End tour disc will feature previously unreleased live recordings from Sabbath’s 13 world tour, including three songs from that album and a rendition of “Under the Sun” from 1972’s Vol. 4.

The group is promising concerts that “surpass all previous tours with their most mesmerizing production ever.”

The North American leg begins in January in Omaha and ends in February at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The band will do a leg in Australia and New Zealand in April and will be announcing more shows next month.

Older, wiser... still metal.
Older, wiser… still metal.

Black Sabbath North American Tour Dates:

January 20 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
January 22 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
January 25 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
January 28 – Saskatoon, SK @ Sasktel Centre
January 30 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Centre
February 1 – Calgary, ON @ Scotiabank Saddledome
February 3 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
February 6 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
February 9 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
February 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
February 13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
February 15 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
February 17 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
February 19 – Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
February 21 – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre
February 23 – Montreal, QB @ Bell Centre
February 25 – New York City, NY @ Madison Square Garden

Some classic Black Sabbath for your listening pleasure…

The track that started it all…

And of course some Black Sabbath staples…