Heaven And Hell: Classic Rock Hears Their New Songs
Classic Rock has heard three unfinished tracks from Heaven And Hell’s debut album. In a world-exclusive we visited vocalist Ronnie James Dio, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Vinny Appice on the final day of tracking at Rockfield Studios in Wales.
Some final touches were still to be added; for example Iommi wanted to add guitar solos at his home studio, and the material was in an unmixed state.
Due to be released in late April, the album’s 10 tracks were co-produced by the group and engineer Mike Exeter.
The songs we heard were a moody, thuddingly malevolent number called Rock ’N’ Roll Jesus, the pacier and more anthemic Neverwhere, and a slice of sloth-like majesty that’s likely to be titled Breaking Into Heaven.
Other tracks expected to appear include Bible Black, Double Pain and Atom + Evil.
With the band having recorded three tracks for the Black Sabbath: The Dio Years anthology and played around 100 shows as Heaven And Hell, writing began at Iommi and Dio’s houses in England and California respectively, either side of the Metal Masters tour of America with Motörhead, Judas Priest and Testament.
“Each of us submitted a CD of our ideas, and we narrowed it down from there,” explains Iommi. “In some ways it was like picking up where we’d left off with Dehumanizer [Sabbath’s 1992 album], which was also done at Rockfield.”
“I never thought this band would get back together, but here we are,” marvels Appice. “Everyone’s more mature, and when we play together it’s just a monster.”
Touring plans are currently being finalised, with appearances at the Sweden Rock Festival, France’s Hellfest and Waldrock in Holland already confirmed.
* See exclusive photos of Heaven And Hell at Rockfield Studios in the February edition of Classic Rock, on sale Wednesday, January 7.
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Whooo hooo.
The oldies, but defo the goodies!!!
Roll on April
Craigie
Just from the song titles, I know I’m going to love this album.
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Great news!, i didn’t like dehumanizer only 3 tracks from that album stood out 4 me, sins of the father, too late and i. They should try and make this album just as good or even better then the heaven and hell album but i’ll still buy the album anyway. (a new black sabbath album with ozzy wouldn’t be bad!)
I’ve been waiting forever for this album.. oh man, it’s so exciting! Rock on Sabbath or.. more like Heaven and Hell
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madd
Where can i find the exclusive photos ?
Why in the hell is this not titled under Black Sabbath???? There is no more powerful entity than Black Sabbath so let’s go. The hell with Heaven and Hell. That was the name of a great album.
All three albums are classics but I love Dehumanizer the best. Maybe it’s because I was young when that album came out.
I saw Heaven & Hell in Nov 07 and dio in May 08 (bham) and his voice was still amazing so can’t wait for the shows in 09.
Get Manowar and Anvil to support when you tour the UK.
Black Sabbath is Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill. Any other combination is something different all together. Call this quartet Heaven and Hell or whatever, just don’t call them Black Sabbath.
Black Sabbath is Dio, Tony… or any other Tony combination! I prefer a more talented vocalist such as Dio vs. Ozzy (not downgrading Ozzy, he is great). Real Sabbath fans understand that Sabbath is simply Iommi and we appreciate all the albums before and after Ozzy. So this is wonderful and very surprising news, we thought after the Ozzy tease there would never be an album. I too am confused about the band Heaven and Hell, dude its Sabbath, someone tell them this!
what the heck is wrong with all you people, quit it please with the name thing , …what better way to say to the world who this band is ….heaven and hell! , its a great name. and it really pays great homage to ronnie , as for the first album these guys did together, actually keeping the name black sabbath alive at that time…some 30 years ago,
can we move on now to just how great these guys are
long live h&h
So many are missing the point. It is Black Sabbath. They refer to it as that and so do we. The name Heaven and Hell was chosen so people know it is Ronnie’s songs being performed. Not Ozzy’s. Touring as B.S. any number of singers songs could be performed. When you reach a stature that Ozzy and Ronnie have, you don’t want to sing other peoples music.
I totally agree with Joe B! This album will be amazing! I saw Heaven and Hell (or Black sabbath), in both combinations (with Dio and with Ozzy): always the best! Sabbath rules!!
I guess if Ozzy does another stint with Iommi and Ward they will have to call themselves “Paranoid” so that the people will know that they will be playing only Ozzy songs, afterall Ozzy doesn’t want to sing other peoples music.
BLACK SABBATH NEVER DIE..!!!
TONY,DIO,GEEZER,VINNE YOU ARE MONSTER!
I love how they always say, after they’ve broken up and then gotten back together, “Well, we’ve matured a lot now…” LOL! They said the same thing when they did Dehumanizer only to break up amidst silly egocentric squabbling less than a year later. Then Sabbath reformed with Tony Martin and you know what they said? “Well, we feel we’ve matured a lot over the time we’ve been apart.” It’s like something out of Spinal Tap!
Black Sabbath were great!
I am glad these guys worked out their differences. I saw Heaven and Hell last time around can’t wait for the new album and for the concert.
These guys should have given it up a long, long time ago….the 70’s are OVER. Get over it.
They’re still alive, what’s your problem? (and, by the way The Mob rules came out in 1981, H&H in ‘80)
The classic sound of Black Sabbath is Ozzie.From the Opening song (Black Sabbath) too now. I am a big Dio, Rainbow fan. Love him with Sabbath. Just enjoy it.
thank the metal gods for a new album .if you cant appreciate the iommi/dio magic. piss off. it was obvious on the metal master tour that sabbath ,heaven and hell,ruled as always and i’m happy to hear this version again with new material.the mob rules
Arguments about the name really don’t matter, if it’s a legal thing it shows how small some people’s minds are. Me, I’m just gonna enjoy a brilliant group playing great music. Iommi is the lynch pin, how does he keep coming up with riffs that others can only dream of? Dio’s voice is still stunning, Geezer and Carmine are the equal of anything else around. Just make sure you visit Turkey boys, (Ankara please) as I’ve been educating my students in the joys of rock/metal and they want more!
still can`t believe this is happening and really can`t wait for it. love each and every thing they do together or apart. 3 new songs on the dio years are FANTASTIC!
where does one send his best wishes for recovery rock icons like ronnie james need our total support at this time