12. Headless Cross (1989)

Headless Cross is the high point of the Tony Martin-Tony Iommi collaboration, from the ominous “Gates of Hell” instrumental to songs like “Devil & Daughter” and “Call Of The Wild.” Sabbath in the late 80s and early 90s often stumbled both on execution and delivery but Headless Cross is a record that actually felt like Sabbath: powerful, dark and louder than life. Iommi is in command here and Martin’s vocals work well with the material. The best parts of it remind somewhat of Heaven And Hell, even if they never scale the heights of that album. Headless Cross showcases Martin’s multifaceted vocal delivery, which is misused on some of the lesser albums from the Martin-Iommi partnership.Headless Cross was one of the times when a Iommi-only Sabbath got everything right and did justice to the weight that the name Black Sabbath carries.