14. The Eternal Idol (1989)

The Eternal Idol is a hidden gem in the Sabbath catalog and a rebuke to anyone who thinks any post Dio Sabbath album was a train wreck. Some of those albums were rough but this is a keeper. Iommi sounds inspired from the beginning of the opening track “The Shining.” Tony Martin’s vocals are somewhat of an acquired taste on this album but if you keep listening they start to feel right. This album is clearly missing Butler or Dio’s lyrical input. Sabbath is supposed to feel menacing and The Eternal Idol fall far short in that regard. Vocalist Ray Gillen was initially hired for this album; his initial Eternal Idol sessions are now available on the reissued deluxe album for comparison. The roster on this album is one of the strangest ever on a Sabbath release: Bassist Bob Daisley (best known for his work on the solo Ozzy albums) and drummer Eric Singer, who wears the Peter Criss catman makeup in later day KISS. The Eternal Idol is not without flaws but as a Sabbath excursion to power metal — and evidence of Iommi’s ample chops — it remains intriguing.