6. Volume 4 (1972)

Volume 4 is Sabbath’s ode to excess and bacchanal, the Birmingham four reinvented through Los Angeles haze. Sabbath was knee-deep in cocaine at the time (for evidence, just check the infamous liner-notes thank you to the great COKE-cola company of Los Angeles). “Snowblind” — one of Sabbath’s greatest songs — contains not-so-subtle whispers of “cocaine” from Osbourne.

There’s a festive feel to part of the album and tracks like “Cornucopia.” But there are also hints of loss and regret, like on the powerful track “Wheel Of Confusion.” Themes of disillusionment course through Volume 4; it seems like Sabbath’s partying ways and touring excesses were catching up. They were dissatisfied with preachers, leaders, literally anyone offering answers or a path. The only answer, ultimately, was to be found inside.

Just like in life, the party must eventually end, and Volume 4 also hints at the flipside — that “every day just comes and goes/ life is one big overdose.” It’s appropriate that Ozzy re-recorded the ballad “Changes” with his daughter Kelly during the Hollywood period borne by the television show The Osbournes; Volume 4 is when a starstruck Sabbath was able to create something lasting out of sudden fame and accompanying disillusionment.