Cross Purposes [Extra tracks] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Japanese Version Re-Issued with a Bonus Track. No Additional Information Available at this Time.

Tracks:

I Witness
Cross Of Thorns
Psychophobia
Virtual Death
Immaculate Deception
Dying For Love
Back To Eden
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Cardinal Sin
Evil Eye

Customer Reviews:

Best of the martin period, very overlooked but great sabbath form.......2006-09-27

Sabbath after Dehumanizer, what kind of a reunion was that, not the ozzy fronted ones fans wanted. Thank goodness Toni Iommi got back together with Tony Martin and created this masterful work, a return to Toni's heavy riff writing. Just the first three songs "I witness", "cross of thorns" and "Psychopobia" make the album, but the rest is bonus. A great album. Virtual death is good, and evil eye to end the album. I own the japanese import version with the bonus track "what's the use", and that song should have been released stateside...just absolutely rocks. So check this album out, you won't be dissapointed.

High Quality Metal.......2006-04-01

I like this cd, although I'm not crazy about Tony Martin's voice. He's a good singer but just seems to be missing a little something with his style. Anyway, great music as usual. A must-have for any Sabbath fan.

Tony Martin returns........2005-12-04

This CD deserves a high rating just for the first track alone - "I Witness" is one of my favorite Sabbath songs. Another song I like on here a lot is "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle." I think that is the only song on here release as a single.

I've seen Bobby Rondinelli in concert before, when he played for Blue Oyster Cult. Also played drums for Rainbow and several other high-profile miscians. He is a great drummer and plays very well on here.

Check out the video CROSS PURPOSES - you can see several songs from this CD performed live on that. Geezer Butler returns for this CD and that DVD.

This cd is very easy to listen to........2005-05-18

A great story from begining to end. Martin, Iommi, Butler, Rondinelli.

Surprising return to form!! Very good!.......2005-03-12

The best Sabbath album with Tony Martin, along with ETERNAL IDOL. THis album was a pleasant surprise. Geezer Butker proved that he has a lot of chemisty with Tony Iommi, and the result here are better riffs, better songs, well, a much better album than DEHUMANIZER, even this last one featuring Ronnie James Dio!

CROSS PURPOSES has a magnetic charm to it, all the songs are from good to great, the production is flawless, Geezer bass lines are very good, Bobby Rondinellis's only appearance in a Sabbath album (playing drums) is smooth and inspired. The lyrics are smartly crafted by Tony Martin, and his vocals are flying high in this album, spetacular. Tony Iommi's riffs are also srong and they will leave you wanting more.

This an excellent classic hevay metal album, and only recently I began to understand how it is possible (I don't mean that I agree) that some fans think that Sabbath featuring Tony Martin is the best Sabbath...

Average customer rating:

A tale of two albums
largely ignored album, but great nontheless
Another Strong Tony Martin Era Release
My favorite from the Tony Martin era, erasing the dehumanizer failure
Like Dehumanizer never happened

Cross Purposes
Black Sabbath
Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

TYR
The Eternal Idol
Dehumanizer
Forbidden
Seventh Star

ASIN: B000008DHS
Release Date: 1994-02-08

Tracks:

I Witness
Cross Of Thorns
Psychophobia
Virtual Death
Immaculate Deception
Dying For Love
Back To Eden
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Cardinal Sin
Evil Eye

Album Details

1994 Irs Label Release. The Tony Iommi Led Ozzy-less Version of the Sabbs.

Customer Reviews:

A tale of two albums.......2006-12-30

For me I really love the first 5 tracks, but the last 5 have never done it for me as much. I do believe however that Tony Martin is an amazing vocalist and I wish that more people would give this version of Sabbath a try and not compare to the earlier versions and judge it on it's own merits.

largely ignored album, but great nontheless.......2006-12-21

Whenever people argue that "musicians' earliest music is always the best" I have to think of Black Sabbath, who in my opinion was the best during their Tony Martin years. Of course this could also be b/c that's the first that I heard of Sabbath, but that's an entirely new tangent.
Every song on this album is well written and accessible- I got into it right away instead of having it grow on me, yet I wouldn't say it was "catchy"- it's better than that.
This is my favorite album by Black Sabbath. It basically went unnoticed b/c people just liked Sabbath with Ozzy, but I like Tony M much better. I like his accent and his voice is gravelly, but not too much. I like to sing to a lot of songs on this album. His expressive voice adds a lot to this music, but besides that it is also well written.
My favorite song would be "Immaculate Deception", which sounds kind of dreamy. I also liked "Virtual Death" because of its lyrics and harmony, and especially the middle section- yeah it's depressing, and when I was into it I was very depressed. "Evil Eye" is another hypnotic and kind of sexy song. I especially like the middle part and then the double guitar part in it. "Dying For Love" is also very emotional and beautiful. "Psychophobia" was my least favorite but it has some redeeming points. I basically liked all the songs on this album.
Interestingly, I think Sabbath's reputation exceeds them. My parents never objected to this music and I don't find it threatening at all. Is it me or do the lyrics sound kind of Christian? I might have thought they were a Christian band if I didn't know better.
When it comes to Black Sabbath, Tony Martin is the best singer, and this is their best album.

Another Strong Tony Martin Era Release.......2006-10-16

Another Sabbath album with Tony Martin at the helm and in my opinion another good one. "Cross Purposes" was the album that came after the ill fated reunion with Ronnie James Dio and its subsequent release "Dehuminizer". Although I am a huge Dio fan was really disappointed with the reunion effort and think that "Cross Purposes" blows "Dehumanizer" away. The music on this album sounds the most like classic Sabbath of any of the Tony Martin era recordings as the team of Butler / Iommi combine once again to produce some really strong material. Bobby Rondineli (Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, And Quiet Riot) is also on hand n the drum kit and delivers a fine performance. Although he seems to get slammed by many die hard Sabbath fans I maintain that Tony Martin is an incredible vocalist and this album produces some of his best work to date. Highlights include the opening track "I Witness", the heavy handed "Virtual Death" that has Geezer's signature bottom end written all over it, the ballad "Dying For Love", and the catchy rocker "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Tony Iommi has some really tasty guitar solos on this album and shows that he was still a very capable guitarist in the mid-90's. The album peters out for me a bit with the last two tracks "Cardinal Sin" and "Evil Eye" which are ok, but nothing spectacular. Overall I would rate this right behind "Tyr" as one of the best Sabbath albums of the 80's or 90's.

My favorite from the Tony Martin era, erasing the dehumanizer failure.......2006-09-27

Like Dehumanizer never happened.......2006-09-14

After the short lived 1992 Dio reunion which resulted in the excellent album Dehumanizer, Sabbath returns with vocalist Tony Martin like the Dio reunion gig never happened after the album TYR.

Sabbath also drops the ultra heavy doomy sound from Dehumanizer and returns to more of the tradition sound that was found on the Martin albums of the past. Still Cross Purposes sounds a tad different from those albums as it doesn't have the full blown keyboard effect. Even though it doesn't quit sound the same I still feel that this would have been the natural progression of the band even if Dehumanizer never happened. It was the early 90's and Sabbath modernized their sound nicely for that era with Cross Purposes

It seems a lot of people were upset when Dio left the group again and that Tony Martin came back. I in fact was very happy as I find Tony Martin to be one of the finest vocalists to grace the genre of metal so I accepted Cross Purposes with open arms.

The album opens with I Witness, a more up beat track and a perfect way to open the album. The second song Cross of Thorns is a slower track with fantastic emotional lyrics. I've always found Tony Martin to write great lyrics and his voice just brings them to life. This track is perhaps the best on the album. The album picks up the beat again with Psychophobia with a monstrous riff by Iommi. What's interesting is Martin sounds almost like Dio sometimes on this song. Virtual Death is a much slower doomier song with an odd distortion on Martin's vocals. I wasn't too hot on this track and it's usually a skipper. Immaculate Deception is a decent heavier track right before the nice Sabbath ballad Dying for Love. I'm not sure what it is but with Iommi's guitar talents and Martin's vocals....ballads just seem to work. Good song. The last four songs are nice solid hard rockers.

Overall I didn't find it to be a bad album at all. I however didn't like Cross Purposes near as much as Martin's three previous Sabbath outings The Eternal Idol, Headless Cross, and TYR. I just found those be terrific outings and Cross Purposes doesn't quit live up to the standards on those release. It just lacks the catchiness and overall greatness found on those (and plus I really dig the 80's feel of those albums). Even with its very few disappointments, Cross Purposes is still very much worth checking out for fans of the underrated Martin-era Sabbath albums.

I just find it a shame that Sabbath's next album Forbidden didn't turn as good or better than this. That album is eternally terrible (check out my review on it and you'll see how much I despise it) and in my opinion this officially ends the great Tony Martin era of Sabbath.

Average customer rating:

Drawing Conclusions

Manufacturer: cross purposes
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000TPAC72

Product Description

12 tracks.

AT CROSS PURPOSES. Demos and other stuff 1990-1995.

Average customer rating:

AT CROSS PURPOSES. Demos and other stuff 1990-1995.
JOHN WRIGHT.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000ON4FYA

Product Description

DEMOS AND OTHER STUFF 1990-1995.

Average customer rating:

One of the greatest live performances ever!!!
An outstanding Live VHS and CD, must have for true Sab fans
A brilliant live album to promote Cross Purposes and show some of the more classic tracks in a new form
I own every Album Part 3: Cross Purposes Live

Cross Purposes Live

Manufacturer: IRS / EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
Similar Items:

Cross Purposes

ASIN: B00073QG7G

Product Description

Originally only came only with the VHS tape, very rare and long OOP. Featuring awesome live material from the Cross Purposes tour featuring Tony Martin, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and Bobby Rondinelli.

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest live performances ever!!!.......2007-06-05

The Tony Martin era of black sabbath was around for 5 albums, a greatest hits, and a live album, yet even a lot of Sabbath fans do not know any of them exist, or do not like them. I think this live album is a brilliant capturing of the 25 years that Sabbath had behind them at the filming of this. Just an excellent set list ranging from the first album to cross purposes. Tony Martin I do not hesitate to say in my opinion is a better vocalist than Dio, especially in this live performance. The guitar and bass work is tight, and this just keeps moving from beginning to end. Great Camera work and splicing also. If you must own one album from this era, it should be this or Sabbath Stones. A hands down must have for all Sabbath Fans

An outstanding Live VHS and CD, must have for true Sab fans.......2006-08-10

With luck, I was wise and purchased this item a number of years ago not realizing it would go out of print (Pre-reunion tour years). This is the one and only live album featuring Tony Martin on Vocal. Good or bad, you have to acknowledge if you are a sabbath fan that tony martin had 5 albums with sabbath, and I really enjoy the work he did. He has great power in vocals, and back by the solid riffs of Toni Iommi, what a match. This Live VHS/CD features Toni Iommi, Tony Martin, Geezer Butler, and Bobby Rondinelli (drums), Geoff Nichols (keybords, backing vocals), noting Bobby as a very accomplished drummer, and Geoff as an "unofficial" sabbath member since 1979's Heaven and Hell. VHS 16 tracks :
1. Time Machine
2. Children of the Grave
3. I Witness
4. Mob Rules
5. Into the Void
6. Anno Mundi
7. Black Sabbath
8. Neon Knights
9. Psychophobia
10. Wizard
11. Cross of Thorns
12. symptom of the universe
13. headless cross
14. Paranoid
15. Iron Man
16. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
The CD is 13 track, same order minus Mob rules, Anno Mundi, and Neon Knights.
The mastering and sound on the VHS and CD are second to none, and it is the most comprehensive set of Black sabbath work played on a stage by the group, covering all camps from the Dio fans to the Ozzy forever gang. It does miss the 2 albums Born again (ian gillen) and Seventh Star (Glenn Hughes), but you can't have everything. Tony is spot on with his guitar work, sounding just like it was layed down in the studio. This is a must have Item for a comprehensive sabbath fan. Hopefully, you can get the complete set with CD and VHS. Unfortunately, I don't think we will ever see this on CD since IRS records went belly up, and Sharron Osbourne has her hands into everything (e.g. the sad re-release of the Ozzy catalog, ouch bad memories). So get this if you can, you won't be dissapointed

A brilliant live album to promote Cross Purposes and show some of the more classic tracks in a new form.......2005-08-23

This live collection of tracks was performed at Hammersmith in 1994, frontman at this time being the awesome Tony Martin, who definately gives it all despite him having some problems with a throat infection he has a strong and powerful voice which, doesn't compare to the likes of Ronnie James Dio but certainly blows the likes of Ozzy away. He tries his best to gain participation from the crowd throughtout the album making it a pleasure to listen to and shows real proffesionalisim when handling possibly 1000+ sabbath fans who are hungering for those well-loved Ozzy tracks

Even though in the majority of the fans believe he is no match for the 'one and only' Ozzy tracks, he gives them a shot and does so brilliantly, his voice complements them perfectly making songs like Paranoid and Iron Man highlight tracks as he oozes enthusiasiam in attempt to get the crowd screaming for more!

The only downfall of this CD is the lack of crowd it almost sounds like they're not there at all! However im unsure whether or not this was an edited tactical idea to allow the sharpness of Sabbath live to be shown or whether the crowd were just extremely quiet

...either way its a brilliant live album to promote Cross Purposes and show some of the more classic tracks in a new form and I definately reccomend it!

I own every Album Part 3: Cross Purposes Live.......2005-08-09

By far, the rarest cd to find in the Black Sabbath library. This was the Hammersmith concert of 1994, staring Tony Iommi, Tony Martin, Geezer Butler, Bob Rodinelli, and Geoff Nicholls on Keybords. I only own the cd, but it was a great performance, even if Tony Martin had a sore throat. Five Stars. Check Forbidden and Black Sabbath (Self Title'd) for my other reviews.

Average customer rating: