CD and LP sets will be available this spring

Black Sabbath’s history with singers Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio has been chronicled extensively in multiple collections. Until now, no boxed set has focused on Black Sabbath’s time with Tony Martin, the band’s second-longest-serving singer.

Rhino explores this prolific period from the godfathers of heavy metal in a new collection that brings four albums back into print after an extended absence. Anno Domini 1989-1995 will be available from Rhino on May 31st in 4 LP and 4 CD configurations. The set contains newly remastered versions of 1989’s Headless Cross, 1990’s Tyr, and 1994’s Cross Purposes, plus a new version of 1995’s Forbidden that guitarist Tony Iommi remixed specially for the collection.

Several albums make their vinyl debut in the LP version of Anno Domini, while the CD version contains three exclusive bonus tracks — the B-side “Cloak & Dagger” and the Japan-only releases “What’s The Use” and “Loser Gets It All.” A booklet comes with the set featuring photos, artwork, and liner notes by Hugh Gilmour. The collection also contains a Headless Cross poster and a replica concert book from the Headless Cross Tour.

Anno Domini picks up Black Sabbath’s story in 1989, two decades and multiple lineup changes into the band’s groundbreaking career as metal originators. At the time, membership had solidified around riffmaster and founding member Tony Iommi, legendary drummer Cozy Powell (Jeff Beck, Rainbow, Whitesnake), singer Tony Martin, and longtime Black Sabbath collaborator and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls (Quartz, Bandy Legs).

The group originally released Headless Cross in 1989 on IRS Records, the first of four albums Sabbath recorded for the label. Praised by fans and critics alike, the band’s 14th studio release produced three singles — “Devil And Daughter,” “Call Of The Wild,” and the title track. Bassist Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Gary Moore) joined the Headless Cross Tour and stayed to record Sabbath’s next album, 1990’s Tyr. Named for the Norse god of war, the album explores similar mythological themes in songs like “The Battle Of Tyr” and “Valhalla.” On “The Sabbath Stones,” the band channels Old Testament fire and brimstone into a classic bruiser.

In 1992, following a successful world tour, this incarnation of Black Sabbath was put on hold when the band reunited temporarily with Ronnie James Dio. Two years later, Martin and Nicholls were back in the studio with Iommi to record 1994’s Cross Purposes. The band was completed with the addition of founding Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bobby Rondinelli of Rainbow.

The Tyr-era Black Sabbath lineup reunited in 1995 when Powell and Murray returned to record Forbidden. It was the band’s 18th studio album, and its last for nearly 20 years. In 2013, Iommi, Osbourne and Butler released Black Sabbath’s final studio album, 13. Forbidden, produced by Ernie C of Body Count, the hard rock band fronted by rapper/actor/Sabbath fan Ice-T, who appears on the song “Illusion Of Power.” Since its release, sonically improving the album has been one of Iommi’s pet projects.

CD 1: Headless Cross

  1. The Gates Of Hell
  2. Headless Cross
  3. Devil & Daughter
  4. Kill In The Spirit World
  5. Call Of The Wild
  6. Black Moon
  7. Nightwing
  8. Cloak And Dagger [Bonus Track]

CD 2: Tyr

  1. Anno Mundi
  2. The Law Maker
  3. Jerusalem
  4. The Sabbath Stones
  5. The Battle Of Tyr
  6. Odin’s Court
  7. Valhalla
  8. Feels Good To Me
  9. Heaven In Black

CD 3: Cross Purposes

  1. I Witness
  2. Cross Of Thorns
  3. Psychophobia
  4. Virtual Death
  5. Immaculate Deception
  6. Dying For Love
  7. Back To Eden
  8. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
  9. Cardinal Sin
  10. Evil Eye
  11. What’s The Use [Bonus Track]

CD 4: Forbidden

  1. The Illusion Of Power featuring Ice-T
  2. Get A Grip
  3. Can’t Get Close Enough
  4. Shaking Off The Chains
  5. I Won’t Cry For You
  6. Guilty As Hell
  7. Sick And Tired
  8. Rusty Angels
  9. Forbidden
  10. Kiss Of Death
  11. Loser Gets It All [Bonus Track]