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Black Sabbath Anno Domini 1989-1995 box set to feature remasters and rarities from the Tony Martin era

Black Sabbath featuring singer Tony Martin

Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio are synonymous with Black Sabbath, but until now, no boxed set collection has focused on Sabbath’s Tony Martin era, the band’s second-longest-serving singer.

It’s a wrong about to be righted with the release of the Anno Domini 1989-1995 boxed set.

For rock aficionados and vinyl collectors alike, this is a golden opportunity to explore a lesser-known but no less formidable era of the band that forged the heavy metal genre.

The set, available in both 4-LP and 4-CD configurations, unearths buried treasures from the band’s discography, shedding light on the period when Tony Martin took the helm as the band’s frontman.

Remastered versions of the albums Headless Cross (1989), Tyr (1990), and Cross Purposes (1994) await eager ears, alongside a special treat: a newly mixed version of Forbidden (1995) by Tony Iommi. 

Iommi himself has returned to the studio to give Forbidden a makeover, ensuring that even the most discerning Sabbath fans will find something fresh to sink their teeth into.

The LP version of Anno Domini features several albums making their vinyl debut, while the CD version offers three exclusive bonus tracks, including the elusive B-side ‘Cloak & Dagger’ and two Japan-only releases, ‘What’s The Use’ and ‘Loser Gets It All.’ The set comes complete with a booklet featuring rare photos, artwork, and liner notes by Hugh Gilmour.

Iommi himself has returned to the studio to give Forbidden a makeover, ensuring that even the most discerning Sabbath fans will find something fresh to sink their teeth into…

Anno Domini 1989-1995 picks up the Sabbath story in 1989, two decades into the band’s groundbreaking career. At the time, membership had solidified around founding member Tony Iommi, legendary drummer Cozy Powell , singer Tony Martin, and longtime Black Sabbath collaborator and keyboardist Geoff Nicholls.

The group originally released Headless Cross in 1989 on I.R.S. Records, the first of a five album deal with the label. Bassist Neil Murray joined for the Headless Cross Tour and stayed to record Sabbath’s next album, 1990’s Tyr, named after the Norse god of war.

Following a successful world tour, this version 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, 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

Each Anno Domini 1989-1995 set comes with a Headless Cross poster, perfect for adorning the walls of your personal rock shrine, and a replica concert book from the Headless Cross Tour. 

Anno Domini 1989-1995 hits the streets May 31. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, Anno Domini 1989-1995 is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for heavy riffs, thunderous drums, and Tony Martin’s powerhouse vocals.

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