BLACK SABBATH – The Eternal Idol (2025 Remaster) *HQ*
On July 25, Rhino Entertainment will reissue BLACK SABBATH‘s “The Eternal Idol (2025 Remaster)” — more than three months after a Record Store Day reissue of the album arrived on limited-edition translucent red 140g-weight LP.
This 2025 reissue of “The Eternal Idol” will feature new remastering from the original analog tapes and will include two bonus tracks, “Some Kind Of Woman” and “Black Moon”.
Originally released in 1987, “The Eternal Idol” was BLACK SABBATH’s thirteenth studio album and the band’s first LP to feature vocalist Tony Martin.
While Sabbath previous album ‘Seventh Star’ was very commercial – in fact, it’s a Tony Iommi solo album – on the ‘The Eternal Idol’ the band spread their wings in a more traditional metal backing, but still accessible and commercial – it was 1987.
The songwriting takes a (mild) step away from the easy listening that came before and works its way back into something a bit more conceptual in lyrics and sequential in musical passages. Naturally, we have a consistent disc with a pleasant makeup, loaded with hooky chops that vary greatly and clean vocals that couldn’t fit better if they tried.
What’s amazing is that there’s still so much to take away from. Even the doomy history of the band shines so wonderfully. The obvious monster in this case is the closing title track, which almost throws back to the earliest of the band’s days under an ‘80s umbrella.
“Ancient Warrior” has the booming rhythm energy and hard drum pounds with the perfect touch of crawling leads, all topped off with some of the neatest melodies this band has had since Heaven And Hell. You can get this with a blusier angle in “Nightmare,” feeling less threatening but equally stompy.
On the flip side, ‘The Eternal Idol’ has an even balance of faster paced bangers as well as more hook-laced gems. “Hard Life To Love” takes a harder stance with its powerful leads and galloping bridge, while opener “The Shining” brings forth that same accessibility on an easier note.
Some get a bit more to-the-point, and shine the vocals in a brighter way meant to capture a chorus driven number like the melodic hard rocking “Born To Lose.” “Lost Forever” is an anomaly in its ability to come so close to a speed metal tune while still fitting in so well, and that’s just incredible.
There are two extra songs, B-sides here that were ridiculously expensive to acquire on 12″ vinyl. Those songs, “Some Kind of Woman” and the original version of “Black Moon” (which would later be re-recorded on Headless Cross) finally complete ‘The Eternal Idol’ picture.
This “Black Moon” version is different than the recorded later, as there are no added vocals near the end of the song and not as much put into the lead guitar from Iommi. It still is an enjoyable tune and the verses give Martin room to deliver his message.
“Some Kind of Woman” seems like an answer to Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” with some blistering guitar effects and theatrics and fast paced singing.
Although we think there’s one record that tops this one in regards to the Martin era, the sweet concoction that came in 1987 with ‘The Eternal Idol’ is one that deserves the more recent praise it gets. It’s another example of something being unfairly overlooked for so long. Stellar songwriting everywhere, wonderful consistency, and the mechanics of every musician is top notch.
A Classic
01 – The Shining (2025 Remaster)
02 – Ancient Warrior (2025 Remaster)
03 – Hard Life to Love (2025 Remaster)
04 – Glory Ride (2025 Remaster)
05 – Born to Lose (2025 Remaster)
06 – Nightmare (2025 Remaster)
07 – Scarlet Pimpernel (2025 Remaster)
08 – Lost Forever (2025 Remaster)
09 – Eternal Idol (2025 Remaster)
Bonus Tracks:
10 – Some Kind of Woman (2025 Remaster)
11 – Black Moon (2025 Remaster)
Tony Martin – Vocals
Tony Iommi – Guitars
Bob Daisley, Dave Spitz – Bass
Eric Singer – Drums
Bev Bevan – Percussion
Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
Pre order:
blacksabbath.tmstor.es/product/the-eternal-idol-2025-remaster-cd
