Whether or not this is ever considered the official end of Black Sabbath's legacy, it certainly has the feel of it. While the decision to continue on with Tony Martin on vocals was admirable, given what he had contributed on the albums in the late 1980's, one has to wonder what direction they were hoping to head for. Was the addition of Ice T as a guest vocalist and indication that they were heading for a sound more prevalent of Body Count? I don't know.
In the end, although the album still has some semblance of a Sabbath album, there is something missing that can't help it rise above average. In a similar (yet different) way that Technical Ecstacy and Never Say Die had indications that something in Black Sabbath had to change, the indictations are here on Forbidden that it was time for another radical solution. It turned out to be a reunion of the Original Four for Reunion.
It's not all bad, but it is very average. There are no outstanding Iommi riffs, there are no breakthrough Martin vocals, nor any thrilling Powell drum fills. Even if it was sold off as an Iommi solo piece you would be ambivalent, but with Black Sabbath you always expect great things. However, like they did two or three times in their long outstanding career, this one doesn't quite make it.
Rating: The curtain falls gracefully. 2.5/5
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