HEAVEN & HELL – The Devil You Know (2009 Atlantic)
If one considers The Devil You Know as a part of the official Black Sabbath canon (as I do), then it’s not a stretch to call it the darkest and heaviest album in this band’s storied career. The only album that would be on a par with that is Born Again. If I refer to Heaven & Hell as Black Sabbath in this review, I trust you’ll forgive me. After all, this is the Mob Rules/Live Evil/Dehumanizer lineup of Black Sabbath, and a rose by any other name….
The previous album that these four guys did together was 1992’s masterpiece Dehumanizer, (notwithstanding the three new songs on the compilation Black Sabbath: The Dio Years). The last official Black Sabbath studio album prior to this was 1995’s Tony Martin-helmed Forbidden, a dreadful rushed piece of garbage that almost buried Sabbath forever.*
So, it is quite refreshing that The Devil You Know is so heavy, and so good. If you are familiar with the slow, dirgey sludge that were the three new songs on The Dio Years, that is a good reference point to the sound on this album. Very sludgey, mostly slow, guitar-heavy and intense. There are some faster ones (“Double The Pain”, “Neverwhere” etc) but for the most part this is 10 tons of pure heavy Black Sabbath. Songs like “After All” from Dehumanizer are the blueprint.
Especially enticing are the riffs. Iommi’s riff on “Bible Black” is crushing. “Fear” has some exotic noodling that I found surprising and refreshing. Vinnie’s drums are all cannons without the machine guns, which I do miss. I also wish Geezer’s bass was more slinky and audible, but combined with Iommi’s guitar it just creates this sheer wall of metal. All this is held together by Dio’s still-strong, unique, wonderful voice. Tonally, it is deeper than it was back on Dehumanizer, over 15 years previous. He was 66 years old when this was recorded.
Walmart version
The Devil You Know is not an instant pleasure. Hooks are scarce, as the album bludgeons you with sound. However, the familiarity that these four musicans create with their combined sounds are the hook. One of the most missed sounds in metal was that of Black Sabbath. When Ozzy came back to Sabbath in ’97, new music was scarce (only two new songs on Reunion, although a third never-released new song called “Scary Dreams” was absolutely mindblowing). I am glad that Dio-era Sabbath was capped off with one hell (pun intended) of an album. This album stands up to the glory days without copying it, and that is a hard thing to do.
Itunes bonus tracks exist for the OCD collector: You can find unique live versions of both “I” and “Neon Knights” on their version of The Devil You Know. If you’re not a hardcore collector, then you can stick to the double live album Live From Radio City Music Hall. If you are a Sabbath completist, then be aware the two live bonus tracks are not from that album, but are unique (and great) live versions unavailable anywhere else.
Rest in peace Ronnie. Sleep well, knowing that you did something rare. You created a cap stone worthy of your body of work.
3.5/5 stars
mikeladano.com 
Good write up. I agree that while there are better Sabbath albums, I have always enjoyed listening to this one.
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Thanks sir. It is after all Sabbath w/Dio therefore it has a lot of value to metal fans.
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Remember loving and still do the Live Radio City a Music Hall disc so buying this when it was released was a no brainer! Your right heavy heavy heavy love Iommi’s riffs on this album.
Considering there was so much music fluff out its great for a doom an gloom record to,come out in this day an age.
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Dekester, I remember I had a hard time finding this when it came out. I recall checking a few stores before finding it (at HMV I think). I was disappointed that the other stores were probably ignorant of who it was.
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Great and fair review. I honestly just couldn’t get into this one. Some great songs but it didn’t really do it for me.
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Understandable Scott. Of course we both still had to have it because of who it is.
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Absolutely. And it might suddenly make sense in the future. Dio’s Master of the Moon was like that for me. I didn’t like it and then it suddenly clicked.
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But is it available on vinyl?
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Without looking, I’m 90% sure the answer is yes.
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With looking, the answer is yes.
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(sticks fingers in ears)
Can’t hear you – can’t hear you – can’t hear you!
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Fella I work with was recommending this to me not so long ago following a chat about Sabbath. On my list to check out and now bumped up a few spaces!
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Awesome! Hope you enjoy it.
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Spot on with this review. “Fear” is the stand out track for me!
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Love that riff. Iommi has a bottomless well of riffs!
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Oooo I wants this one too!
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TARANNA!
Man that list is getting long.
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Fantastic review and again, really appreciate the scans and additional artwork to peruse.
This is one of those ‘beneath the surface’ kinda records, ya know one of those records that underneath the fancy cover art and expectation, listeners can find more and more to like as the years roll on!? Think this one just keeps getting better quietly hoping there were a few tunes left on the cutting room floor for a later re-release, would certainly buy this one again.
And I mean Follow The Tears right?
FOLLOW THE F&%$ING TEARS \m/
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