Source: Blabbermouth
“13”, the first BLACK SABBATH record in 35 years to feature singerOzzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler all playing together, sold 155,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 1 on The Billboard 200 chart. The record arrived in stores on June 11 via Vertigo/Universal Republic. This marks BLACK SABBATH‘s return to Vertigo, their original label, and the group’s first studio album together since 1978’s “Never Say Die!”
“The news is absolutely amazing — we couldn’t have imagined this would happen,” says Tony Iommi. “We have the greatest fans.”
“There have been so many amazing highlights in our long career,” saysOzzy Osbourne. “To finally have our first #1 album in the U.S. is another incredible milestone for BLACK SABBATH. Thank you to all of our fans for their support and loyalty.”
Geezer Butler says, “I’m absolutely stunned. Thank you all worldwide for being the best, and most patient, fans ever.”
According to Billboard.com, “13” is BLACK SABBATH‘s second top 10, following 1971’s “Master Of Reality”, which reached No. 8.
SABBATH‘s previous best chart showing of the SoundScan era came when the live set “Reunion” bowed with 62,000 back in 1998 at No. 11.
Details of “13”‘s deluxe edition surfaced on April 19, with the band revealing that the eight-song effort is accompanied by three bonus tracks called “Methademic”, “Peace Of Mind” and “Pariah”.
Several versions of “13” are available for order, including a standard CD, a double CD that includes a second disc of exclusive bonus audio, a heavyweight vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve and the aforementioned “Super Deluxe Box Set”, which contains the double CD, the vinyl album, an exclusive DVD documentary on the band’s reunion, 13 photographic prints and hand-written lyrics.
“13” track listing:
01. End Of The Beginning (8:05)
02. God Is Dead? (8:52)
03. Loner (4:59)
04. Zeitgeist (4:37)
05. Age Of Reason (7:01)
06. Live Forever (4:46)
07. Damaged Soul (7:51)
08. Dear Father (7:20)
Deluxe-edition bonus tracks:
09. Methademic (5:57)
10. Peace Of Mind (3:40)
11. Pariah (5:34)
Total running time (with bonus tracks): 68 minutes, 42 seconds
The drum tracks on the album were laid down by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE sticksman Brad Wilk following original drummer Bill Ward‘s decision to bow out of the reunion.
Osbourne went on the BBC in England to discuss the band’s new single,“God Is Dead?” and the inspiration behind the track. Ozzy explained, “I was in somebody’s office and there was a magazine on a table and it just said, ‘God Is Dead’, and I suddenly thought about 9/11 and all these terrorist things and religion and how many people have died in the name of religion. When you think about the tragedy that’s happened throughout time, it just came in my head. You’d think by now that their God would have stopped people dying in the name of, so I just starting thinking that people must be thinking, ‘Where is God? God is dead’ and it just hit me.”
Ozzy added that the question mark at the end of the title is his way of showing that he’s not sure about the answer himself, saying, “At the end of the thing, there’s still a bit of hope because there I sing that I don’t believe that God is dead. It’s just a question of when you see so many dreadful people killing each other with bombs, and blowing the tube trains up and the World Trade Center.”
Ozzy told an Australian radio station that “13” is “mind-blowing,” adding, “It’s better than my wildest dreams; it’s so good.”
SABBATH kicked off its world tour in support of “13” on April 20 in Auckland.
