BLACK SABBATH: new audiophile editions of 'Black Sabbath' and 'Paranoid' out now via Rhino High Fidelity
31-08-2026
BLACK SABBATH forged the dark sound of heavy metal in 1970 across two monumental albums — their self-titled debut and its multi-platinum follow-up, “Paranoid”. Now, new audiophile editions of both are available on reel-to-reel from Rhino High Fidelity.
“Black Sabbath” and “Paranoid” (Rhino High Fidelity R2R) were duplicated in real time from 1:1 copies of the U.S. analog master tapes. The result is a master-quality listening experience that captures the full dynamics of these recordings. The 15 i.p.s. half-track 1/4″ tape is produced to the IEC equalization standard on premium RTM LPR90 tape stock and stored on a 10.5″ metal reel. Each Reel-to-Reel edition is limited to 500 copies worldwide and available exclusively at Rhino.com.
Released on Friday the 13th in February 1970, the self-titled debut from the Birmingham, England quartet conjured a sinister, visceral sound that reshaped rock music. Powered by Tony Iommi’s crushing guitar riffs, Ozzy Osbourne‘s primal vocals, Geezer Butler‘s seismic bass lines, and Bill Ward‘s powerhouse drumming, tracks like “Black Sabbath” and “N.I.B.” set a high bar for heavy music. The album peaked at No. 8 on the U.K. chart and No. 23 on the Billboard 200, eventually earning platinum certification in the U.S.
Later that year, in September 1970, “Paranoid” solidified the band’s status as the godfathers of heavy metal. Brooding anthems like “Iron Man”, “War Pigs” and the frenetic title track combined unforgettable hooks with unbridled power, while the atmospheric “Planet Caravan” revealed their dynamic depth. The album topped the U.K. charts and peaked at No. 12 in the U.S., where it sold more than four million copies. Today, it ranks as one of the greatest and most influential metal albums of all time.
Rhino High Fidelity continues to tap into Warner Music‘s vast catalog, introducing reissues of seminal albums across genres — from rock and pop to jazz, soul, and beyond. Each title pairs uncompromising audio with archival-grade packaging, honoring the album’s original intent in both sound and design.
“Black Sabbath” (Rhino High Fidelity R2R) track listing:
01. Black Sabbath
02. The Wizard
03. Wasp / Behind The Wall Of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B.
04. Wicked World
05. A Bit Of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning
Paranoid (Rhino High Fidelity R2R) track listing:
01. War Pigs / Luke’s Wall
02. Paranoid
03. Planet Caravan
04. Iron Man
05. Electric Funeral
06. Hand Of Doom
07. Rat Salad
08. Jack The Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots
Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson’s disease.
A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer’s friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo (METALLICA),Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).
The day before the private funeral, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy. Sharon, along with their children Aimée, Kelly and Jack, joined mourners for the emotional tribute.
A little over two months ago, Ozzy reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the “Back To The Beginning” charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
At “Back To The Beginning”, Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band — consisting of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos — before being joined by Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH songs: “War Pigs”, “Iron Man”, “N.I.B.” and “Paranoid”.
Ozzy‘s solo set consisted of four songs from Osbourne‘s 1980 solo debut album “Blizzard Of Ozz” — “I Don’t Know”, “Mr. Crowley”, “Suicide Solution” and “Crazy Train” — along with his 1991 “No More Tears” ballad “Mama, I’m Coming Home”.
The 76-year-old heavy metal singer sang while seated on a black throne and appeared overcome with emotion at times. “You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he told the crowd.
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