Forbidden is the 18th studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath. Released in 1995, it remains their last original studio album to date. The production was handled by Ernie C with the aim to give the album a more contemporary sound. It features the return of vocalist Tony Martin. The five members of the band at the time were Tony Iommi, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Geoff Nicholls, and Tony Martin.
However, despite its significant place in Black Sabbath's extended discography, Forbidden was not particularly well-received either by fans or critics upon its release and is generally considered to be one of their weakest efforts. The album's sound mixes traditional heavy metal with elements of hip hop, a creative decision that has been mostly attributed to Ernie C's influence.
Ice T featured on the song "Illusion of Power," marking a very eclectic time in the band's history. The album's brief and tumultuous tour, which featured openers Motorhead and Morbid Angel in the U.S., was the last before the reunion of the original Black Sabbath lineup in 1997. Despite the general negative reception, the album has its ardent defenders who appreciate its oddities and anomalies within the greater Black Sabbath catalog.
