"Born Again" is the 11th studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, which was released in August of 1983. This album marks the only appearance from vocalist Ian Gillan, who evidently replaced Ronnie James Dio. It also saw the return of original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, who left the band in 1980 due to health issues.
This heavy metal album was written and recorded in a very tight window between Ian Gillan's commitments to Deep Purple. It was produced at Richard Branson's Manor Studio, Oxfordshire. The album cover, featuring a disturbing image of an infant swathed in purple light, has been controversial up till now. Despite the controversies and mixed reviews from critics, the album achieved commercial success, reaching number four on the UK charts and number 39 on the U.S. charts.
Musically, "Born Again" incorporated faster tempos and punky energy, a far cry from the lumbering doom of early Black Sabbath. Tracks like "Zero The Hero" and "Disturbing the Priest" have been notably remembered from the album. "Trashed" was also released as a single and gained some airplay. Nonetheless, this formation of Black Sabbath wouldn't last, and Ian Gillan would depart after this album, making it a unique chapter in the band's history.
