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The Devil You Know
by
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The Devil You Know Image
Metascore
63

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

  • Summary: The members of Black Sabbath (without Ozzy Osboune) return as Heaven & Hell to release its first album under the name.

Top Track

The Weight
(Robbie Robertson) [Originally by The Band] I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead; I just need some place where I can lay my... See the rest of the song lyrics
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. AllMusic
    80
    While the Osbourne-fronted and Dio-fronted versions of Black Sabbath are, again, very different bands, this is an album that matches its moment every bit as perfectly as "Paranoid" did back in 1970.
  2. Sputnikmusic
    80
    Shockingly good but reassuringly gimmick-free, The Devil You Know is not only the best Dio or Sabbath release in over a decade but a front-runner for heavy metal album of the year.
  3. Hartford Courant
    80
    Sure enough, we know these devils: they're the ones who make so many latter-day metal bands look like hopeless poseurs.
  4. Q Magazine
    60
    Its supulchral riffs, histrionic vocals and ludicrous lyrics are all comfortingly familiar. Something unexpected wouldn't have gone amiss, mind. [Jul 2009, p.117]
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  5. Rolling Stone
    60
    Heaven and Hell excel at ye olde power-dungeon plod. Too bad Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler's most churning riffs tend to last mere seconds, before getting buried under attention-deficit arrangements and Dio's theatrical mythopoeia--which gets tiring when so many songs exceed six minutes.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    50
    They do their best to distance themselves from Actual Sabbath, but too often it’s by slouching through their Satanic netherworld, Dio’s cabaret bludgeoned down by lurching riffs and over-egged orchestration.
  7. Uncut
    40
    Now 29 years on, The Devil You Know can't quite muster that kind of muscle [heard in Black Sabbath's "Heaven And Hell"]. [Jul 2009, p.88]
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See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. NovemberH
    Aug 4, 2009
    10
    Ugh. People need to realize that bands constantly evolve. Just because it doesn't sound like the Black Sabbath you know doesn't Ugh. People need to realize that bands constantly evolve. Just because it doesn't sound like the Black Sabbath you know doesn't mean it isn't good. The Devil You Know is excellent. Ronnie James Dio's heaven (and hell)-sent vocals blend together with heavy, face-melting riffs for a new generation, proving to the masses that METAL ISN'T DEAD!… Collapse
  2. JamesH
    May 5, 2009
    10
    What's wrong with Rolling Stone Magazine? No wonder I dropped my subscription years ago. This is one of the best Metal albums EVER. The What's wrong with Rolling Stone Magazine? No wonder I dropped my subscription years ago. This is one of the best Metal albums EVER. The head banging riff in "Follow the Tears" is worth the price of the album by itself. GREAT JOB H&H - Can't wait to see you LIVE!… Expand
  4. FelipeP
    Apr 29, 2009
    10
    Fantastic return of Dio!
  5. Leon
    Oct 4, 2009
    10
    Masterpiece!
  6. LeeS
    Apr 30, 2009
    9
    Awsome album. As they did in their last tour, they proved they haven't missed a beat. Listen to Iommi channeling Eddie Van Halen in Awsome album. As they did in their last tour, they proved they haven't missed a beat. Listen to Iommi channeling Eddie Van Halen in Follow the Tears. Some of his best work in years.… Expand
  7. mattf
    May 6, 2009
    9
    Overall a great outing for a classic lineup, not perfect but a treat for Sabbath fans and all metal fans.
  8. BobR
    May 4, 2009
    3
    I listened to this release twice through. There is nothing very memorable on this CD. This is coming from a long time Sabbath fan, Dio fan I listened to this release twice through. There is nothing very memorable on this CD. This is coming from a long time Sabbath fan, Dio fan and Ozzy fan. I have all their albums, all the various Sabbath incarnations, and this CD might be the most disappointing of them all. Born Again is a close second. Thumbs down.… Expand

See all 12 User Reviews

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