• Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: Jun 11, 2013
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 100 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 100
  2. Negative: 1 out of 100
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  1. Jun 16, 2013
    6
    It takes me two songs to forget that this a "new" Black Sabbath album, and that Ozzy Osbourne is 65 years old. It takes me three songs to stop comparing it to the likes of Soundgarden's and Megadeth's etc. etc. recent reboots. It takes me four songs to actually start enjoying the "metal." And by the time the album is finished I actually start to like it. That said, the songs the bandIt takes me two songs to forget that this a "new" Black Sabbath album, and that Ozzy Osbourne is 65 years old. It takes me three songs to stop comparing it to the likes of Soundgarden's and Megadeth's etc. etc. recent reboots. It takes me four songs to actually start enjoying the "metal." And by the time the album is finished I actually start to like it. That said, the songs the band has chosen to promote as "singles" leaves me a bit mystified. "Is God Dead?" More like is Ozzy Osbourne on oxygen? No, he isn't. And for some reason I'm unable to take this album as seriously as I'd like to. And yet, it has some really authentic "Sabbath" moments that could have happened at any time over the last 40 years. A unique conundrum we may no experience for another half century (unless the two remaining Beatles get back together). Expand
  2. Jun 14, 2013
    5
    One of the most hyped albums in years. Understandably so. Cutting to the chase. If you're a fan of Ozzy you will very likely eat this up. If you're not his enormous shortcomings will likely cause you to feel Ozzy's vocals ruin this otherwise well arranged album. Love the riffs, the bass, the concept but the vocals are tedious
  3. Sep 7, 2013
    4
    Infinitely less appealing than The Devil You Know, this latest Black Sabbath album is well-crafted but, in the end, nothing other than a monument to boredom. The songs are completely devoid of intensity or energy, and Ozzy sounds unconvincing. Some good instrumental parts are just not enough.
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jul 23, 2013
    80
    No, 13 isn't as good as their first six albums--what is?--but it's a million times better than most of what followed. [Summer 2013, p.86]
  2. Jul 8, 2013
    60
    13 gets tiresomely monolithic and ponderous.
  3. The Wire
    Jul 3, 2013
    70
    This is perhaps the group's most straightforward release outside of their intermittent collaboration with late vocalist Ronnie James Dio. [Jul 2013, p.52]