I've just finished listening to it for the first time.
 
I see it as an album that they could have put out after Volume 4, had they had any left over riffs from the previous albums, and/or if Iommi not suffered from writers block. Which in the end was a good thing because Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was great.
 
Tony Iommi is one of the very few rock musicians who seems to be getting better and better, even into his 60's. I've never been a fan of his lead work, but there are are a few passages on this album which sent a shiver down my spine, much to my surprise. Same was true of Heaven and Hell (band). It's not just technical, I think the man expresses himself in a much more authentic manner instead of just wanking it out as I felt he often did back in the days.
 
Ozzy... I love Ozzy but he has one of the least dynamic voices ever. Which isn't all that bad when he's signing higher notes because, it feels more natural to hear him pushing to reach those. But the range where most of his vocals reside on this album coupled with his very static dynamic range and tone make things monotonous at times - I caught myself feeling that it's almost as if the proper vocal tracks hadn't been recorded yet. 
 
But hey, that's what he has to offer right now, that's where they are and the album is still enjoyable.
 
Geezer is Geezer, I've always loved his playing and this album is no exception. Along with McCartney, he's probably my favorite bass playing guitar player. :)
 
The drummer - I'm w/ Steve on this one. The guy does a very good job, but Appice would have brought it to the next level and potentially could have been a part of Sabbath instead of just accompanying the guys. 
 
Methademic is awesome, though imho closer in style to the Dio era stuff. I couldn't help but imagine RJD singing that one.
 
Anyway, those were just my first impressions.
 
And huge thumbs up to Tony Iommi!
 
 

Nice review there Rain, though I can't help but think there's some pimply-faced kid out there who will only think "Hey!  He's dissin' Ozzy!"

That's the funny part, actually.
 
First album I ever bought was Diary of a Madman, I was 11. (Through the years, I don't know how many copies of that album I've owned - 3 vinyls, one tape, 2 or 3 CDs, Apple...)
 
Then, the first tape I bought was Blizzard of Ozz. Then one known as Live EP. The intro to Suicide Solution on that EP was the wickedest thing I had ever heard! 
 
Then I bought Speak of the Devil from a friend - and that album turned me onto Sabbath. Not just any Sabbath - the original line up was the only Black Sabbath ever as far as I was concerned, for years. I looked like a total weirdo carrying around those old vinyls from the 70s in school. I was so uncool - almost to the point of being cool all over again. lol
 
I picked up the electric guitar because of Randy Rhoads, studied classical music because of him.
 
Had to walk miles to get my copy of Tribute when it came out, came back home to find that the vinyl seemed defective. Went back not once but TWICE before I finally had a copy that played back fine.
 
That's how much I loved the Ozzman stuff... 
Even when he dressed up like a giant bee, wore glitter and had the weirdest hair styles, I dug him. ;)
 

 

 
Ossie used to walk round Birmingham with his 'pet' shoe on a lead. Dressing up like a bee should be considered normal behaviour for him!
 
Many years ago, my former father-in-law used to work in a local pub. He recalls that Black Sabbath, before they were famous, used to drink in there occasionally. He said they were a good bunch of lads, apart from Ossie, who he remembers as a bit of a gobsh1te! And he also mentioned that they used to drink a lot!

It's funny how we didn't know much about our favorite musicians back in the days, compared to nowadays - seems that they can't buy a pair of socks w/o it being broadcasted on the web.
 
Where I lived - a french speaking remote location north of nowhere -  you'd never hear about Ozzy or Sabbath on TV, unless it had something to do w/ satanic backwards messages or such. The regular press covered the occasional show in Montreal or Quebec and threw in 2 or 3 biographic details and that was about it. When you had a bit of money (didn't happen too often in my case) you could buy Circus or Hit Parader and read something a bit more "substantial". Or watch a video over at a friend's place. I knew Ozzy was one wild guy w/ serious alcohol/drugs problems. But I loved the music.
 
Though I have to admit that I knew nothing about the music when I bought Diary of a Madman. I knew it was supposed to rock hard. But the sleeve is what sold me onto it. W/ blood everywhere, a reversed cross and all, I figured it had to be the wildest thing. It was between that and the picture disc of Iron Maiden Piece of Mind - with the brain in a plate w/ veggies... lol But, hey, I was 11.
 
My perception of Ozzy changed w/ time, but there will always be something I guess. 
 
I've just started reading Iommi's bio a few days ago. Some cool things about those early days, though nothing too in depth (and I appreciate that, in fact).
 

I remember the day that I found paranoid on the vinyl rack. Nobody knew what Black Sabbath was and my parents were sure it was evil.
 
I just lit up when I spun that disk. My parents turned out to be right, Sabbath was a bad (good) influence. Not long after, I got my first Kent electric guitar. Happy days.
 
They are playing in Toronto this summer and I'd love to go if I can get tickets.

Paranoid is also the first one I bought. I loved the songs, most of which I knew from Speak of the Devil, but it took some time for me to adjust my ears to the sound. I had cut my teeth on 80s heavy metal, and Paranoid sounded really retro and natural and strange. The drums in particular - that didn't sound like a record, not at all. I remember listening to Rat Salad thinking it sounded almost as bad/raw as our rehearsals. 
 
Of course, we eventually got tired of gated reverb and stuff like that, and learned to appreciate the rawness...