What is the point of a reissue of an album? This is a serious question. I understand if they release an anniversary special edition boxset thingy, with bonus material, dvds, demo tracks and a whole number of other things that could encourage you to buy an album that you've either already got, or have chosen not to get for £2 in an HMV sale. I understand it when they release a remastered discography of every Beatles album, and stick it in a boxset. I don't understand when they re-release an album that is 37 years old, that sounds, to me, exactly the same as a CD I've already got. I find that there is bonus content for this album:

"Presented in a sumptuous gatefold digipak picture sleeve complete with a picture booklet containing extensive sleevenotes by Malcom Dome [Classic Rock magazine] and a plethora of rare and previously unseen photographs and items of memorabilia."

I didn't get this though, as my version was a review version, but it doesn't sound like it'll be worth the extra money. Some people claim to be able to hear the difference between this remaster and the previous ones, but I can't. I don't know if it's me being dense or if these people have spent £1000s on sound equipment, but there's no decipherable difference between the two when played side by side for me.

That's the opinion of someone on the internet who says it's better than the version that was previously considered the best.

Volume 4 holds a special place in my heart as it was my introduction to Black Sabbath. I originally found it when I was going through my dad's record collection and came across the original pressing of this album and was amazed by the little optical illusion on the label that spun as the record went around on the turntable.

I was completely blown away by the album and then went out and listened to all the rest of their stuff, but it was this initial reaction to Volume 4 that stays with me today. I loved the sound of it much more than the sound of the CD version as it had so much warmth to the sound. The richness of the Heavy Metal guitars were more chunky on the vinyl and I loved the sound so much that I got a friend with a superb turntable setup to make a flac recording of the album, so I could listen to it without taking the original copy everywhere and putting it in danger of getting damaged.

Then I see that Volume 4 is available as a remaster to review for Altsounds, and I jump at the chance to hear this reworking of one of my favourite albums, and it must be said that it's far too clean! Heavy Metal is about the grit of the piece, it's about the horror of the thing, and how can you experience this horror with crystal clear highs and smooth lows? I know that Volume 4 was the first album where Black Sabbath embrace a softer style of their music, with such songs as 'Changes' and 'Laguna Sunrise.' They all still sound better to me, with the gruff sound of a needle on wax.

As far as the songs themselves, I can't fault them. Sabbath are classic. They define heavy metal. While there are those that dismiss Volume 4 as the first bad Sabbath album, for it's periods of softer tones and more melodic through lines, I love it the most.

Anyone who loves music, will already know Sabbath, but if you only know the few popular songs, I would very much recommend Volume 4 as an inroad into the specifics of their catalogue. You're not going to be able to get hold of an original vinyl pressing of Black Sabbath Volume 4 for a cheap price, so this new remaster is probably you're best solution for sound quality.