Black Sabbath’s ’13’ Named Album of the Year

Revolver Magazine have officially named Black Sabbath’s “13” as the album of the year in their annual Top 20 list of rock and metal releases.

Deafheaven claimed the second spot with “Sunbather”, as revealed by the band itself through Twitter, while the rest of the list will be revealed soon in the magazine’s upcoming issue.

Revolver’s previous top picks included Deftones’ “Koi No Yokan” last year and Korn’s “The Path of Totality” back in 2011. As for “13,” the album dropped on June 10 via Vertigo Records as the metal icons’ nineteenth studio effort and the first one to feature Ozzy Osbourne on vocals since 1978’s “Never Say Die.” Produced by Rick Rubin, the album was also marked with the absence of drummer Bill Ward, who was replaced in the studio by Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine.

“13” topped the charts in nine countries around the globe, including both UK and the US, earning Sabbath their very first Billboard 200 chart-topper with 155,000 units shipped within the first week. As far as the UK is considered, the 43-year gap between their previous No. 1 album, 1970’s “Paranoid,” meant yet another record for the metal pioneers as the longest period between the two chart-toppers.

The album’s chart success came as a surprise to Ozzy, who nevertheless praised the effort as a “masterpiece.” “I’m my own worst critic,” he told the West Australian back in late April. “Rather than the pluses I look for the minuses. And I haven’t been this excited for an album in a long, long time. I can’t remember the last time.”

The record generally garnered critical acclaim and kudos from the fans, but was still somewhat frowned upon by some due to Ward’s absence. Among others, such statements were made by Devin Townsend who claimed that he couldn’t listen to the effort as the “drums are distracting.”