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{{Short description|1990 album by Black Sabbath}}
{{other uses|Tyr (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Tyr (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
Line 10: Line 11:
| released = 20 August 1990
| released = 20 August 1990
| recorded = February–June 1990
| recorded = February–June 1990
⚫
| studio = {{hlist|[[Rockfield Studios|Rockfield]] ([[Rockfield, Monmouthshire|Rockfield]], [[Wales]])|Woodcray (Berkshire, England)}}
⚫
| venue =
⚫
| studio = [[Rockfield Studios]], [[Rockfield, Monmouthshire|Rockfield]], Monmouthshire, Wales<br />Woodcray Studios, Berkshire, England
| genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
| genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
| length = 39:16
| length = 39:10
| label = [[I.R.S. Records|I.R.S.]]
| label = [[I.R.S. Records|I.R.S.]]
| producer = Black Sabbath
| producer = [[Tony Iommi]], [[Cozy Powell]]
| prev_title = [[Headless Cross (album)|Headless Cross]]
| prev_title = [[Headless Cross (album)|Headless Cross]]
| prev_year = 1989
| prev_year = 1989
| next_title = [[Dehumanizer]]
| next_title = [[Dehumanizer]]
| next_year = 1992
| next_year = 1992
| misc = {{Singles
⚫
| name = Tyr
| type = Studio
| single1 = Feels Good to Me
| single1date = 10 September 1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1990/MW-1990-09-08.pdf|title=Music Week|page=37}}</ref>
⚫
}}
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
Line 28: Line 34:
}}
}}


'''''Tyr''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪər}})<ref>[http://m-w.com/dictionary/tyr Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: ''Tyr'']</ref> (stylized as '''ᛏᛉᚱ''') is the fifteenth studio album by English [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Black Sabbath]], released in August 1990 by [[I.R.S. Records]].
'''''Tyr''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪər}})<ref>[http://m-w.com/dictionary/tyr Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: ''Tyr'']</ref> (stylized as '''ᛏᛉᚱ''') is the fifteenth studio album by English [[rock music|rock]] band [[Black Sabbath]], released on 20 August 1990 by [[I.R.S. Records]].


The album title, and several song titles, allude to [[Norse mythology]], which led many to call ''Tyr'' a [[concept album]], although bassist [[Neil Murray (British musician)|Neil Murray]] dispelled that in 2005, stating that while many of the songs may seem loosely related, very little of the album has to do with mythology and it was not intended to be a concept recording.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=4&Number=18870&Searchpage=1&Main=2127&Words=%2Btyr+%2Bconcept+%2Bmurray&topic=0&Search=true#Post18870 | title = Black Sabbath Online Forums: Tyr | access-date = 28 August 2013 | date = 27 December 2001 | publisher = Black Sabbath Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613205053/http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=4&Number=18870&Searchpage=1&Main=2127&Words=%2Btyr+%2Bconcept+%2Bmurray&topic=0&Search=true | archive-date = 13 June 2007}}</ref>
The album title, and several song titles, allude to [[Norse mythology]], which led many to call ''Tyr'' a [[concept album]], although bassist [[Neil Murray (British musician)|Neil Murray]] dispelled that in 2005, stating that while many of the songs may seem loosely related, very little of the album has to do with mythology and it was not intended to be a concept recording.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=4&Number=18870&Searchpage=1&Main=2127&Words=%2Btyr+%2Bconcept+%2Bmurray&topic=0&Search=true#Post18870 | title = Black Sabbath Online Forums: Tyr | access-date = 28 August 2013 | date = 27 December 2001 | publisher = Black Sabbath Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070613205053/http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=4&Number=18870&Searchpage=1&Main=2127&Words=%2Btyr+%2Bconcept+%2Bmurray&topic=0&Search=true | archive-date = 13 June 2007}}</ref>

In 2024, a remaster of the album was announced as part of the box set ''[[Anno Domini 1989–1995]]'', marking the first time the album has been officially reissued.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blabbermouth |title=BLACK SABBATH: Box Set Of TONY MARTIN-Era Recordings, 'Anno Domini 1989-1995', To Arrive In May |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/black-sabbath-box-set-of-tony-martin-era-recordings-anno-domini-1989-1995-to-arrive-in-may |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |publisher=Blabbermouth |access-date=22 March 2024 |language=en |date=21 March 2024}}</ref>


==Album information==
==Album information==
The album's departure from the darker lyrics of ''[[Headless Cross (album)|Headless Cross]]'' was discussed by [[Tony Iommi]] in his 2012 autobiography ''Iron Man'': "For our next album, ''Tyr'', we went back to the Woodcray Studios in February 1990, with me and Cozy producing it again. On ''Headless Cross'', [[Tony Martin (British singer)|Tony [Martin]]] had just come into the band and he assumed, oh, Black Sabbath, it's all about the Devil, so his lyrics were full of the Devil and Satan. It was too much in your face. We told him to be a bit more subtle about it, so for ''Tyr'' he did all these lyrics about Nordic gods and whatnot. It took me a while to get my head around that."<ref name="bio" >{{cite book | last1 = Iommi | first1 = Tony | author-link1 = Tony Iommi | last2 = Lammers | first2 = T. J. | title = Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780306821455 | url-access = registration | chapter = Tyr and tired |publisher = [[Da Capo Press]] | date = 11 December 2012 | location = Cambridge, Massachusetts | isbn = 978-0306821455}}</ref>
The album's departure from the darker lyrics of ''[[Headless Cross (album)|Headless Cross]]'' was discussed by [[Tony Iommi]] in his 2012 autobiography ''Iron Man'': "For our next album, ''Tyr'', we went back to the Woodcray Studios in February 1990, with me and Cozy producing it again. On ''Headless Cross'', [[Tony Martin (British singer)|Tony Martin]] had just come into the band and he assumed, oh, Black Sabbath, it's all about the Devil, so his lyrics were full of the Devil and Satan. It was too much in your face. We told him to be a bit more subtle about it, so for ''Tyr'' he did all these lyrics about Nordic gods and whatnot. It took me a while to get my head around that."<ref name="bio" >{{cite book | last1 = Iommi | first1 = Tony | author-link1 = Tony Iommi | last2 = Lammers | first2 = T. J. | title = Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath | url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780306821455 | url-access = registration | chapter = Tyr and tired |publisher = [[Da Capo Press]] | date = 11 December 2012 | location = Cambridge, Massachusetts | isbn = 978-0306821455}}</ref> The album was originally intended to be titled ''[[The Satanic Verses|Satanic Verses]]'' but ''Tyr'' was chosen instead to disassociate it from the dark themes of the previous album.


This album represents possibly the most dramatic departure from Black Sabbath's traditional sound, with only traces of it found in the occasional riff. The production has been criticised by some (who claim [[Cozy Powell]]'s drums drown out most of the other instruments) and praised by others, who note that this is one of Sabbath's heaviest albums and perhaps the most prominently reliant on keyboards by the perennial fifth member, [[Geoff Nicholls]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=83417&an=&page= | title = Black Sabbath Online Forums | access-date = 28 August 2013 | date = 2006 | publisher = Black Sabbath Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215201/http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=83417&an=&page= | archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> As a result, much of the music is a lot darker than previous Sabbath works, closely resembling the previous album ''[[Headless Cross (album)|Headless Cross]].''
This album represents possibly the most dramatic departure from Black Sabbath's traditional sound, with only traces of it found in the occasional riff. The production has been criticised by some (who claim [[Cozy Powell]]'s drums drown out most of the other instruments) and praised by others, who note that this is one of Sabbath's heaviest albums and perhaps the most prominently reliant on keyboards by the perennial fifth member, [[Geoff Nicholls]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=83417&an=&page= | title = Black Sabbath Online Forums | access-date = 28 August 2013 | date = 2006 | publisher = Black Sabbath Online | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927215201/http://www.black-sabbath.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=83417&an=&page= | archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>


The band have stated that while they do not disown or regret the song "Feels Good to Me", it was put on the album solely to be released as a single and does not fit in musically with the rest of the record.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://tonymartin.net/qanda.html | title = Questions and Answers | access-date = 28 August 2013 | publisher = Tony Martin Official Website | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030409182808/http://tonymartin.net/qanda.html | archive-date = 9 April 2003}}</ref>
The band have stated that while they do not disown or regret the song "Feels Good to Me", it was put on the album solely to be released as a single and does not fit in musically with the rest of the record.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://tonymartin.net/qanda.html | title = Questions and Answers | access-date = 28 August 2013 | publisher = Tony Martin Official Website | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030409182808/http://tonymartin.net/qanda.html | archive-date = 9 April 2003}}</ref> The Tyr tour never made it beyond UK & Europe and consisted of around 50 shows total.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search for setlists: tour:(Tyr) {{!}} setlist.fm |url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?artist=33d6806d&query=tour:(Tyr) |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=www.setlist.fm}}</ref>


[[Geezer Butler]], [[Ian Gillan]] and [[Brian May]] made guest appearances on the European leg of the Tyr tour; Butler and May appearing during the encore of the show performed on 8 September 1990 at the [[Hammersmith Odeon]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|author=MattCake|url=http://www.black-sabbath.com/tourdates/1990tour/ |title=Black Sabbath Online: Tyr – Tour Dates 1990 |publisher=Black-sabbath.com |access-date=3 August 2011}}</ref>
[[Geezer Butler]], [[Ian Gillan]] and [[Brian May]] made guest appearances on the European leg of the Tyr tour; Butler and May appearing during the encore of the show performed on 8 September 1990 at the [[Hammersmith Odeon]] in London.<ref>{{cite web |author=MattCake |url=http://www.black-sabbath.com/tourdates/1990tour/ |title=Black Sabbath Online: Tyr – Tour Dates 1990 |publisher=Black-sabbath.com |access-date=3 August 2011 |archive-date=20 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820205701/http://www.black-sabbath.com/tourdates/1990tour/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In Norse mythology, [[Týr]] is the god of single combat and heroic glory, and the son of [[Odin]]. The [[runes]] on the cover, '''[[Tiwaz (rune)|ᛏ]]''', '''[[Algiz|ᛉ]]''', and '''[[Raido|ᚱ]]''' are taken from the [[Rök runestone]] in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.black-sabbath.com/discography/blacksabbath/tyr/ |title=Black Sabbath Online: Tyr |publisher=Black-sabbath.com |access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref> The middle rune, [[algiz]], is transcribed as the modern letter ''x'' or ''z'', not ''y''.
In Norse mythology, [[Týr]] is the god of single combat and heroic glory, and the son of [[Odin]]. The [[runes]] on the cover, '''[[Tiwaz (rune)|ᛏ]]''', '''[[Algiz|ᛉ]]''', and '''[[Raido|ᚱ]]''' are taken from the [[Rök runestone]] in Sweden.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.black-sabbath.com/discography/blacksabbath/tyr/ |title=Black Sabbath Online: Tyr |publisher=Black-sabbath.com |access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref> The middle rune, [[algiz]], is transcribed as the modern letter ''x'' or ''z'', not ''y''.


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
The only track to feature on post-''Tyr'' tours was "Anno Mundi", e.g. on the ''[[Cross Purposes Live]]'' VHS/DVD. Tony Martin re-recorded "Jerusalem" for his 1992 solo album ''[[Back Where I Belong]]''. The Black Sabbath line-up that recorded ''Tyr'' would reunite to record their eighteenth studio album, ''[[Forbidden (Black Sabbath album)|Forbidden]]'', in 1995. Frontman [[Heri Joensen]] of [[Viking metal]] band [[Týr (band)|Týr]] claims to have been influenced by the album cover when designing his own band's logo.
The only track to feature on post-''Tyr'' tours was "Anno Mundi", e.g. on the ''[[Cross Purposes Live]]'' VHS/DVD. Tony Martin re-recorded "Jerusalem" for his 1992 solo album ''[[Back Where I Belong (Tony Martin album)|Back Where I Belong]]''. The Black Sabbath line-up that recorded ''Tyr'' would reunite to record their eighteenth studio album, ''[[Forbidden (Black Sabbath album)|Forbidden]]'', in 1995. Frontman [[Heri Joensen]] of [[Viking metal]] band [[Týr (band)|Týr]] claims to have been influenced by the album cover when designing his own band's logo.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
{{tracklist
{{tracklist
| headline = Standard Edition
| headline = Standard edition
| all_lyrics = [[Tony Martin (British singer)|Tony Martin]]
| all_music = Tony Iommi, Tony Martin, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Geoff Nicholls
⚫
| all_music = [[Black Sabbath]]
| title1 = Anno Mundi
| title1 = Anno Mundi
| length1 = 6:12
| length1 = 6:12
| title2 = The Law Maker
| title2 = The Law Maker
| length2 = 3:55
| length2 = 3:53
| title3 = Jerusalem
| title3 = Jerusalem
| length3 = 4:00
| length3 = 3:59
| title4 = The Sabbath Stones
| title4 = The Sabbath Stones
| length4 = 6:48
| length4 = 6:46
| title5 = The Battle of Tyr
| title5 = The Battle of Tyr
| note5 = Instrumental
| note5 = instrumental
| length5 = 1:09
| length5 = 1:08
| title6 = Odin's Court
| title6 = Odin's Court
| length6 = 2:42
| length6 = 2:42
| title7 = Valhalla
| title7 = Valhalla
| length7 = 4:43
| length7 = 4:41
| title8 = Feels Good to Me
| title8 = Feels Good to Me
| length8 = 5:44
| length8 = 5:44
| title9 = Heaven in Black
| title9 = Heaven in Black
| length9 = 4:05
| length9 = 4:05
| total_length = 39:16
| total_length = 39:10
}}
}}


{{tracklist
{{tracklist
| headline = Feels Good to Me Maxi Single Track Listing
| headline = "Feels Good to Me" maxi single track listing
| title1 = Feels Good to Me (Edit)
| title1 = Feels Good to Me (Edit)
| length1 = 4:41
| length1 = 4:41
Line 81: Line 88:
| title3 = Paranoid (Live)
| title3 = Paranoid (Live)
| length3 = 4:13
| length3 = 4:13
}}The live tracks on this single were recorded at the [[Olympic Hall|Olimpiski Hall]] in [[Moscow]], [[Soviet Union]], in November 1989.<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/2175134-Black-Sabbath-Feels-Good-To-Me {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
⚫
}}


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
⚫
;Black Sabbath
*[[Tony Iommi]] – lead, rhythm & [[acoustic guitar]]s, production
*[[Cozy Powell]] – drums, percussion, production
* [[Tony Iommi]] – guitars, production
* [[Cozy Powell]] – drums, production
*[[Tony Martin (British singer)|Tony Martin]] – lead & backing vocals
*[[Neil Murray (British musician)|Neil Murray]] – bass
* [[Tony Martin (British singer)|Tony Martin]] – vocals
* [[Neil Murray (British musician)|Neil Murray]] – bass
⚫
*[[Geoff Nicholls]] – keyboards


===Additional personnel===
;Additional musician
⚫
* [[Geoff Nicholls]] – keyboards
⚫
* Sean Lynch – [[Audio engineer|engineering]]
⚫
* Leif Mases – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
⚫
* Tony Cousins – [[Mastering engineer|mastering]]


;Technical personnel
⚫
==Release history==
⚫
* Sean Lynch – engineering
⚫
* Leif Mases – mixing
⚫
* Tony Cousins – mastering


⚫
==Release history==
⚫
1990: ''IRS EIRSA-1038'', UK, vinyl<br>
1990: ''IRS EIRSACV1038'', UK, picture disc<br>
1990: ''IRS EIRSA-1038'', UK, vinyl<br />
1990: ''IRS 1C-064-24-1070-1'', EU, vinyl<br>
1990: ''IRS EIRSACV1038'', UK, picture disc<br />
1990: ''IRS 24-1070-2'', UK / EU, CD<br>
1990: ''IRS 1C-064-24-1070-1'', EU, vinyl<br />
1990: ''IRS X2-13049'', US, CD<br>
1990: ''IRS 24-1070-2'', UK / EU, CD<br />
⚫
1990: ''IRS X2-13049'', US, CD<br />
1999: ''EMI 07243-5-21298-2-9'', EU, CD
1999: ''EMI 07243-5-21298-2-9'', EU, CD


==Charts==
==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
⚫
!scope="col"|Chart (1990)
⚫
!scope="col"|Peak<br>position
|-
|-
⚫
! Chart (1990)
!scope="row"|Austrian Albums ([[Ö3 Austria Top 40|Ö3 Austria]])<ref name="AUT">{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Tyr&cat=a|title=Black Sabbath - Tyr|publisher=Hung Medien|language=de|access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
⚫
! Peak<br />position
|align="center"|24
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Austria|24|artist=Black Sabbath|album= Tyr|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}
!scope="row"|[[Album Top 100|Dutch Albums]] ([[Dutch Charts|Album Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Tyr&cat=a|title=Black Sabbath - Tyr|publisher=Hung Medien|language=nl|access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|77
|-
|-
{{Album chart|Netherlands|77|artist=Black Sabbath|album= Tyr|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}
!scope="row"|German Albums ([[GfK Entertainment charts|Offizielle Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-1110|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts|publisher=offiziellecharts.de|language=de|access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|12
|-
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name=FINI>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | language= fi}}</ref>
!scope="row"|Swedish Albums ([[Sverigetopplistan]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Tyr&cat=a|title=Black Sabbath - Tyr|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
|align="center"|24
| align="center"| 15
|-
|-
!scope="row"|Swiss Albums ([[Swiss Hitparade|Schweizer Hitparade]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/album/Black-Sabbath/Tyr-1110|title=Black Sabbath - Tyr|publisher=Hung Medien|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
{{Album chart|Germany4|12|artist=Black Sabbath|album= Tyr|id=1110|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}
|align="center"|24
|-
|-
!scope="row"|[[UK Albums Chart|UK Albums]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/14136/black-sabbath/|title=Black Sabbath {{!}} full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=October 25, 2021}}</ref>
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
|align="center"|24
| align="center"| 57
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|24|artist=Black Sabbath|album= Tyr|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Switzerland|24|artist=Black Sabbath|album= Tyr|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|24|date=19900826|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 30, 2023}}
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs master|type=album|37596|name=Tyr}}


{{Black Sabbath}}
{{Black Sabbath}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyr (Album)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyr (Album)}}
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:1990 albums]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Rockfield Studios]]
[[Category:Black Sabbath albums]]
[[Category:Black Sabbath albums]]
[[Category:I.R.S. Records albums]]
[[Category:I.R.S. Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums recorded at Rockfield Studios]]
[[Category:Norse mythology in music]]

Latest revision as of 12:58, 19 August 2024

For other uses, see Tyr (disambiguation).

Tyr
Studio album by
Black Sabbath
Released20 August 1990
RecordedFebruary–June 1990
Studio
GenreHeavy metal
Length39:10
LabelI.R.S.
ProducerTony Iommi, Cozy Powell
Black Sabbath chronology
Headless Cross
(1989) 		Tyr
(1990) 		Dehumanizer
(1992)
Singles from Tyr
  1. "Feels Good to Me"
    Released: 10 September 1990[1]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]

Tyr (/ˈtɪər/)[4] (stylized as ᛏᛉᚱ) is the fifteenth studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released on 20 August 1990 by I.R.S. Records.

The album title, and several song titles, allude to Norse mythology, which led many to call Tyr a concept album, although bassist Neil Murray dispelled that in 2005, stating that while many of the songs may seem loosely related, very little of the album has to do with mythology and it was not intended to be a concept recording.[5]

In 2024, a remaster of the album was announced as part of the box set Anno Domini 1989–1995, marking the first time the album has been officially reissued.[6]

Album information

[edit]

The album's departure from the darker lyrics of Headless Cross was discussed by Tony Iommi in his 2012 autobiography Iron Man: "For our next album, Tyr, we went back to the Woodcray Studios in February 1990, with me and Cozy producing it again. On Headless Cross, Tony Martin had just come into the band and he assumed, oh, Black Sabbath, it's all about the Devil, so his lyrics were full of the Devil and Satan. It was too much in your face. We told him to be a bit more subtle about it, so for Tyr he did all these lyrics about Nordic gods and whatnot. It took me a while to get my head around that."[7] The album was originally intended to be titled Satanic Verses but Tyr was chosen instead to disassociate it from the dark themes of the previous album.

This album represents possibly the most dramatic departure from Black Sabbath's traditional sound, with only traces of it found in the occasional riff. The production has been criticised by some (who claim Cozy Powell's drums drown out most of the other instruments) and praised by others, who note that this is one of Sabbath's heaviest albums and perhaps the most prominently reliant on keyboards by the perennial fifth member, Geoff Nicholls.[8]

The band have stated that while they do not disown or regret the song "Feels Good to Me", it was put on the album solely to be released as a single and does not fit in musically with the rest of the record.[9] The Tyr tour never made it beyond UK & Europe and consisted of around 50 shows total.[10]

Geezer Butler, Ian Gillan and Brian May made guest appearances on the European leg of the Tyr tour; Butler and May appearing during the encore of the show performed on 8 September 1990 at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.[11]

In Norse mythology, Týr is the god of single combat and heroic glory, and the son of Odin. The runes on the cover, ᛏ, ᛉ, and ᚱ are taken from the Rök runestone in Sweden.[12] The middle rune, algiz, is transcribed as the modern letter x or z, not y.

Legacy

[edit]

The only track to feature on post-Tyr tours was "Anno Mundi", e.g. on the Cross Purposes Live VHS/DVD. Tony Martin re-recorded "Jerusalem" for his 1992 solo album Back Where I Belong. The Black Sabbath line-up that recorded Tyr would reunite to record their eighteenth studio album, Forbidden, in 1995. Frontman Heri Joensen of Viking metal band Týr claims to have been influenced by the album cover when designing his own band's logo.

Track listing

[edit]

All music is composed by Tony Iommi, Tony Martin, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Geoff Nicholls

Standard edition
No.TitelLength
1."Anno Mundi"6:12
2."The Law Maker"3:53
3."Jerusalem"3:59
4."The Sabbath Stones"6:46
5."The Battle of Tyr" (instrumental)1:08
6."Odin's Court"2:42
7."Valhalla"4:41
8."Feels Good to Me"5:44
9."Heaven in Black"4:05
Total length:39:10
"Feels Good to Me" maxi single track listing
No.TitelLength
1."Feels Good to Me (Edit)"4:41
2."Heaven and Hell (Live)"9:44
3."Paranoid (Live)"4:13

The live tracks on this single were recorded at the Olimpiski Hall in Moscow, Soviet Union, in November 1989.[13]

Personnel

[edit]
Black Sabbath
Additional musician
Technical personnel
  • Sean Lynch – engineering
  • Leif Mases – mixing
  • Tony Cousins – mastering

Release history

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1990: IRS EIRSA-1038, UK, vinyl
1990: IRS EIRSACV1038, UK, picture disc
1990: IRS 1C-064-24-1070-1, EU, vinyl
1990: IRS 24-1070-2, UK / EU, CD
1990: IRS X2-13049, US, CD
1999: EMI 07243-5-21298-2-9, EU, CD

Charts

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Chart (1990) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[15] 77
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)[16] 15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 12
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[18] 57
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 24
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 24
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 24

References

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  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 37.
  2. ^ Chrispell, James. "TYR – Black Sabbath". AllMusic. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Black Sabbath: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 27 April 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  4. ^ Merriam Webster Online Dictionary: Tyr
  5. ^ "Black Sabbath Online Forums: Tyr". Black Sabbath Online. 27 December 2001. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  6. ^ Blabbermouth (21 March 2024). "BLACK SABBATH: Box Set Of TONY MARTIN-Era Recordings, 'Anno Domini 1989-1995', To Arrive In May". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Blabbermouth. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^ Iommi, Tony; Lammers, T. J. (11 December 2012). "Tyr and tired". Iron Man: My Journey through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0306821455.
  8. ^ "Black Sabbath Online Forums". Black Sabbath Online. 2006. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  9. ^ "Questions and Answers". Tony Martin Official Website. Archived from the original on 9 April 2003. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Search for setlists: tour:(Tyr) | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  11. ^ MattCake. "Black Sabbath Online: Tyr – Tour Dates 1990". Black-sabbath.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Black Sabbath Online: Tyr". Black-sabbath.com. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  13. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/2175134-Black-Sabbath-Feels-Good-To-Me [bare URL]
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Black Sabbath – Tyr" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Black Sabbath – Tyr" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Black Sabbath – Tyr" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  19. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Black Sabbath – Tyr". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Black Sabbath – Tyr". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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