Black Sabbath Rocks Back Onto The Charts With Multiple Fan Favorites

This summer was a difficult time for fans of both Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne. The band played one final show in its hometown of Birmingham, England, announcing that the musicians were saying goodbye for good. That turned out to be an incredibly poignant concert, as Osbourne passed away just a short time later.

One of the founders of heavy metal and one of the most beloved characters in rock history, millions mourned Osbourne’s death, and the music of both Black Sabbath and his own solo work have been rising and falling on charts everywhere – and especially in the United Kingdom – in the months since.

It is another big week for Black Sabbath in the U.K., as one of the band’s most famous albums becomes a bestseller again, while several projects return together in one more in a long line of impressive displays of dedication for the outfit.

Black Sabbath’s Paranoid Returns to Multiple Charts at the Same Time

For Black Sabbath at the moment, Paranoid is the top winner. The full-length, which is regarded as one of the most celebrated in not only the band’s discography, but in heavy metal history, reenters two U.K. lists. Paranoid returns at No. 74 on the Official Physical Albums chart and three spaces below that mark on the Official Albums Sales tally.

The Lifespan of Black Sabbath’s Paranoid Album

The album Paranoid has experienced very different lives on the two rosters it finds its way back to this week in the U.K. The set debuted on the Official Physical Albums chart back in 2002, but it needed 18 years to reach the Official Albums Sales list, which is more competitive. So far, the title has peaked inside the top 20 on both rankings, and is up to 18 stays on the general sales tally and 31 on the physical-focused chart.

Paranoid, like so many other Black Sabbath and Osbourne titles, broke back onto both charts in July, around the time of the farewell concert, and held on for more than a month. The project spiked first due to the intense media coverage, and then again after the tragic news of the rock icon’s passing spread around the world.

Black Sabbath and Master of Reality Return to the Charts

Two other Black Sabbath collections find their way back to a prominent genre-specific ranking, one that both Osbourne and the band dominated in the weeks following his death. The outfit’s self-titled effort is back at No. 13, while Master of Reality sneaks back in at No. 30.

Black Sabbath Claims Multiple Rock Bestsellers

Black Sabbath fills four spaces on the 40-rung Official Rock & Metal Albums chart, the list that looks only at bestselling releases throughout the U.K. that fit those genre labels. As Black Sabbath and Master of Reality return, Paranoid shoots from No. 34 to No. 6, while The Ultimate Collection also leaps back into the uppermost tier, ascending from No. 15 to No. 10.

The Ultimate Collection Helps Black Sabbath Stay Visible

The Ultimate Collection can be found on three rankings – the same number as Paranoid – and there is some overlap with other Black Sabbath releases in each case. In addition to its rise into the upper region of the key rock and metal list, the compilation also lives in the lowest positions on two sales rosters, coming in well over a dozen spots beneath where Paranoid reenters.

Black Sabbath’s Long History of Genre Domination

Throughout the years, Black Sabbath racked up four champions on the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. Of the band’s four titles that appear this frame, just one, Master of Reality, has taken a turn running the show. The band also led with Iron Man – The Best Of, 13, and Anno Domini – 1989–1995.

Paranoid peaked in the runner-up spot on that genre-specific roster, while both The Ultimate Collection and Black Sabbath (the full length) rose as high as No. 3 and are included in the band’s long list of top 10 bestselling releases.

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