After Forever (song)
"After Forever" | |
---|---|
Song by Black Sabbath | |
from the album Master of Reality | |
A-side | "Sweet Leaf"[1] |
Released | August 1971 |
Recorded | 1971 |
Genre | |
Length | 5:27 |
Label | Phillips[1] |
Songwriter(s) | Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler |
Producer(s) | Rodger Bain and Black Sabbath |
"After Forever" is a song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. The song was released on their third studio album Master of Reality and as the B-side to the single "Sweet Leaf" in 1971. The lyrics were written by Geezer Butler while the music was written by Tony Iommi.
History[edit]
Although the album jacket credits Iommi alone as the composer of this song (including lyrics), the Black Sabbath Black Box Set refutes the album jacket credit and gives credit to this song (along with "Orchid" and "Embryo") to all four band members in keeping with their wishes to remain a democratic band.
The lyrics of "After Forever," written by Geezer Butler,[2] who was brought up strictly Catholic, focus entirely on Christian themes.[3] At the time, some such as religious and conservative groups viewed Black Sabbath as Satanists (which the band had consistently denied) due to their dark sound, image and lyrics, with occultism and horror as a recurring theme.
Covers[edit]
- "After Forever" has been covered by Biohazard for Nativity in Black, a Black Sabbath tribute album.[4]
- Aurora Borealis for Hell Rules: Tribute to Black Sabbath, Vol. 2.
- Deliverance on their 1992 album What a Joke.
- Shelter on their 1992 album Quest for Certainty.
- Frost Like Ashes on their debut EP Pure As the Blood Covered Snow.
- Troglodyte Dawn with rewritten lyrics and titled "Forever After" on their 2003 debut album Troglodyte Dawn.
- Stryper have recorded the song for their 2015 album Fallen.[5] It was mistakenly released early as a free download for people pre-ordering the album.[citation needed]
Personnel[edit]
- Ozzy Osbourne – vocals
- Tony Iommi – guitar, synthesizer
- Geezer Butler – bass guitar
- Bill Ward – drums
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Black Sabbath Phillipines 7"Discography". Platesamleren. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978) (Media notes). Black Sabbath. Rhino Records. 2004.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Blabbermouth.net". 10 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
- ^ Siegler, Joe (12 February 2009). "'After Forever' Cover by Bio Hazard". Black-Sabbath.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
- ^ "STRYPER's Cover Version of BLACK SABBATH's 'After Forever' Available For Streaming". www.blabbermouth.com. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.