"After Forever" is a song by English rock band Black Sabbath. The song was released on their third studio album Master of Reality in 1971, the lyrics were written by Geezer Butler while the music was written by Tony Iommi.
| "After Forever" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Black Sabbath | |
| from the album Master of Reality | |
| Released | August 1971 |
| Recorded | 1971 |
| Genre | Heavy metal, Christian metal |
| Length | 5:27 |
| Label | Warner Bros. |
| Songwriter(s) | Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler |
| Producer(s) | Rodger Bain and Black Sabbath |
History edit
The lyrics of the song "After Forever", written by Geezer Butler,[1] who was brought up strictly Catholic, focus entirely on Christian themes according to some historians.[2] 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. 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. "After Forever" was released as a single along with "Fairies Wear Boots" in 1971.[3][4]
Covers edit
- "After Forever" has been covered by Biohazard for Nativity in Black, a Black Sabbath tribute album.[5]
- 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.[6] It was mistakenly released early as a free download for people pre-ordering the album.[citation needed]
Personnel edit
- Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals
- Tony Iommi – guitar, synthesizer
- Geezer Butler – bass guitar
- Bill Ward – drums
References edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ "BLACK SABBATH DISCOGRAPHY v.5.0". Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ ""After Forever" single cover". Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ 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.