What does The End sound like?

A somber farewell filled with heavy riffs and reflective lyrics, echoing the band's legacy and finality. Rooted in hard rock and heavy metal. Start with "Season of the Dead".

Is The End a good place to start with Black Sabbath?

Yes, The End is recommended as a starting point for new Black Sabbath listeners. A somber farewell filled with heavy riffs and reflective lyrics, echoing the band's legacy and finality. Released on January 20, 2016, The End is Black Sabbath's final studio recording, marking an end to their iconic career. This EP follows their last studio album, 13, which was released in 2013 and saw the original lineup reuniting for the first time since 1978. The release of The End coincided with their farewell tour, cementing their status as pioneers of heavy metal.

The End works well if you're into steady mid-tempo reflective journey, haunting atmosphere for introspection and live recordings enhance emotional weight.

How many songs are on The End?

The End has 8 tracks, running approximately 54 minutes.

Released 10 years ago

The End

Black Sabbath · 2016

54 min · 8 tracks · hard rock

A somber farewell filled with heavy riffs and reflective lyrics, echoing the band's legacy and finality.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Season of the Dead Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
→
God Is Dead? (live) — This live rendition captures the band's signature blend of heaviness and philosophical inquiry, making it a fitting centerpiece for their swan song.
→
End of the Beginning (live) — Opening with a slow, brooding intensity, this track represents both a thematic and musical culmination of Black Sabbath's legacy.
→
Cry All Night — With its emotive lyrics and haunting melodies, this track exemplifies the reflective nature of the EP while showcasing Ozzy Osbourne's vocal prowess.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The EP combines studio and live tracks, showcasing Black Sabbath's legacy with a consistent heavy sound.

What we noticed

The first four tracks are studio recordings, while the last four are live versions of previously released songs.
The EP opens with a slow tempo and maintains a heavy, somber tone throughout, emphasizing reflective lyrics.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo reflective journey
haunting atmosphere for introspection
live recordings enhance emotional weight
suitable for late-night solitude

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat, fast-paced songs
prefer short, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — This EP marks a poignant conclusion to Black Sabbath's iconic career.
Themes: final farewell· heavy metal legacy
Career context: Released on January 20, 2016, The End is Black Sabbath's final studio recording, marking an end to their iconic career. This EP follows their last studio album, 13, which was released in 2013 and saw the original lineup reuniting for the first time since 1978. The release of The End coincided with their farewell tour, cementing their status as pioneers of heavy metal.
Stylistic neighbors: Candlemass· Electric Wizard· Pentagram