Black Sabbath – Mob Rules

Fantastic pressing, feels like it's all there in abundance.. high end is clear, low end can be brought up for a perfect balance, it's bright but not overly just feels much more hifi than the UK OG pressing which I own, the record itself has a lovely deep and shiny black which indicates virgin vinyl. I have a few of these spaceship dutch sabbath pressings inc Heaven and Hell which is also the best pressing of that album I have.. try and find nr mint copies.. !

I am truly disappointed with this release. While Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham mastering work is likely excellent, the actual vinyl production is a disaster.

The Issues:

Disc 2: My copy suffers from significant non-fill issues. Furthermore, the sound feels muffled and compressed across almost every track. On a high-end setup (MicroLinear stylus + Little Dot III + DT 880 Pro 600 ohm), these flaws are impossible to ignore.

Disc 1: The surface noise is embarrassing for a modern premium reissue. It’s baffling how Rhino can produce the "Rhino High Fidelity" series—which is flawless—and then allow a "shambles" like this to hit the shelves. I have 50-year-old used copies that play quieter than this "new" record.

The Logistics Problem:
For those of us buying imports, returns aren't just about the money; they are a logistical nightmare. When vinyl is no longer a mass-market commodity but a boutique product, Quality Control (QC) should be the priority. We aren't in the 70s anymore; if you print fewer copies, you should ensure they are perfect.

Conclusion:
I was planning to pick up the 2021 Rhino editions of Heaven and Hell and the Barresi remix of Holy Diver, but since they are also pressed at GZ Media, I’ll be staying far away.

Sounds great for an "EPIC" record. If Ozzy hadn't of hit it out of the park with Diary Of A Madman this album would get a lot more respect. Dio saved Sabbath.

Dope pressing. Great low end on this one. Very underrated record, a bit overshadowed by Heaven & Hell, but it’s just as excellent.

The Hammersmith gig is absolutely stunning!!
Absolute perfection.
This is currently the cheapest way to get the Hammersmith gig and anyone who is a hard rock fan absolutely needs this.
Iron Man and War Pigs are better than the versions on live evil in my opinion, Dio performs them with much more conviction here.
Vinnie supplies bonham-esque power on the drums

I luv Ozzy but...hate to say it Dio was such a better metal vocalist.
Possibly didn't quite fit the Sabbath mold but one hell of a singer.
Great album, Dio appeared to bring out the best in the bands playing.

Great pressing. Picked it up for £20 and really pleased with how solid and quiet it sounds. RJD vocals really shine through. Recommended.

Just clean the records and noticing Side 3 has been pressed with a Heaven & Hell label. Didn’t played yet, I will update some sounds consideration later.

Highly recommended. This original
CD version of Mob Rules sounds amazing, very dynamic and extremely close to the vinyl version (and in certain EQ aspects sounds better). Big, warm and beautiful. Completely different experience than the original Heaven and Hell CD version which is bright and thin compared to the vinyl.

I returned my first copy because it had groove damage on side 2 - you could see it visibly. Sections were super distorted when played. Amazon sent me a second copy and the same thing was present. Side 2, starting with the second song. Amazon would not send me a third copy so I just got refunded instead. Shame. It was really sounding nice.