Black Sabbath Dehumanizer | Demos !!top!!

The Black Sabbath Dehumanizer demos represent a fascinating, turbulent chapter in the band's history, capturing a transitional period that eventually reunited the iconic Mob Rules lineup. These recordings, which have circulated as bootlegs for decades, provide a raw look at the evolution of one of heavy metal's heaviest and darkest albums. The Context: A Band in Flux

In late 1990 and early 1991, Black Sabbath was undergoing a significant shift. After a period fronted by Tony Martin, guitarist Tony Iommi and original bassist Geezer Butler began working together for the first time in nearly a decade.

Initial writing and demo sessions took place at Rich Bitch Studios in Birmingham. The lineup at this early stage was: Tony Iommi: Guitar Geezer Butler: Bass Cozy Powell: Drums Ronnie James Dio: Vocals (joined mid-process) Key Demo Phases and Recordings

The Dehumanizer development process is notable for its different iterations, many of which were captured on tape and later leaked as bootlegs.

The Cozy Powell Sessions: Powell was the original drummer for the project. However, during rehearsals, he suffered a severe injury when his horse died and collapsed on him, breaking his hip. He was replaced by Vinny Appice, which effectively reunited the Mob Rules era lineup. Demos with Powell exist for several tracks, including early versions of "Letters from Earth" and "Computer God".

The Tony Martin Demos: In a surprising twist, Tony Martin was briefly brought back into the fold when personality conflicts between the band and Dio surfaced. Martin reportedly recorded vocals for several Dehumanizer tracks at Monnow Valley Studios, though these recordings have largely remained unreleased and shelved. Martin later noted that he felt the material needed a total rewrite, which the band did not have time for at the time.

Evolution of "Computer God": One of the most famous pieces of trivia regarding the demos is that "Computer God" actually originated from a 1986 demo session for the Geezer Butler Band. While it shares the same title as the final Sabbath track, the early version bears almost no musical resemblance to the crushing, industrial-tinged opener on the final album. Notable Bootleg Tracklists

Bootleg collections such as The Dehumanizer Demos or Rehearsals 1991-1992 often feature a mix of instrumental jams and rough vocal takes: YouTube·Boots Bloody Boots

3. "I" (Demo)

Final album track length: 5:10 | Demo length: 5:58 black sabbath dehumanizer demos

The single "I" was Black Sabbath’s defiant middle finger to the press and the music industry. The demo version is even angrier. The tempo is noticeably faster—almost punk rock aggression. Ozzy ad-libs the chorus, shouting "I... am... ME!" with a ferocity missing from the polished final.

There is a midsection breakdown that was cut entirely from the album. For 45 seconds, the band locks into a doom-laced, proto-stoner groove that sounds more like Sleep than Black Sabbath. It’s slow, filthy, and repetitive. Why it was removed is a mystery; it turns a standard rocker into an epic journey.

Sonic Comparison: Demo vs. Final Album

Why would a fan seek out the demos when the final Dehumanizer sounds so good?

The demos are not “better” than the final album; they are truer to the spirit of the original Black Sabbath. Dehumanizer the album is a fortress: thick walls, impregnable. Dehumanizer the demos are the quarry: raw stone, dust, and the sound of hammers swinging.

2. "After All (The Dead)" (Demo)

Final album track length: 5:37 | Demo length: 6:01

This track, about the ghostly weight of past sins, benefits most from the demo’s rawness. The final album version uses eerie keyboard washes and a clean guitar intro to set a haunted mood. The demo begins with Iommi’s amp humming. No effects. Just the sound of a Les Paul plugged straight into a Laney stack.

When the main riff hits, it’s devastatingly dry. Bill Ward’s snare cracks like a gunshot. Geezer’s bass walks freely, almost improvised, under the verses. Ozzy’s vocal take is a single, unedited pass. You can hear him breathing, hear the saliva in his mouth. It’s uncomfortably intimate. The final outro, which fades on the album, rings out naturally here until the last string decays into feedback. The Black Sabbath Dehumanizer demos represent a fascinating,

Summary for Collectors

If you are looking for this content on trading circles or bootleg sites, look for:

Source: Rockfield Studios, Wales (Late 1991).
Format: Often distributed in FLAC or high-quality MP3.
Key Tracks: "Computer God" (Early/Demo), "Master of Insanity" (Demo/Alt Lyrics), "The Unknown" (Instrumental Outtake), and the "Time Machine" (Wayne’s World Version).

The 1992 Dehumanizer demos showcase a tumultuous era for Black Sabbath, featuring early "Rich Bitch" sessions with drummer Cozy Powell that yielded a rawer sound and unreleased tracks. These recordings also highlight a pivotal, alternate lineup with vocalist Tony Martin, offering a unique glimpse into the creative process before the final Dio-led sessions. Read the full article at the Complete Black Sabbath Community.

The demos for Black Sabbath's 1992 album Dehumanizer represent a fascinating period of creative tension, featuring multiple vocalists and a legendary drummer who never made it to the final studio recording. 📀 The Cozy Powell Sessions

The most significant aspect of the Dehumanizer demos is the involvement of drummer Cozy Powell. He was the band's drummer during the writing and rehearsal phase but was forced to leave after a horse riding accident broke his pelvis.

The Lineup: These demos feature the heavy-hitting team of Tony Iommi (Guitar), Geezer Butler (Bass), Cozy Powell (Drums), and Ronnie James Dio (Vocals).

Key Tracks: Bootlegs like The Dehumanizer Demos (a limited 3-CD release from Japan) include multiple takes of "Computer God," "Letters From Earth," and "Master of Insanity".

Unreleased Material: Fans often highlight "The Next Time," an unreleased song from these sessions that eventually evolved into "Psychophobia" for the later Cross Purposes album. 🎤 The Tony Martin Demos

While Dehumanizer is famous for reuniting the Mob Rules lineup, Tony Martin Source: Rockfield Studios, Wales (Late 1991)

(who was the singer before and after this period) confirmed he recorded demo vocals for the album.

Purpose: Martin was brought in briefly during a period of friction between Iommi and Dio to see if he could "smooth over" the vocal tracks or potentially replace Dio if the reunion failed.

Raising Hell: One specific track, "Raising Hell," was an instrumental demo from these sessions that Martin later re-recorded for his solo album Scream. 🧪 Origins of "Computer God" and "Master of Insanity"

Interestingly, some of the Dehumanizer material originated outside the main Sabbath sessions:

The Geezer Butler Band: Demos from 1986 reveal that "Computer God" and "Master of Insanity" were originally Geezer Butler solo tracks featuring vocalist Carl Sentance.

Evolution: These tracks were reworked with Iommi's riffs to become the dark, industrial-tinged staples found on the final record.

Listen to the rare rehearsal tapes featuring Cozy Powell and early versions of the album's tracks: