From the Underground and Below

From the Underground and Below, the ninth album, came out in September 1997 on CMC International in the United States as 06076 86219-2 and on Steamhammer/SPV in Germany. It was recorded and mixed at Carriage House Studios in Stamford in June and July that year and produced by the band, who brought in Colin Richardson to mix for the first time. He would work with them again on Bloodletting, Killbox 13 and, in 2023, Scorched. Ellsworth says Richardson's mix made it their Black Sabbath Vol. 4. In Japan it was introduced as an ambitious record that took in the grunge and alternative textures of the scene of the day to make a heavier, harder sound. "Long Time Dyin'", with its bluesy feel, stayed in their live set for years. The booklet spells out track six, "F.U.C.T.", as "First Underground Commission on Termination". The Japanese edition (VICP-60155) came out on Victor Entertainment on 21 November 1997 with a cover of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'" added. The running order here is the original's as printed.