Black Sabbath: The End appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 2.35:1 on this 4K UHD Disc. This became a strong presentation.
Sharpness excelled. Outside of some intentionally blurry elements, the show offered solid definition, as the shots looked crisp and distinctive.
No issues with jagged edges or shimmering appeared, and edge enhancement failed to appear. As for print defects, I saw no issues in that regard.
Like most concert movies, most of the colors stemmed from lighting, as the musicians wore dark clothes. With an emphasis on purple and red, the hues looked lively and vivid, and HDR gave the tones extra impact.
Blacks were tight and deep, while shadows were positive. A couple of crowd shots seemed a smidgen too dark, but I didn’t mind those, as they were inevitable and not a big deal.
HDR brought greater emphasis to contrast. Everything about the image satisfied.
Though not quite as good, I still liked the film’s DTS-HD MA 5.1. As we often find for live presentations, much of the audio remained mostly anchored in the forward channels.
In the front, we encountered solid stereo imaging. Vocals stayed nicely centered while the instrumentation spread cleanly across the forward speakers. Those components showed logical placement and worked well.
Surround usage mainly restricted itself to crowd noise and general reinforcement of the music, though instrumentation – guitar and drums – occasionally bolstered the back speakers. The soundfield reproduced the concert information in a satisfying way without becoming too busy.
All in all, audio quality was positive. Vocals sounded natural and distinct, without edginess or other issues. Guitars showed appropriate crunch and bite, while drums had a nice pop and kick to them.
Highs appeared clear and bright, while bass response came across as pretty deep and rich. This became a pleasing soundtrack.
How did the 4K UHD compare to the original Blu-ray from 2017? Both came with identical audio.
However, the 4K’s visuals offered improved delineation and HDR gave blacks and colors a boost as well. While the BD looked great, the 4K took the image to a higher level.
In terms of extras, the 4K UHD includes The Angelic Sessions. Recorded at Angelic Studios not long after the final concert, Black Sabbath plays Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard”, Master of Reality’s “Sweet Leaf”, Vol. 4’s “Tomorrow’s Dream” and “Changes”, and a 1970 B-side called “Wicked World”.
These tracks fill a total of 26 minutes, six seconds and offer a bare bones visual accompaniment, as we just see the band in the studio. It’s not particularly dynamic, but it offers a decent complement to the main concert.
Finally, the set provides a booklet. It mixes band quotes, credits, photos and a 2017 essay from Rolling Stone writer Kory Grow. It adds value to the package.
Note that the 4K UHD drops a “bonus CD” included with the Blu-ray. However, because that only involved the five “Angelic Sessions” songs, I don’t regard its absence as an actual loss.
After nearly 50 years, legendary metal band Black Sabbath called it quits, and The End documented their final concert. Despite some iffy directorial choices, the show mostly comes across well. The 4K UHD offers excellent visuals and very good audio but skimps on bonus materials. Sabbath fans seem likely to enjoy the band’s swan song.
To rate this film, visit the prior review of BLACK SABBATH: THE END