Deceptively melodic Am I Going Insane (Radio) (as well as Megalomania) clearly depict the suffering of the mind, sinking into an abyss of madness. Text The Writ (pertaining to the rebellion, but made in the form of rambling monologue) remains one of the most complex and mysterious in the history of the group. Not satisfied with the achievements of commercial album, both the label in December 1975 released a double compilation We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll, which became the world hit. By the beginning of work on the seventh album in the group there has been conflict. Tony Iommi offers a variety of arrangements and style of the group, in particular, the use of wind instruments. Osborne strongly insisted that the group did not change the principles of heavy metal. In Technical Ecstasy (October 1976) Black Sabbath went that way, which led them on guitar: music saturated with sounds of strings and synthesizers.
An important role in shaping a new sound played in the guest keyboardist Dzhezz Woodruff, who, by his own statement, co-authored at least half the tracks on the album, but for reasons that are unclear from the "title" was crossed out. Frustrated elected direction of Osborn in November 1977 left the structure and was temporarily replaced by Dave Walker, former vocalist of Savoy Brown, but returned in January 1978 to take part in the recording of Never Say Die!, a diverse album, full of the elements jazz, synth, blues and prog rock. Despite the success of singles and Never Say Die Hard Road, it sold poorly, but more importantly, had little in common with the ideas that made Black Sabbath the pioneers of the genre.