Warner Bros. Records released it on 8/11/87 for the American market.
The most problematic album recording in the history of Black Sabbath. Production started in Montserrat, with Jeff Glixman producing, and a line-up of Iommi, Gillen, Nichols, Singer and Spitz, and ended in London, with Chris Tsangarides producing, and a line-up of Iommi, Nichols, Martin and Daisley guesting on bass. Band manager Patrick Meehan was also fired during recording.
A video was shot for "The Shining", with a stand-in bass player and Terry Chimes (of punk band The Clash) on drums.
"Nightmare" was originally intended for inclusion in the soundtrack of "Nightmare on Elm Street" (hence the title).
The cover depicts real people covered in bronze paint, to recreate an Auguste Rodin sculpture titled "Eternal".
An alternate title to the album was "Blood God".
"The Eternal Idol" was originally recorded with
Ray Gillen but was redone with Tony Martin after Ray left the group. The only surviving part of Ray's voice on the released Eternal Idol album is some laughing on the track "Nightmare"
Although
Dave Spitz receives credit in the liner notes for playing bass on the album, the bass sections were actually played by Bob Daisley.
This album was reissued on October 25th 2010 in the UK as a Deluxe Edition. The tracklisting is:
Disc 1: Album + 2 bonus tracks (B-sides)
10. Black Moon (3:39)
11. Some Kind of Woman (3:16)
Disc 2: The Ray Gillen Session
1. Glory Ride (5:21)
2. Born to Lose (3:41)
3. Lost Forever (4:17)
4. Eternal Idol (6:48)
5. The Shining (6:30)
6. Hard Life to Love (5:20)
7. Nightmare (4:49)
8. Ancient Warrior (4:54)