Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath

Yell! Review:

Black Sabbath was considered by many as the genesis of heavy metal. Led Zeppelin added blues to the mix, taking from artists like Bo Didley, Muddy Waters, and others, but Sabbath took rock to the next level with just an all-out assault on your senses. Using Geezer Butler’s bass, Tony Iommi’s lead guitar, and Ozzy’s screaming voice as the catalyst for their dark and some would say satanic lyrics, Sabbath led rock into what is now considered the genre of heavy metal.

They formed in 1969, and for four years and five albums, they were the leaders of the newly formed genre to be continued shortly after with AC/DC, then Iron Maiden, and later on with Metallica. After Sabbath Bloody Sabbath they began their downward spiral and numerous lineup changes, starting with Osbourne’s departure in ’77. With Ronnie James Dio replacing him and Tony Iommi pretty much taking over the band, it led to a revolving door of band members that would make David Coverdale jealous. But for five albums, Jimmy Page’s guitar and Robert Plant’s voice would be the only rivals to Iommi’s and Osbourne’s for hard rock supremacy. No one rivaled Geezer as the king of the bass players.

Although most consider Paranoid Sabbath’s greatest achievement, it was with this self-titled debut that they accomplished genius. Paranoid had all the signature singles (“War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and others), but their first album was their most ambitious. Throwing convention out the window the album was a sprawling masterpiece. Tracks that have no in-between breaks and occasionally passing the 10 minute mark in length, you heard the unfettered genius of both Iommi and Butler. The first purchase in a rock library may be a Beatles or Stones record, but this should be your first in a metal library.