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Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath

1970
Black Sabbath
Album Summary

Black Sabbath is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released on 13 February 1970 by Vertigo Records in the United Kingdom and Warner Bros. Records in the United States on 1 June 1970. The album is widely regarded as the first heavy metal album. Additionally, the opening track, "Black Sabbath", has been referred to as the first doom metal song.Upon release, the album reached number eight on the UK Albums Charts and number 23 on the US Billboard 200. Black Sabbath is included in Robert Dimery's 2005 musical reference book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.77

Votes

8552
Genres
Metal

Reviews

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Wed Mar 16 2022
5

Imagine: It is 1970. The heaviest thing you'd ever heard was Jimi Hendrix, maybe a little Blue Cheer if you were really spicy. You're browsing in the record shop and see this spooky looking album with a grainy picture of a woman in a field on it. You buy it out of curiosity, and bring it home. You pop it on to your record player, and are greeted with the sounds of rain. And then, suddenly, thundering guitars, playing an evil riff, with a man yelling at a satanic figure giving him nightmarish visions. Nothing could prepare you for this. It was unlike anything else at the time. And it STILL holds up today.

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Wed Feb 03 2021
5

Black Sabbath - more like Slack Babbath

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Sun May 09 2021
5

yess, instant 5/5. first heavy metal album in history.

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Tue Mar 30 2021
1

More grooves and toons than I expected but mostly riffs, riffs, riffs, riffs, riffs, riffs, riffs. Not bad in theory but in practise led to me zoning out, making this background music with pretensions. Some humour, musically speaking. How much Ozzy's voices adds to the mix is up for debate. Not so the lyrics. They're dumb as all hell. I'm being stingy with the rating. I feel I've got to protect that second star.

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Thu May 20 2021
5

The first heavy metal album of all time and it's by the Prince of Darkness. All-time great. \m/

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Tue May 25 2021
5

On a monday morning, looking at this album cover, I wish it was October. This is the perfect spooky album opening up quickly with a mention of Satan as this evil vile woman stands in the wood ready to curse an unsuspecting bloke...or maybe she already has? Is she the Wizard? We can't be sure, but the vibe Sabbath put out on this album is insane. The distorted guitar, the harmonica (a devil in disguise type instrument), and I just heard "lucifer" as I write this. I can't imagine how the young and old of America took this album when it came out. Were they scared? Were they repentant? All I know is I'll be coming back to the altar to listen to some of these hellish hits. And in fact, I did, listening to this album again with my brother. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to keep the Sabbath holy.

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Mon Mar 01 2021
4

The birth of heavy metal. Still finding it's way here but they were blazing a trail afterall. I find Black Sabbath's music to be delightfully heavy and thoroughly enjoyable. Some of the most infectious riffs ever. Love the interplay of guitar and bass. Love the tones. Perhaps the greatest example of a band taking a theme and unintentionally turning it into a whole genre. They tapped into something people didn't even realize they were hungry for. Critics hated it at the time and shit on it. Look at the original reviews of their albums from Rolling Stone and then look at how they then have to flip and eat crow and give their albums like 5 stars and include them in their top albums of all time lists now. To me heavy metal is like comic books, an art form that at the outset was seen as juvenile and crude but has gone on to mature and gain more respect over time (hell, you could say the same if rock and roll itself). And like comic books, I think if you don't get into heavy metal in your youth, it can be harder to find your way into it later in life. Black Sabbath are easily my favorite heavy metal band and the key to unlocking all that came in their wake.

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Thu Aug 19 2021
3

Снова ситуация, когда нам дают альбом не за проверку временем, а за его инновативность на момент выхода. в целом я не против, но опять же, если уже есть параноид, который мелодичнее, тяжелее, более цепляющий и просто лучше - так ли важно знакомиться с зачатками всех этих качеств на дебютнике? ИМХО - нет. Для себя на данном альбоме ничего нового не услышал, эпохальныхриффов не завезли, те что есть - немного сырые и неубедительно сыгранные. звук отстроен странно - в первой песне почему-то гитара одна и отведена влево (хуевое решение, право всегда более тащит), но в остальных вполне себе присутствуют стереопара с двух сторон, ну то есть они знали, что так можно делать, че в первой-то забили. В песне N. I. B., вероятно, самый годный риффак и охуенное бассовое интро, но при этом когда оно заканчивается и начинается дисторшн-басс - он звучит просто отвратительно, как зубами по жестяному ведру. Тексты какой-то херковский дроч на гот-эстетику, ничего информативного и бесконечного-вечного не несут. Каверы - это отдельная тема. Evil Woman звучит, конечно, прикольно, но ощущается полнейшим рассинхроном с основным тоном пластинки, непонятно нахуя оно здесь вообще (на параноиде, кстати, больше бы зашло наверн, там и сама заглавная песня чем-то похожа). А Warning - это продолжание традиций ебучих Кинг Кримзон, которые были уверены, что имеют право на студийном альбоме останавливать песню и 5 минут вяло ковырять свои инструменты, издавая рандомные унылые ноты. Хронометраж в 10 минут абсолютно не оправдан, хотя где-то в ядре композиции находиться вполне себе годный песняк. ну я лично оцениваю такой экспириенс в 6/10, не думаю, что каждый человек обязательно должен это послушать

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Sat Jun 03 2023
2

2 Incredibly boring for how famous it is But gotta give it credit for being "the beginning of metal" or whatever. N.I.B is great. Triumphant. Nothing else really feels doomy as it should, but just kind of compliant and boring. Nothing feels dirty and scary like the cover, which is amazing btw.

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Tue Dec 08 2020
5

One of the greatest collections of riffs known to man. I don’t have a bad word to say about this album. The highlight for me: Geezer Butler’s intrepid bass lines. This album does not give a fuck what you think about it. Too much reverb? No way, no such thing! Another tempo change? Sure, the more the merrier! Two guitar solos at the same time? Fuck it, why not?!

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Tue May 25 2021
5

Finally some Sabbath! I actually haven't heard their debut before, but of course I've heard "The Wizard." The lore behind this thing is fascinating. Recorded in twelve hours, with Tony Iommi's plastic fingers forcing the guitar into a dark dimension. Every track on here bangs, I'm stupefied. The jazzy drumming that opens "Wicked World" blew me away. I also love that the version I'm hearing mashes songs together, like someone just found these recordings in a collapsed garage and tried to piece it all together. Not sure what else to say, this is a perfect album. Favorite tracks: The Wizard, Black Sabbath, Wasp/Behind the Wall of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B. Album art: Love the text, love the colors, and this picture genuinely scares me. I was looking at this last night on my phone and it terrified me, like I was going to see this woman take a few steps toward me or something. 5/5

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Fri Feb 12 2021
5

Excellent album - always forget how bluesy early Sabath is - good introduction to Black Sabath for those who aren't massively into heavy metal.

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Sat Nov 26 2022
5

I somehow missed Black Sabbath in my early teens when I listened to a ton of hard rock. I don't really understand how and why I did, but, hey, it happened. Anyway, listening to them now, I hear how great they were and the major role they played in a whole offshoot of rock music. What's particularly interesting to this album, at least the way I experience it, is how it doesn't sound stuck in time to me the way so many albums from the past can sound. I read the Wikipedia entry about how it was recorded, and I honestly believe that played a very big part in helping the album not to sound too much like the year in which it was recorded and produced. The band went into the studio and performed their live set, recording the whole thing in about 12 hours. Not much at all was done to the tracks in production. I just can't shake the feeling that had they gone the usual route with lots of overdubbing, effects, and so on, it would've been fine but would very much sound like a rock band in 1970 than what it sounds like to me. Fantastic.

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Tue Aug 08 2023
5

“You can only trust yourself and the first six Black Sabbath albums.” -Henry Rollins

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Sat Feb 05 2022
4

The birth of a new genre is always something that should be celebrated and listened to. 4.5/5

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Sat May 27 2023
3

When you order Led Zeppelin from aliexpress.com.

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Mon Aug 21 2023
3

I really keep going back and forth on this. I like how it’s bluesy, it’s interesting to listen to this knowing what Ozzy becomes, and I did have a good time listening to it. That being said some of the things this album does is objectively boring or flat out bad. Overall, did you know Tommy has no fingertips?

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Sun Apr 02 2023
2

Groundbreaking, sure. It’s also dumb, drowsy, disjointed. Tastes like Cream, only twice as heavy and half as fresh. Standout Tracks: Black Sabbath, N.I.B.

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Fri May 28 2021
5

Surely and factually genre defining. I didn't think metal could hold so much blues influence, but damn they make it work. This album was probably one of my most worth listens and also one of the more intriguing ones. This album resembles the birth of metal and reading about that while blasting these tunes has surely opened the tab on a good and lasting memory

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Wed Jan 13 2021
5

Amazing. One of the most influential albums of all time

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Fri Apr 09 2021
5

Gotta give full 5 star respect to the originators. Great musicians. Must have been wild to hear this the year it came out.

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Fri Apr 09 2021
5

Love Black Sabbath. This is such a great album, and historically very significant as a genre originator. Factoring in historical significance, this is an easy 5 star. The musical talent in the band reinforces that as well. The drumming especially is awesome.

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Mon Feb 22 2021
5

It's the album that gave us heavy metal, what needs to be said? Thanks?

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Mon Mar 01 2021
5

Very excited by the intro. Yeah, really liking this. I can hear how influenced Ty Segall is by Black Sabbath in these songs. Each of these songs are just instantly likable. I don't love the vocals but they aren't unbearable and there are so many redeeming qualities to the music. I was of course aware of Black Sabbath but had never listened to a whole album. I think I'm a new fan. Wow, Wicked World almost sounds like a jazz tune at times. Yeah this album kicks ass. Love the way the songs mesh together. Liked it even better on the second listen, and was better able to appreciate the expressiveness and vulnerability in Ozzy's vocal delivery.

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Tue Feb 02 2021
5

Classic for a reason. Timeless. Played it twice.

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Wed Feb 03 2021
5

Love it from go to whoa. Bass & slapping drums that fit snuggly, guitar solos that added to the songs.

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Wed Jan 20 2021
5

Damn! Everyone kills it in this group. Ozzy is legendary obvi, guitar wails (and solos are much better than van halen imo), bass is dark and rich, and drums take it to the next level. Love NIB, love it all

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Wed Jan 20 2021
5

my favorite songs were the wizard and NIB (but that one is like together with two other songs). i thought the guitar solos were super cool, the lyrics were wild, and i could really see how this changed the course of metal music.

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Tue Feb 09 2021
5

Still great. Spent all day listening to Sabbath after

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Tue Feb 09 2021
5

Incredibly enjoyable. Set me down a rabbit hole of listening to loads of their other albums having never listened to them before.

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Mon Jun 28 2021
5

Classic metal album, and my favorite from Sabbath

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Mon Jun 21 2021
5

How many times a band makes a debut like this?

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Wed Jun 30 2021
5

This is the Devil's music. Won't somebody please think of the children??????

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Fri May 28 2021
5

Yeah, ok Sabbath you can have loads of stars.

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Tue May 25 2021
5

The first albums of legendary bands tend to be either disappointing or incredible. Pleasantly surprised to Sabbath falls in the latter camp.

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Tue Jun 01 2021
5

Metal del bueno. Aquí empezó el metal

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Fri Jul 23 2021
5

The album that started heavy metal. Love the rain on the opening track, followed by the haunting riffs.

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Sat Jul 31 2021
5

The most influential album of all time. It's almost undeniable. Every single metal band can be tracked back to this singular album. The title track is a harrowing descent into occultism, The Wizard is an amazing piece, and the bass throughout the album is incredible. There will never be an album that will change the landscape of music like this one did ever again. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

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Mon Aug 09 2021
5

Only thing to really say is, "Sabbath fucking rules." A record that, even over 50 years ago, everyone is trying to clone and improve upon. Delightfully occult, heavy, and just makes you want to headbang. Contains my favorite Sabbath song: "N.I.B.", once described as "the raucous defiling of Cream", a better description I cannot supply. Favorite tracks: "Black Sabbath", "Wasp/Behind the Wall of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B."

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Sun Aug 15 2021
5

It’s just so good. Not as many “hits” on their debut as say something like Paranoid but still an awesome Moody albums that blends blues rock and psychedelic into something dark, beautiful and new- Heavy Metal. An excellent debut that successfully established the feel of the band with catchy riffs, low growling guitars, and satanic lyricism. Yay!

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Mon Aug 16 2021
5

Hay muchas razones para darle 5 estrellas a este disco: desde las letras, los efectos y overdubbing con la voz, el procesamiento y ensamble que hacen a las guitarras y el bajo que también tiene su buena distor y todo esto en un contexto que en su momento era novedoso y motivo de temor para la gente que los oía por primera vez. Encima, las rolas musicalmente hablando son muy buenas, con esa base de blues pero acelerado y con el volumen alto. En definitiva disfruté tenerlo que oír completo y en orden, porque hace años no lo hacía.

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Mon Aug 16 2021
5

Desde el momento en que de muy pequeño vi este LP en casa de mi abuela me fascinó e intrigó. Era una portada totalmente distinta a los demás como película de horro y... con un vampiro! Cuando por fín lo escuché probablemente entre 11-12 años no hubo marcha atrás. Fue un sonido exactamente como esperaba lúgubre, distinto a cualquier cosa que había escuchado hasta ese momento y que me atraía/asustaba enormemente. A pesar de la cantidad de nostalgia el disco tiene un mérito propio enorme que creo casi nadie puede disputar. Ese inicio y transición de el rock pesado a crear lo que va a ser el metal, la cantidad de influencia que tiene y la inventiva de la banda en toda esa época inicial son innegables. ¿Es un disco perfecto? Seguro hay peros que algunos le pueden poner; se sienten inicios de ese cambio pero también eso lleva a cierta inconsistencia, a ratos se siente demasiado blues, a ratos demasiado rock setentero que se puede sentir muy similar a otras bandas y a ratos se siente esa luz de innovación. Sleeping Village puede ser una canción no tan buena, Warning puede ser demasiado larga, The Wizard suena casi de un disco distinto con su harmónica característica. No importa, son minucias cuando se contraponen con el peso, relevancia y calidad del disco. Esos discos que a pesar de tener más de 50 años han envejecido con la mayor gracia posible. Hay un par de discos de Black Sabbath que se puede alegar son aun mejores pero no se le puede quitar mérito y, aunque pienso que la calificación está más que justificada, tampoco hay forma de quitar mi parte subjetiva en tanto al grado de importancia que tuvo esta banda y este disco en particular en cimentar las bases de todos mis gustos musicales posteriores. No había más que decir, era un 5 cuando vi la portada y después de escucharlo con gusto una vez más después de incontables ocasiones nada cambio.

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Tue Aug 31 2021
5

Yes! This album starts so heavy with the devils chord and it commands your attention. This is a landmark hard rock album and a great one that still holds up. Favorite Tracks: "Black Sabbath" "The Wizard" "NIB"

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Sun Sep 05 2021
5

Grondlegger van de metal-scene. Nog heel wat rock 'n roll en blues invloeden in dit album, en dit wordt gesmaakt!

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Thu Sep 09 2021
5

One of the classic great Metal albums, and I've heard it many times before. Though listening this time, several years after the first, I now see the blues influences better. The same kind of driving bass and simple melodies that would go on and become the basis for Funk and Disco. Neat stuff that.

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Tue Sep 14 2021
5

#5 Black Sabbath was awesome!!! 1st 5 stars!! Music was the kind of stuff I love!!!

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Tue Sep 28 2021
5

The origin of all things devil-horned \m/

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Sat Oct 09 2021
5

One of the most important musical albums in people's history! The first "heavy metal" album at all! The sound of the album has got the roots in rock, hard rock, jazz, blues and psychedelia with adding of heavy distortion and creating completely a new genre. It was a starting point of separation heavy metal from "rock and roll" and also a prototype to a lot of future rock musical genres. This album was also credited as the first record in sludge / stoner rock and goth genres. Long guitar solos reminds of progressive metal sound. Also Kurt Cobain wanted Nevermind to sound more like Black Sabbath so this albums also has got an influence to alternative rock and grunge sounds. Completely must listen and must have in collection if you re a fan of hard rock / heavy metal / alternative music!

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Mon Oct 11 2021
5

Wow this fucking slapped hard. MASTAPIECE!

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Sun Oct 24 2021
5

Now here's one I've heard often enough to give it a straight 5 without re-listening, even though it's been quite a while that I last heard it. Of course, I still re-listened and it was a pleasure to do so. Not only was this the album that originated metal music as we know it today, but it has also stood the test of time really well and is still a great album when listened to today. Favorite tracks N.I.B. and Warning

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Mon Nov 01 2021
5

This album has one of my favorite songs of all time.

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Wed Nov 03 2021
5

Pioneros del heavy-metal. Rock con mayúsculas. Inconfundible voz, acordes y estilo.

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Tue Nov 09 2021
5

Classique! J'adore et ça me rememore plein de souvenirs 5*

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Fri Nov 12 2021
5

Good album. Would rate it 8/10.

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Mon Nov 29 2021
5

Insert Beavis and Butthead head banging here

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Tue Jan 11 2022
5

The album that melted my mind as a child and set me on a path that 40 years later has not disappointed. One of the true GOATS.

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Fri Jan 14 2022
5

One of the most influential albums ever made. An explosive rhythm section, fuzzy guitar riffing and ozzys oddball vocal performance all made for something very distinct in the early 70s, but even thought it's been ripped off a million times and not novel sounding any more the strength of the songwriting still is better than most albums in its genre. The opener is the standout with it's tritone based riff and eerie atmosphere but the groove heavy blues rock of NIB also is incredible. Basically every riff is catchy.

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Sat Jan 15 2022
5

Holy shit, I forgot that this is one hell of an album

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Mon Jan 24 2022
5

The wonderfully dumb alpha and omega.

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Wed Feb 02 2022
5

Fragen: - Wie kann das Album an einem Tag recordet worden sein und so geil klingen? - Wie kann man Heavy Metal so geil in einem Album ausbauen und manifestieren dass so vieles danach alt aussieht? - Wie kann man gleichzeitig entspannt Doom Metal miterfinden dass dann aber trotzdem wieder 10 Jahre ignoriert wurde? - Wieso wurde die Mundharmonika danach im Metal nicht weiter gebraucht? - Wieso wurde Hair Metal danach so corny? - Wie kann man aus den nichts so mystische (gute) Texte schreiben? Kurz: Safe eins der 10 wichtigsten Alben aller Zeiten. Mit Paranoid dann nochnmal wichtiger und großer. Ich liebe das düstere drückende und die psychdelischen vibes die aus den späten 60ern noch mitschwingen. Einziger Kritikpunkt ist dass das riffing etwas wiederholend ist, gehört aber auch iwie zu dem Trance Zustand dazu. Für meinen persönlichen Geschmack eine 4, hier gebe ich eine 5 (also gebe ich nicht kann ich ja nicht mehr aber ich tu so als wäre das nicht passiert)

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Wed Feb 02 2022
5

Scheinbar sind auf dem Album nur 5 Wörter die mehr als 2 Silben haben lmao. „Black Sabbath“ ist schon ein krasses Statement für ein Debüt, ahead of its time wird zwar imo ein bisschen inflationär gebraucht, aber hier ist es sicherlich angebracht. Der Opener hat halt quasi Doom Metal begründet, wenn nicht Heavy Metal überhaupt. Man hört noch die Nachklänge von Blues Rock, aber das hier ist definitiv was neues. Mega geil durch und durch wird abgeliefert, die Produktion bringt auch jedes Instrument zum scheinen (Sogar den Bass!). Ich kann gar nichts schlechtes darüber sagen… Außerdem eins der geilsten Covers überhaupt.

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Wed Feb 02 2022
5

Ein Meisterwerk, das muss so absolut mindblowing gewesen sein damals, den härtesten Song den davor jemals jemand gehört hat war Helter Skelter von den Beatles und dann kommen Black Sabbath einfach mit dieser Teufelsmusik um die Ecke. Ozzys Vocals absolut on Point und bis heute einige der besten Riffs ever auf dem Album. Hat zwar nicht so ikonische Tracks wie Paranoid aber insgesamt als Album einfach von vorne bis hinten perfekt. Funfact Tony Iommi hat irgendwann zwei Finger halb verloren und hatte dann so Plastikprothesen mit denen er die Gitarrensaiten viel krasser ziehen drücken spannen whatever konnte was maßgeblich zu diesem Sound beigetragen hat

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Wed Feb 02 2022
5

5.5…. A classic among classics….16, grade 9, long hair ,army jacket, work boots…teenage angst….what’s not to love…absolutely cherished this album.

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Sat Feb 19 2022
5

O começo do esplendor do metal

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Fri Feb 25 2022
5

OMG, I am so excited! I question the must-hear nature of some album choices, but this is a dead set classic that kicked off a whole genre. Still with reminders that they were, at heart, a heavy blues band, they have descended down a path to a new place. I listen to contemporary stoner metal and doom, and I can hear the direct influence of this seminal work being played today.

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Thu Mar 03 2022
5

Wonderfully heavy. Notes of electric gloom. An acceptance of death.

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Tue Mar 08 2022
5

The first four Sabbath records are flawless. The absolute origin of metal music, their self-titled debut is not only dark, thick, and heavy, but also very playful. So much modern metal forged in the wake of this album is performed by better musicians, but very few exhibit the creativity and willingness to experiment to the extent that Sabbath does here. It's over 50 years and this continues to inspire bands to grab a guitar and stare into the void.

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Thu Mar 10 2022
5

Paranoid will always be the best Sabbath album in my eyes. But Black Sabbath birthed a genre, and their music perfectly captures the atmosphere of Birmingham and their origins. 5/5.

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Thu Mar 10 2022
5

Didn't need to listen to this to give it 5. Did anyway. A fantastic record.

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Wed Mar 16 2022
5

I love Doom, and it is so vital in a Doom fan's knowledge base to have this album.

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Thu Mar 24 2022
5

El començament del rock dur i el heavy metal. En realitat, blues rock dur i fort, acompanyat d'un so primitiu i una producció de mímims, que en aquest cas glorifica la música. Les lletres, la veu d'Ozzy i els efectes sonors fan la resta. A més, conté dos dels grans clàssics del génere i la década, 'N.I.B.' i la mateixa 'Black Sabbath'

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Fri Mar 25 2022
5

Classic. Amazing start to finish.

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