Black Sabbath

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.

Black Sabbath - more like Slack Babbath

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

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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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.

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?!

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

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

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.

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

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

Love

Another iconic album that has been in my collection for many years. The debut album from Black Sabbath, an album many credit with creating Heavy Metal (TM). Unquestionably iconic. That said, this is not my favorite Sabbath album, and I never owned it on vinyl. I think they were still developing as an entity at this point, and their next 4 albums are objectively better. But that just means “really good” instead of “outstanding”. Overall, it’s just not as “tight”, as their latter albums, which is supported by the reports the whole thing was recorded in a single 12 hr session, with virtually no overdubs. Evil Woman is the only cover version in the Sabbath catalog, and it strikes me as an A&R man’s addition is search of a hit. I’ve often wondered how much better this could’ve been with a bit more care in the process, a bit more faith from the record company. But this is the first, the one that defined (not redefined) heavy music. And there’s a several great songs. This is a solid album, groundbreaking. But I’ll still prefer Paranoid, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, or even Vol. 4. All of which I owned on vinyl since the 70’s. Another solid 4/5

Standouts: "The Wizard," "NIB" (my favorite Sabbath track), "Wicked World" Lyrics- 3/5 Vocals- 4/5 Instrumentals- 4/5 Vibes- 3/5 Overall 4/5 Black Sabbath is iconic and I do enjoy listening to them, while not being overly familiar with their discography. This album has some great tracks, but what really stands out to me are the instrumentals. They just resonate so well, they sound grimy in a very calculated way. Fuzzy in a very precise way. Ozzy when compared to other vocalists is not the best, but his voice is instantly recognizable and iconic and fits perfectly with the vibe that Black Sabbath cultivates on this record. I do think though that this record is weaker than some of the other stuff I have heard from them. However, since this is my first full Sabbath record I am keeping an open mind.

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.

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.

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

Amazing. One of the most influential albums of all time

The first real Heavy Metal album: Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath featuring the song Black Sabbath. Even for the simple start of the genre, it does feature some very heavy riffs with some strong Doom Metal sounds sprinkled throughout. But for the most part, it is the early Heavy Metal and Hard Rock blend that Black Sabbath was and is known for. Even if the album in its entirety isn't the most perfect collection, the fact that the first ever album of a major genre is this consistent and great overall, is very much to appreciate. The sounds of thunder, rain and a chruch bell start the album with an ominous sound of Nature Recordings that transition abruptly into a Heavy and dark sounding atomsphere that back when this released must've sound straight up scary and disturbing. Although the song is much slower and more sombre than what most Metal will later become, it still is an absolutely incredible track. It slowly transcends you into a nocturnal and psychedelic nightmare that swings from one explosion to the next while in between it is fill with mystical lyrics that only strenghten the ominous feeling of it. The second part which picks up more speed almost feels like a chase before exploding into even bigger and greater soundscapes. If this song doesn't make feel uneasy, I can't help you anymore... This is perfect. 'The Wizard' goes more into the direction of Heavy Psych and Blues Rock with Ozzy pulling out his harmonica and giving us a Bluesy riff that is replaced by a Heavy guitar riff. If I'm being honest, this is what early Led Zeppelin tried to be but failed. It is heavy but still sounds entertaining and is extremely fun. While it isn't as perfect as the title track, it still shows as an incredible track full of great moments. I mainly prefer the more Metal songs than the ones that go more into Hard Rock. A more Psychedelic Rock touched sound finds its place on 'Behind the Wall of Sleep' which mostly shines with the weird and echoed vocal effects. The song itself starts too slow and doesn't really have enough to really work in that sense. The riffs and the guitar solo is alright but the album does much better. But I do think that the vocal performance saves this enough to still be considered a really good song otherwise... not so much. The albums best known song is probably 'N.I.B.' which, in my opinion, is like a better version of Sunshine of your Love by Cream. The riffs sound very similar but this song pulls the thing much better off. It is catchy, it is heavy, it has some great performed lyrics that match the whole aesthetic of the album and it just sounds good. The guitar solo is pulled off incredibly and no single second is wasted or out of focus. Easily a perfect song although I still think that 'Black Sabbath' is a superior Metal track. The albums second side is started with 'Evil Woman' (originally titled 'Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games With Me') and although the chorus is really catchy and great, the vocals are mixed a little bit too quiet to fully work and show what energy is actually behind the loud facade. I also think that there isn't mearly enough heaviness on this track. It just sounds a little bit pale and except the chorus and a couple moments here and there, it's just an okay song. Good but not too good. 'Sleeping Village' returns to the Heavy Metal but before doing it starts with another ominous intro that is mixing aspects of Folk with a Jew's harp that very fittingly works here to create that ominous feeling. After the heavy sound returns we get a mostly instrumental Heavy Metal Jam that has some aspects of Blues and complex structure sprinkled throughout. The song is really great even when Ozzy isn't shining here. It then transitions into the 10 minute 'Warning' which also closes the album with a mix of Heavy Metal and Blues Rock in the form of an even longer Jam that adds even more complexity at some points that it's nearly Prog and has other moments that get close to Doom Metal. It's an incredible closing track although some moments do feel a little bit out of focus and washed out but luckily not enough to hurt the song in a major way because it still slaps. favourites: Black Sabbath, N.I.B., Warning, The Wizard least favourites: Evil Woman, Behind the Wall of Sleep Rating: decent to strong 8 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

This is what I wanted from this whole experience, to discover total GOAT classics. That was awesome and I love Ozzie’s voice. Super cool.

This is a surprise to me. I though black Sabbath was all hard core rock. There is some swing in here that I was not expecting. The vocals are good too. I will likely listen again! 4/5

Prefer Paranoid, but solid record. The cover is pretty cool.

Iconic album

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

Like Cream, but way better!

not the type of music id listen to casually, but its great

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?

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.

Not much on notes, this was great, and for the 70s? Speechless with how good was this

Thanks Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill for inventing heavy metal, the greatest music genre known to man.

Onhan tämä mestariteos. Ehdottimasti kyseisten veikkojen parasta antia! : ) 5/5

Great album, so ahead of its time and influential while still having a classic bluesy sound

gr8

Great guitar

I like the heavy blues sound

My #10 GAOAT! (10) ★★★★★

Best debut album ever Stupendous

I reviewed this in another project I have running in parallel. I gave it a 5 then, I’m giving it a five now. ‘nuff said!

This album is roots for so much and just pure gold.

And now we are back to the albums that define my musical taste. This album never gets old. Absolutely brilliant. Ozzys fresh voice and doomish start for this album make me still go goosebumps.

This is one of my most listened albums of all time, so I'm very partial to it. It's at #80 in my albums top 100 according to last.fm, which doesn't have any listening data from 80's or 90's, starting at about 2004.

Such an incredible and groundbreaking album that, fortunately, still holds up so well today. The atmosphere this album creates is like anything before it and went on to shape music forever. The riffs are amazing, the bluesy songs are great, and most importantly it remains one of the best doom albums to this day. I don't know where this would rank in my overall Sabbath rankings but it is something I come back to often. Metal has changed significantly since this but Black Sabbath still stands on its own today.

you can't go wrong with any of the first six Sabbath albums. their 1970 debut is arguably the first metal album in history so, once again, we're seeing history play out in the listening process! the late '60s were a bit of a mad dash to see how loud and heavy blues rock bands could play before the music they made took on a new identity. while Black Sabbath is, for the most part, a blues album, Tony Iommi's particular use of distortion sends the whole band into a different echelon. (his guitar tone is incredible, by the way.) while Cream had pushed the boundaries of this heavy blues sound just a couple years prior, Sabbath played much harder and even louder. the most obviously metallic song in the bunch is the title track, with its famous tritone riff and slow, ominous tempo. beyond that and the brilliant "N.I.B." (which also has some of the best metal riffs of all time), I think you're better off approaching this as a blues album. that's not to say this isn't metal; since the tropes of the genre were still being established, it just doesn't sound like metal as we think of it today. Paranoid, released just 7 months after Black Sabbath, is a brilliant evolution in approach that I think more truly signals the beginning of heavy metal proper. that being said, one never would've happened without the other, and this debut (their live set at the time, recorded in a single 12-hour session with minimal overdubbing) is an excellent showcase of Black Sabbath's raw talent. decent 9/10.

Classic Loud gloomy doomy listen Perfect album

I don’t there’s ever been a better statement of intent than the storm sounds at the start of this album. I sometimes forget that this album was released the same year as Let It Be. That storm lets you know that a change is coming, and over the next 8 tracks an entirely new genre of rock music will be birthed, kicking and screaming. This is up there with the greatest debut albums of all time and it still feels fresh and exciting to this day. Even the cover is mysterious and sinister in a way that makes you want to listen to is. Geezer Butler doesn’t get enough credit for absolutely carrying this whole record (and band) on the back of his bass lines.

Makes me want to headbang and play air guitar. One of the coolest first records a band has released.

The birth of Heavy Metal. One of the most iconic, influential albums. Masterpiece! Nothing more to add, ignorance is the only route to less than 5 stars.

Look up "rock" in the dictionary, you know what you'll find? You'll find the definition of the word "rock", which this album fucking is.

The most important album ever! Their best? No. But every album in my collection is a descendant of this one. The world would look different without this!

🪦

I had heard the big Sabbath singles and all of Masters of Reality prior to this but I had no idea their debut album was cooking this hard. Instantly went out and bought the vinyl today, so that’s evidence enough of how much I dug it. Maybe 2025 will be the year I get really into heavy metal, the genre formerly known as “bummer rock.” (We should reclaim that genre name!!!)

the definitive introduction to heavy metal, not a single second wasted. lots of brilliant songs on here with before its time playing

Harmonica! Grooves a lot more than I expected it to. Would I put it on for a gathering? No. Would I listen to it at work again? Sure!

# Album Name: Black Sabbath # Artist: Black Sabbath # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: First time listen to this album. Wow, what a great debut album. Sabbath was TIGHT! The quality of this lot is way higher than some bands which have been around for years. The guitar, the bass, the drums, the vocals. Great stuff. Plenty of top notch solo work on this record. This was such an enjoyable album. Great stuff. # Top Tunes: All of it. # Would I listen to it again? Yes

This is not just an album! It is an event captured for eternity, like an insect trapped in amber. It's the preserved moment when blues rock mutated into something so immaculately grotesque that the world couldn't fail to sit up and notice. It's the moment when metal was born....and I love it! it

Black Sabbath's self-titled debut album, released on February 13, 1970, is widely regarded as a groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for heavy metal. Its raw sound, dark themes, and innovative approach to rock music created an entirely new genre. Below is an in-depth review of the album, focusing on its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. ## **Lyrics** The lyrical content of *Black Sabbath* is steeped in themes of horror, mysticism, and the supernatural. Written primarily by bassist Geezer Butler, the lyrics explore dark and foreboding subjects that were revolutionary for rock music at the time. The opening track, "Black Sabbath," depicts a chilling encounter with Satan, inspired by Butler’s own experiences with occult literature. This song sets the tone for the album with its ominous atmosphere and vivid imagery. Other tracks like "N.I.B." take a more creative approach by presenting a love story from the perspective of Lucifer himself. Meanwhile, "The Wizard" offers a fantastical narrative about a magical figure who spreads happiness and peace—a rare moment of lightness in an otherwise dark album. The lyrics bypass the typical sex-and-drug clichés of the era in favor of exploring fear, existential dread, and mythical storytelling. This thematic choice was both innovative and polarizing at the time but has since become a hallmark of heavy metal lyricism[1][2][5]. ## **Music** Musically, *Black Sabbath* is a masterclass in blending blues rock with darker tonalities to create something entirely new. Tony Iommi’s guitar work is central to this transformation. His use of the tritone (the "devil’s interval") in the title track creates an unsettling atmosphere that defined early heavy metal. Iommi’s riffs are both catchy and menacing, as heard in tracks like "The Wizard" and "N.I.B." His solos often veer into blues territory but are delivered with a heavier edge that distinguishes them from his contemporaries[1][3][5]. Geezer Butler’s bass lines are equally impressive, providing a dense, almost orchestral foundation for the songs. Bill Ward’s drumming is dynamic and inventive, blending jazz-inspired fills with powerful grooves that drive the album forward. Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals are haunting yet accessible; his eerie delivery complements the music’s dark tone while maintaining a melodic quality that makes the songs memorable[1][3]. The album also features moments of experimentation. For instance, "Sleeping Village" begins with an acoustic intro featuring a jaw harp before transitioning into a heavier section. This juxtaposition of light and dark elements showcases the band’s willingness to push boundaries[6]. ## **Production** Recorded in just 12 hours on a modest budget, *Black Sabbath* has a raw and unpolished sound that enhances its authenticity. The simplicity of the recording process allowed the band to capture their live energy without overproducing or sanitizing their sound. While this approach contributes to the album's charm, it also results in some technical imperfections. For example, certain tracks lack the clarity and balance that more time-intensive production might have achieved[1][5]. Despite these limitations, producer Rodger Bain deserves credit for preserving the band’s intensity and atmosphere. The use of sound effects—such as rain and church bells on "Black Sabbath"—adds to the album's cinematic quality without feeling gimmicky. ## **Themes** Thematically, *Black Sabbath* explores fear, evil, and existential dread through its lyrics and music. The industrial backdrop of Birmingham heavily influenced these themes; growing up in a bleak environment shaped the band’s worldview and artistic expression. Tracks like "Black Sabbath" evoke feelings of helplessness against malevolent forces, while others like "Behind the Wall of Sleep" delve into surreal and psychological realms. The album also reflects cultural shifts occurring at the end of the 1960s. As flower power gave way to disillusionment with societal norms, *Black Sabbath* provided an outlet for those seeking something darker and more introspective than mainstream rock could offer at the time. ## **Influence** The impact of *Black Sabbath* cannot be overstated. It is widely regarded as the first heavy metal album, influencing countless bands across multiple subgenres such as doom metal, stoner rock, and thrash metal. Artists like Metallica, Slayer, and Sleep have cited it as a major inspiration. At its release, however, critical reception was mixed. Some dismissed it as derivative or overly simplistic, while others failed to grasp its innovative qualities due to its stark departure from prevailing musical trends. Over time, its historical significance has been recognized; today it is celebrated as one of rock music’s most important albums. ## **Pros** - **Innovative Sound:** The fusion of blues rock with dark tonalities created an entirely new genre. - **Memorable Riffs:** Tony Iommi’s guitar work is iconic and remains influential. - **Atmospheric Lyrics:** Geezer Butler’s horror-inspired lyrics brought depth to rock music. - **Raw Energy:** The unpolished production captures the band’s live intensity. - **Cultural Impact:** The album redefined what rock music could be and inspired generations of musicians. ## **Cons** - **Production Limitations:** While rawness adds charm, some tracks suffer from technical imperfections. - **Repetitive Structures:** Certain songs rely heavily on repetitive riffs or melodies. - **Pacing Issues:** The long buildup in tracks like "Black Sabbath" may feel tedious to some listeners. - **Lyrical Simplicity:** Some critics have argued that the lyrics lack sophistication compared to later works. ## **Conclusion** *Black Sabbath* is not just an album; it is a cultural milestone that reshaped rock music forever. Its combination of innovative musicianship, dark themes, and raw production set it apart from anything else released at the time. While it has minor flaws—mainly due to its rushed production—these do little to diminish its overall impact. For fans of heavy metal or anyone interested in exploring its origins, *Black Sabbath* remains essential listening. Its legacy endures not only in its influence on subsequent artists but also in its ability to evoke powerful emotions more than five decades after its release.

classic

One of the best. Amazing detail in the bass

powerhouse rock!

I liked more than I expected.

I adore Kate Bush. Watching her on TOP as an impressionable 8-year-old, wide eyed and feeling so much, I return over and over again to her. The Kick Inside debut at 18 years old though, Wow, Wow, WOW as she says

Nothing really needs to be said about this classic album. It’s great, it holds up, it launch a thousand ships. Bangers.

It’s rare something from 1970 still sounds quite relevant with a perfect balance between rock metal and blues

Awesome, for some reason I thought it was going to be heavier. Favorite track was the last one, really good

Birth of metal from just the first few notes of this album. Can you think of anything else that is more epic than this album.

Classic! This album never disappoints 1001 album worthy: Yes - 34/60

Recorded in one take, created a new genre. Can't get better than that.

1. Black Sabbath - Good fking start with a dark and sinister sound! Awesome transition! 2. The Wizard - Heavy western style o.O? Very nice use of a Mundharmonika joo! 3. Behind the Wall of Sleep - Nice track but sadly a bit short. 4. N.I.B. - Very known track and it is for a good reason! Really like the switch between a singing guitar saying "No No" and "Oh yeah". Thinking about it makes sense considering the lyrics lol. Ending well done aswell, good breakdown! 5. Evil Woman - Catchy lyrics guided by some iconic guitar riffs and some repetitive funky bass sounds :) nice little solo aswell, me like! 6. Sleeping Village - Didgeridoo! Turning into slow decent riffs, funky ass licks and melodies from both guitars. Geilo transition from those riffs to the next track! 7. Warning - (literial warning) 10 out of fking 10 jo! No need to write more, 10 minutes of pure Awesomeness say more than I could. I wouldn't have enough time to explain anyway. 8. Wicked World - Bringing back the same vibes from "Warning" while keeping a lower profile mostly, allowing the album to end... "Black Sabbath" gets the best available rating!

must've scared the shit out of some parents back in the day eheheheh love it <3 birth of heavy metal yooooooooo!!!!!

God, that title track is terrifying. I didn’t realize how accessible these guys were, like I’ve paranoid and such but damn this is great

Inarguably essential inclusion here as the essential birth of heavy metal as a genre. Sure, it suffers a little bit from the "Seinfeld is unfunny" effect considering how much it set the tone for metal as a whole, and some of it feels a bit corny considering how much darker and more intense metal has gotten in the intervening half-century, but all of that is simply because it was the FIRST. The songs honestly still rip to this day too.

The world today is such a wicked thing Fighting going on between the human race People got to work just to earn their bread While people just across the sea are counting the dead A politician's job they say is very high For he has to choose who's got to go and die They can put a man on the moon quite easy While people here on earth are dying of all diseases A woman goes to work every day after day She just goes to work just to earn her pay Child sitting by but his life's much harder He doesn't even know who is his father Yeah, this is a pretty fucking great album. 5/5

Imagine enjoying Led Zeppelin's first album and then Black Sabbath shows up with this.

Early Sabbath couldn't miss if they tried

👍🏼

Some great prog rock. Love it.

First time listening to Black Sabbath, no idea why I'd never listen to them. Loved it, easy 5.

The very first metal album of all time! Revolutionary and amazing!!! :)

top notch!

Düster, hart, handgemacht.

The song “Black Sabbath” by this band Black Sabbath still sounds scary as hell in 2025. Too bad the singer of this band became a reality show guy.

This probably isn't a 5 star album, but I'm sort of giving up on objective ratings for the day. It was just sort of what I needed to discover and listen to today.

I would love to time travel to 1970 and witness people putting this on for the first time. Album created an entire genre and influenced every metal head going forward.

GOAT, this album created the created music genre of all time and inspired so many amazing bands/artists.

What a debut album! Heavy, melodic, influential and just great.

Hard rock/heavy metal seldomly holds my attention for more than, say, thirty seconds, before it falls apart under its pretenses, inanities, tediums. Zeppelin and Sabbath are the formidable exceptions. It must be that the music Bill War, Geezer Butler, and Tony Iommi orchestrate is authentically blues-inspired, regularly funky, always improvisatory. It doesn't even feel particularly 'heavy,' at least no heavier than its progenitors - congrats to them for that. I can listen to Sabbath's enduring riffs often and gratefully.

OK, so... Indulge me for a second here... ==< [...] >== It was a dark and stormy night — and one with a particularly strong emphasis on the "dark" part. No matter how closely you move your hand to your face, you just can't make it out. In fact, if you were to mose it any closer, you'd be covering your face. Not that that would matter. Besides the occasional crash of lightning trying to pierce through the thick forest covering to light your surroundings, you were basically wandering blind. Trapped in a void that would threaten to swallow you whole, if not for the one thing guiding you: a distant church bell. Every now and then, it would toll, just barely audible above the pounding rain. You weren't sure if this was leading the way home or not — a doubt that continued to grow like a weed in your mind as you approached — but as they say, "Any port in a storm." However, very slowly, you come to a stop. A chill runs down your spine — noticeably, one that seemed to have nothing to do with how you were freezing in this rain. Something, you could just tell, was wrong. Through a large hole in the forest canopy, you could see another bolt of lightning flash, lighting up the forest and the cloudy sky. As well as... Something standing off in the distance. You couldn't tell what it was; it was too far away, shrouded in blur and a silhouette... But you could gather one thing: it was big. Very big. The church bell rang in the distance. Lightning flashed again, and the shape in the distance seemed to have gotten... Bigger? The wind picked up to a sharp howl, which forced you to shut your eyes to keep them from stinging. You rubbed your arms, trying to keep yourself warm, but it was like trying to light a match underwater — good luck with that. The church bell rang in the distance. The wind died down as soon as it picked up. Slowly, you were able to open your eyes again, just in time for lightning to strike once more and... Wait. Through squinted eyes, you wondered: "Did the figure get bigger again? Or... Maybe not bigger, but..." The church bell rang in the distance. As if on cue, a hellishly red fire rose in front of you. It didn't seem to shed much light on your surroundings, but it did reveal this — this **thing** was standing right in front of you. This towering, imposing figure, maybe ten feet high. Like before, it was completely cloaked in shadow, but thanks to the fire raging behind it, its exact shape was even blurry and less clear. One thing you could tell though, and you didn't know how you knew this — it was smiling. It spoke. It was in a language you'd never heard before, but somehow, you understood perfectly well. It spoke of you how you were the chosen one. How you were meant to bring an end to it all. How the figure was there to guide you. You started to laugh. You didn't understand why. You just began to. It was maybe all you could do in the face of this. The figure continued to speak, but you could hardly hear it. Quickly, your laughter was growing louder, overpowering the figure and, shortly, even the rain around you. The figure's grin grew wider and it began to laugh along with you. It spread its mighty wings wide and reached out a clawed hand to take you. By that time, you didn't know if you were laughing or screaming. The forest was dark. Rain poured down in a seemingly endless torrent. The wind whipped around the trees. The church bell rang in the distance. ==< [...] >== Alright, so apologies for all that. Typically, I'm not 100% about the whole "Pitchfork writer who clearly can't wait for his own time to creative writing" mode of reviewing. Like, sure, I like seeing creative writing based on music, but if I come for a review, I come for a review, y'know? However, in this instance, I feel like writing all of that was maybe the only way I could really relay the reverence I have for this album. 'Cuz whatever I actually think about the contents of the album, I'll always hold it up as one of the most important releases in music history, for being the album where metal was born. Like, as far as I'm aware, the history of metal splits into two periods: pre-Sabbath proto-metal (think "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles), and then post-Sabbath. For sure, it's probably way more complicated than that, and I have a whole-ass book to confirm that, but that's just the legend that's been relayed to me, and it's one I've always believed. 'Cuz you've had heavy acts before like Led Zeppelin and that one Blue Cheer album, but nothing compared to even how this album opens. A slow, doomy, detuned riff, crashing drums, lyrics about a nightmarish figure that drives the singer mad, and an outro with a ripping solo. It's incredible. The title track alone and they've already got a masterpiece and cornerstone of an entire new genre. The album hardly lets up from there. And I'll admit, before re-listening to this album (which was my first time in a while, actually), I had the lingering thought that I'd come to discover I was overhyping the sound of this album to myself. Y'know, that it'd turn out that this album outside of its opener is just heavier-than-usual blues — and it's not **not** that. I'll say, I do prefer their follow-ups for refining their sound away from English blues. But make no mistake: this is **heavy** blues. You only need to listen to the sound of Tony Iommi's guitar. You hear that distortion? That menace? Heck, just how big it can sound? Not even Jimmy Page had a guitar sound like that. The magic it turned out you could get from playing a right-handed guitar upside down as a left-handed one. And I know we've all been living with Ozzy Osbourne and his singing for years now, between the wacko locomotives and telling his mother he'll be returning shortly, but we just hafta appreciate what a voice he has. It works so well with the dark subject matter he ends up singing about. Seriously, the way he wails "OH, PLEASE, GOD, NO" on the title track — it legit sounds like he's begging to not be driven insane by whatever dark forces are confronting him. And, jus', ahhh, that one vocal melody on "N.I.B.", it's so good. Let's not forget to give it up for Geezer and Ward. Metal's got great vocal and guitar histrionics (ooo, big word), but they'd be nothing about their rhythm sections. Watch me make that case especially when my group gets MASTER OF PUPPETS, but yeah, seriously, give a hand to Geezer and Ward for holding all this together. I've always loved the sound of Geezer's bass, I gotta say. Jus' got this... I'unno, "plomp" to it sometimes. That's a made-up word, but it's as close as I can get to how it sounds to my ears. And would you believe that this whole album was recorded in only twelve hours? Yeah, they pulled recording this off in less time than it took The Beatles to make PLEASE PLEASE ME. That's just crazy, right? Sure, I can't hear anything on here that sounds like it should have taken more than twelve hours, but if they can just bang out a record like this in that short of time, you can only imagine how much better the rest are when they had **more** recording time. I could go on — really, I could. It's hard for me to not gas up this album, even though, like I said, I prefer the two follow-ups more. It's a mandatory must for anyone interested in metal, just to hear the most commonly and widely agreed-upon point where the genre started. I mean, just for how so many bands that I love might not exist if this thing hadn't come out, I hafta give it respect for that alone. And all that, on the top of the fact that it rocks like hell? Are you hearing these **riffs**? I'm just saying, it's something when my only gripe about it is that the North American release jams a bunch of tracks together into large medleys. Would you even be surprised if I said this thing is a 5 to my ears? If you somehow missed the number at the top, the tone of my writing would probably give it away. And sure, there's probably gonna be other metal albums (even besides PARANOID and MASTERS OF REALITY) I'm gonna be way more positive about, if you can believe it, but I don't think any of them would inspire me to gush at length like this one did. Or inspire me to write **short-form narrative fiction** to open a review. I won't deny that its legacy and legend plays a part in why I like this album as much as I do, but, oh, what a legacy. What a legacy.

Metal in its purest form, nothing more and nothing less. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 10. It just fucking rocks. What else am I supposed to say? This is my first full Black Sabbath album, and my first full album of anything involving Ozzy Osbourne – I’ve heard singles before (War Pigs, Iron Man, Crazy Train, etc), but never a full album. I figured this one would be good, given the international success of everyone involved, but I wasn’t expecting it to be that good. Wikipedia mentions that this is generally considered to be the first true heavy metal album, and I can hear it – that opening track feels unlike any other atmosphere from an opening track on any other 70s album. It’s cool as shit, and sets a perfect tone for the rest of the album. After that, this thing breezes by – the harmonica at the start of The Wizard clicked perfectly with my sensibilities, and the entire soundscape just ruled. Behind the Wall of Sleep & N.I.B. are both sick as hell; the guitar solos during N.I.B. in particular are some of the best I’ve ever heard. Wicked World is oddly jazzy, with a bit of a Ram Jam - Black Betty type of vibe. Sleeping Village is pretty cool, before closing out on the blues-driven standout that is Warning. I hesitate to say “Ozzy Osbourne sounds kinda like Muddy Waters”, but it was the first comparison that came to mind vocally, and the instrumentation throughout is just spectacular. I could try to go deeper into the intricacies of what I liked about every track here, but it’s an experience much better served for the ears to hear, with headphones in, and full attention to the melodies being played. It’s surprisingly not as “heavy” as I thought it would be, at least for my modern standards of what’s considered heavy metal, but I’m not complaining at all. It’s a sick fucking album, I loved every single second of it front to back, and I’m a bit annoyed at myself for never listening to this until now. On a first pass, the charisma this album holds is simply undeniable (unless you REALLY fucking hate anything to do with Satan), and I have to imagine more of this album will reveal itself the more I come back to it. It already feels like a landmark album, and it’s just an easy, easy 10 for me.

The founding document for a new genre. A stone cold classic.

Arguably the greatest album cover of all time and arguably the most influential album of all time. Easy 5 stars.

I can't imagine what it must have been like to hear this album for the first time in 1970. And it still is great. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

My intro to myself!

Yeah this was great.

This was fun. I realized I’ve never just listened to a Black Sabbath album all the way through.

Can’t help but jam to this one

Wow, this is great. I’d give this album 4.5 stars if I could, but its vibes are just so good I’ll round up to 5. No song on here feels like a 5 star song, but everything together just works so well.

You can’t argue with the “first” heavy metal album being on this list. Especially such a good one. The next two albums of theirs are better, and I prefer Master of Reality. But this band was great. Did they have a three album run of five stars?!

Track One, Side one - five stars, job done. Perhaps 4.75 over the whole album, but can't have less than five stars.