Black Sabbath

yassss year 10 me is happy

The way blues influences appear on this album remind me of Led Zeppelin. But most of all, I was really surprised by the overall talent of the musicians. I had always known Black Sabbath set the standard for their genre, but never really appreciated them beyond the rare radio single our small town stations would play around here (and usual very late at night). I was sort of expecting to hear Spinal Tap when I hit play on this. But I now understand that film wasn’t parodying this band, or at least this iteration of them, but everybody who was trying to be them.

Bluesier than I expected. Similar to Cream, at times.

It's not my favorite Sabbath album, but it's excellent. For birthing a massive genre and for it's raw originality, though, it's a 5* album.

5 This is my first! I know this one like the back of my hand. Bill Ward swings so hard. 5.0 naturally. The first of six straight classics.

didn't listen. not my gig

Clearly a super influential band that spawned the metal genre. The atmospheric title track effectively imparts a dreadful feeling. Although all the references to Satan & Lucifer feel like a gimmick used for shock value. That aside evaluating this based on its own merits not a very good rock album.

This one didn't hold up for me. I can't with the guitar solos.

Groundbreaking. Sure. If that means introducing the cartoonish darkness that would pervade heavy metal for years to come. The Wizard cooks (silly lyrics aside) and N.I.B. is an all time riff amidst a 9 minute odyssey. The pieces are here but they got better in the years to come. Much better.

Black Sabbath - godfathers of heavy metal You would have thought the first heavy metal album would need some perfecting, some changes to be made, but nah. These guys pretty much mastered it off the get go. Riffs and solos, phenomenal. But my favourite bits of this album are the basslines, see N.I.B for the best example. Love the bluesy elements too I've tried to think of a fault for this album but honestly I'm struggling Best part is it's not even their best album. Not even second or third best either. Paranoid, Vol. 4, Heaven and Hell, Master of Reality, and possibly Sabbath Bloody Sabbath are all better than this, despite this being an easy 5. Just shows you how fucking insane Black Sabbath are.

4/5. Never imagined me liking heavy metal, but here we are. There is something mesmerizing about the relentless guitar and bass, the vocals, the other worldly fantasy lyrics. Need to hear more Black Sabbath.

I remember discovering Black sabbath about 8 years ago. I used to love their first two albums and I event got a compilation of their best hits from their early works. After some time, I got bored of them and I specially got tired of Ozzy's voice to the point I couldn't stand it. Today, after a long period of time, this list makes me listen to their debut album. I went to listen to this with the expectation of not liking it, but, surprisingly, I liked way more than I though I would, and particularly, I even liked Ozzy's voice. My problem with his singing style is, when he sings high notes, his voice feels forced, and that irritates me. Fortunately, in this album, Ozzy stays on a lower register, and it feels way more natural. So, what about the songs? This albums opens with a beast of a track, 'Black Sabbath'. The atmosphere is so gloomy and haunting. It is mind-blowing. And the fact that it stills this strong and impactful after 55 years makes it even better. After the opening, all the songs between 'The Wizard' and 'Evil Woman' are some very strong 'proto-metal' tracks, with strong riffs and catchy melodies, specially the harmonica in the 'The Wizard' and the choruses in 'NIB' and 'Evil Woman'. The last 3 songs (or 2, if you don't count 'Wicked World' as it was realeased as an exclusive track for the US version) are way weaker and more 'hard-rock' oriented. 'Sleeping Village' starts with a nice acoustic guitar which creates this great dismal atmosphere. My problem with this song is that I wish they would expand the song around the style and idea of this segment instead of changing to a more 'hard rock' track. Lastly, the last 2 tracks don't really add anything to the experience in my opinion, primarily 'Warning' which is a 10 minutes song that feels its only intention is to show off Tommy Iommi's guitar abilities. Don't get me wrong, I think is very impressive how good he plays knowing the backstory of this fingers, but I do feel it goes for way longer than it should. At the end, I'm thankful to come back to this album.

it's ok, not my cuppa

this is the eerier album from paranoid, so good, more raw and really showcases the band very well, the first song sets the scene perfectly and all songs go together so well, i think it might be my favourite sabbath album, amazing, rest in peace ozzy

2/5

Not a fan, only N.I.B was decent

Fucking scary cover Ah light sabbath again, still sounds soft Must have been hard af at the time tho, or I don't understand the appeal to this band. heavy music really has changed since, so thats probably the case N.I.B is not bad

Sabbath is absolutely killer! Awesome album

The Black Sabbath debut. Quintessential metal, rock supremacy and songs that makes you think you're in a horror movie, a couple songs drag along at the end, but still very enjoyable.

I had high hopes. I really did not enjoy it.

Fantastic album. Especially for the band's debut. Ozzy in his prime killing the vocals - particularly on the intro of the title track. Would have been such a different sound in 1970 even compared to what were considered heavier bands at the time. Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler blending the guitar and bass to create an auditory sludge you just can't get enough of. Throw in Bill Wards drumming (which isn't anything crazy but it works so well) and you've got an iconic album. 8.5/10

Eh, it was alright.

Many point to this as the very first heavy metal album so this is a pretty pivotal moment in music history. I went through a decent Black Sabbath phase a few years ago, and I think they have a lot better stuff - specifically the Paranoid and Master of Reality albums. But I do get why this album is so important and essential. I really enjoy N.I.B. but the album also feels like a lot of filler and drawn out jamming. Crazy to think of what Ozzie Osbourne would amount to after this. Hoping those two albums pop up in the future.

Wild that this came out in 1970. They're definitely trend setters, this album was pretty solid.

The G.O.A.T of Heavy Metal lp’s…period!

I love this album. It's not as polished as Paranoid but has so much charm. N.I.B. is the clear hit but The Wizard remains weirdly one of my favorite all time songs. I can't go with 5 stars because it's rocky but such a good debut.

BLACK SABBATH. This is the best album here so far. Damn I've listened to some songs here, but not the album fully. This is a blessing toy ears. Last 4-5 albums were so meh, that I started to dissappoint. My faith has restored. Now this is the birth of heavy-metal here, one best albums oat. Trully an album to listen to while alive. Songs saved: all.

1. Black Sabbath - 7/10 2. The Wizard - 7.5/10 3. Behind the Wall of Sleep - 6/10 4. N.I.B. - 9/10 5. Evil Woman - 7.4/10 6. Sleeping Village - 6/10 7. Warning - 8/10 8. Wicked World - 7/10 7.5/10

Really good. I'm glad that I discovered Black Sabbath. Probably the most overall find in terms of famous bands that I have overlooked. This album was really solid - haunting riffs, kind of bluesy, great lyrics. I wasn't into it as much as Paranoid, so maybe that set too high of a bar

Like it or not, first metal album of all time is vital. Fortunately, Black Sabbath aren’t only the first, but one of the best.

This was a really interesting listen. From what I can see online, this was Sabbath’s first album. I remember reading about how the term “heavy metal” wasn’t really a thing before Sabbath, and Ozzy’s book said they considered themselves to be heavy blues at the beginning. You can certainly hear this in the album. It’s fascinating to sit and listen to the birth of a genre that has inspired countless other bands, knowingly or not.

Dark and lumbering

duroo

Good, but short. 3/5

92% Best: Black Sabbath; Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B.; Wicked World Must-Hear? Yes. Every track is killer.

Man this must have been crazy to hear in 1970. Dark, foreboding, hard but melodic. I prefer other hard rock from the era or Paranoid though.

It was an alright album, I enjoyed it. There where no big hits on it but there weren't any bad songs either. Didn't love it so I'll give it a 3.

The longer the note, the more dread

Great album that really innovated Doom metal. Title track is easily the best, the vocals are unbeatable

4.5 stars easy. That first song, Black Sabbath on Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath, might be the most important metal song ever written. It defines so much about the sound of the genre moving forward and so many other sounds and cultures probably don't emerge without it. The overall sound of the album is incredible considering this is 1970. As it goes, it gets a little boring and becomes more of this Led Zeppelin psychedelic blues thing without the darkness of some of the earlier tracks.

Disappointing

Kick ass

Follow me now and you will not regret

The great-granddaddy of metal. Aged, a little rough around the edges, but still a solid album.

This album is funky as hell. The solos alone make it a very engaging listen, for the instrumental passages have THICK atmospheres about them. Ozzy genuinely sounds like a funky ass prophet of sorts. To me this album is a bluesy soup of rhythms, rock riffs, lumbering ass riffs, meat and potato drums, and a master funk wizard wailing thru it all. Wicked world is wild for that big band vibe. Wizard has the harmonica stuff, just really was not expecting those kinds of sounds but I think the charm of this album is captured in those odd funky moments. I do really love the drums on the lengthy closer apart from the very windy solos and how they all work together to keep that thing morphin. Tight album. It's not my favorite Black Sabbath album but it certainly has it's place with the eccentricity.

My least favourite of their first six albums but that opener and NIB. The Wizard and Evil Woman are fun too. The Wizard especially probably deserved to stay in their set longer.

Not too bad

Yeeeeesssssss!!! This is going to be so much fun. Loved it

Shoutout to Bill Ward, one of the most underrated drummers in rock history. Dude had some amazing ideas on this thing.

4.5 - Great

Which version, the one I grew up with didnt have Wicked World? Doesn't matter, it's still great.

liked it more than expected

Black Sabbath, their 1970 debut of the same name is an album I could listen to any day of the week. What a great way to start their career! The album starts strong with driving bass lines, impressive guitar work, decent vocals and gets better as you listen. Best song is Bassically / N.I.B. followed by Wicked World, but they’re all good. Very strong finish. Never a huge fan, but BS comes in at (4.3*s)

"Black Sabbath" by Black sabbath on the album Black Sabbath...were they really trying to push the band or what? Not a bad debut for them or the genre though. Definitely upped their game with the second album "Paranoid" but BS is no BS. Early heavy metal with some harder guitar and dark jam sessions. Ozzy's spooky tone works too. Give them credit for kicking off something new...2.28.

Now realizing that this album is considered the starting point of heavy metal I realize I need to redefine the genre in my mind and revise my stance on my fandom. What was once considered heavy metal is so much smoother and melodic than I expected. I've admittedly slept on Black Sabbath as I wouldn't call myself a heavy metal fan. Now getting some exposure to their early discography I realize I've been wrong about the early roots of metal. Black Sabbath's debut is a very solid album with some great tunes. Ozzie' young voice is raw and melodic while the darker lyrics add a lot of character to the mix. Iommi's guitar work is great and really drives the album behind Ozzie's vocals. Not sure why the likes of Black Sabbath didn't get more airplay in my youth. I definitely need to give these guys their due as they've been a blind spot for me for too long. 3.59 stars

Really impressive, perhaps not surprising. I like some metal, but never took a deep dive into the past. I should have. I can only imagine the fear the establishment and parents had when this came out. Thanks BS, for ushering in a new era of music for us all. Five dark pentagrams.

because of listening to bark at the moon too young, ozzy's voice continues to scare me.

I've never actually listened to a full Black Sabbath's album, and I don't think I've ever heard stuff from their debut. For some reason, I expected it to be kinda scary. But it wasn't! It was very atmospheric and almost pensive. A nice surprise.

cool shit. like the blues but harder. ozzy's still learning how to sing but it's all there. lots of cool solo and instrumental passages. they're still kinda figuring it out, but a solid foundation for what was to come.

10/09/2025 I've only ever listened to classic Sabbath songs before, but i enjoyed this.

This album is fantastic. Has been a top album of mine for years and years. It's rare you get so much talent in one group. It's a classic metal album. Arguably the "First". And the influence of all that came after this 1970 classic is incredible. easy 5/5

Sickest album ever

Not for me Roy. Competent but ponderous.

Very grungy rock. Has some unique elements that you wouldn't expect from rock (harmonica).

The guitar, that's all I could hear. New fav tracks form the album- N.I.B, Black Sabbath and Behind the Wall of Sleep. The progression of Behind the Wall kept me captivated. Dislikes: Southern sounds.

Eigenlijk best wel cool. Vooral het eerste nummer. Hele specifieke oldschool (doom) metal sound.

Sloppy sometimes, silly most of the time. More blues based than their latter stuff.

I love hearing all the bluesy parts in early metal. ‘The Wizard’ is a fantastic song. I do think some of the longer jams lost my interest. But really looking forward to more Sabbath in this list!

Loved, LOVED the first song, and enjoyed all the rest. Would definitely like to give this a closer listen. I'm not normally into metal or blues, but the performances really sell this. 3.5 stars.

Jammin record

That's some good heavy dark rock 'n' roll. 8.2/10

Fantastic

3 albums maken op minder dan 2 jaar tijd, waarvan elk album schijte goed is, je moet het maar doen. Ruige sound, crunchy gitaren en dan die stem van Ozzy. Ik hoop dat Master of Reality en Paranoid ook nog komen. 4.4

Not really my kind of music

dit is hoe een debuut plaat moet klinken... boenk erop van eerste tot laatste noot...

Apart from it's two bit hitter tracks in N.I.B. and The Wizard, Black Sabbath forces you to experience a 70's heavy metal experience, where the norms weren't as established yet, allowing creative approaches even to the detriment of the song.

Even on a Monday morning, this album gives that laying between two giant speakers, stereo at 10 feeling. 5 stars or A-.

One of the greatest albums of all time. Created and defined the whole Metal genre. Iommi's innovative approach to electric guitar has inspired five generations, and his influence shows no sign of fading. This album was my musical awakening. I bought it the first time I saw it on the shelf, and it has never left my stack of favorites.

Ozzy's voice is terrible...

As an evangelical kid who believed in Satan, I thought I would burn in hell if I listened to something like Black Sabbath, so I never tuned in. If this is the soundtrack to hell, sign me up--this turned out to be great.

This was certainly an album with a lot of instrumental solos. Sure, it is a landmark album but I feel like it's more a historical curiosity than an actually good album. It gets very muddy in places, it's repetitive despite the short length, and perhaps one or two solos could have been omitted. I'm glad I listened. It's okay in places and I can see why it's so influential. This album just doesn't wow me.

I've heard of the band, I knew they were heavy metal, but I couldn't have told you anything else. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it, but I mildly do - it's not as heavy as I'd assumed.

Extremely short, which is a knock against most albums. Feel like you're not getting your money's worth if it's not at least 30min. Otherwise, wouldn't it just be an EP? However, the tracks are pretty good, underrated, hard rock Black Sabbath songs, especially Wicked World.

Before this, I had mainly just known War Pigs and Iron Man, and while I enjoyed them, I never felt the need to dive deeper into their discography. I'm glad I got this album, because it really solidified in my head what Black Sabbath was and why they were great. There were no bad tracks, and it took me two listens to even pick a favorite. I ended up going with the last track, because it most exemplified my favorite parts of the album. Favorite Track: A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning

Oooooh shit. The guitar on this slaps. Am I a Sabbath fan now? I guess so

Previously rated: Vol. 4 (5/5) Paranoid (5/5) ********************* There's some killer stuff here that I already knew like The Wizard and N.I.B. in particular. But the last group of songs at the end don't really go anywhere. But I will gladly give it another listen in the future.

Good yet a sort of awkward transition from blues rock into metal with a bit too many traditional instruments that work against the atmosphere of the album for me

Heavy but hardly a slog. The soloing never feels repetitive. The vocals are iconic. For some reason I'd never before picked up on Ozzy's enunciation being so clear. Favorite track: Black Sabbath

Some good shit. Not nearly as good as Paranoid which came out only six months later (!) but still listenable and rocking. A little self-indulgent.

A very powerful sense of dread

One of my favorites. The one that started it all. My friends and I would listen to this album in the dark and dig the heavy sound. This one goes to 11.

Nuria: 2 Jaime: 3.5

Fine

Ozzy for life

Enjoyable. Favourite tracks: The Wizard, Evil Woman & Warning Would relisten. 3/5

MASTERPIECE 10/10 (warning is only mid song)

Probably the first time that I've listened all the way through a Sabbath album. Not bad. Just gotta try to ignore the lyrics and some of the guitar solos (the solo at 9:50 of the last track killed me dead). 2.5 stars.

I’m actually in the middle of a pretty fruitful acid rock phase with an eye to how Sabbath represents the road taken towards hard rock/metal (whereas punk and hardcore cleaved off earlier thanks to the Stooges and MC5 and Velvets?). Anyhow, one of my favorite bands to occasionally listen to but I can never take it seriously thanks to Ozzy/Geezer’s black occult preoccupations. I’m more patient these days with the concept of Satan as (mostly) western culture’s way of handling temptations and everything else but, good grief. I could listen to Iommi, Geezer, and Ward do their thing all day, such a great capture of tone (even if it’s not “pro”).

Thanks to the Wizard everything started. One of my most favorite albums.

☀︎pas si pire ☀︎3.5

Not my genre really, long songs, unnecessary intros, yet guitar was pretty outstanding good if you like classic rock/heavy metal

Very nice, better to not make sense of it and just listen. NIB and wicked woman have lyrics worth listening to, but overall the album is pretty nice if you listen to the riffs and guitar.

Not their best album (which is understandable since it's their first), but there's still some good stuff on here. Hard not to compare it to their later stuff that's more polished. 3.4

essential

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🏚️👩🏻‍🦱👻 Production (2009 Remastered): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🖤🌪️🔨🐢💀🔥 Rating: 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇/5

This album is not as strong as Paranoid, but it is insane to think this came out the same year. 4/5

actually quite enjoyable

Great listen. Not as heavy as expected. Interesting lyrics on this one. I found the singers voice strange as first but warmed up to it. Highlights: Black Sabbath, N.I.B., Warning Will return.

no

bill ward is such a badass drummer. this is what i consider proper rock and roll. ozzy's vocals are so underrated. he's got the range of bono but actually making good music. changed the course of rock and roll and also holds up today 55 years later as being heavier than the current hits while also still being accessible.

Debut album, supposed to invoke horror. Very early metal. Really good metal. Laying a ton of ground work.

Enjoyed more than I thought I would, especially the Wizard and N.I.B. The cover of this record is an iconic image, which is both opposed to my view of "classic" heavy metal aesthetic and at the same time totally effective in giving the sense of psychedelia decaying towards foreboding. The riff from 'Black Sabbath' is a weird tri-tone arpeggio that is hypnotic and feels like it has little connection to the heavy blues rock of the rest of the record. A world-shifting riff.

Good riffs

Not bad, one of the better ones so far. 3.8/5

I might come back to this occasionally. It's not really my vibe, but it's cool stuff

I actually really enjoyed it. I'll have to listen to more of them

Production: 4/5 Lyricism: 3/5 Sound: 3/5 Enjoyment: 2.5/5 Overall: 3.1/5

powerful riffs

Good albim

This is #day253 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… "What is this that stands before me?" Well, a history book of heavy metal, my child. Less than two weeks ago, I got Paranoid, and having listened to it front to back for the first time, I ended up giving it a 5. The band's self-titled debut is, without a doubt, a seminal work, often credited with laying the foundations for doom metal, stoner rock, and whatnot. It's crazy to think it was recorded in a single session... what was it, 12 hours? Just raw energy, captured in a moment of time. It's riff-heavy music, sometimes hilariously over the top, but imagine hearing this 55 years ago... I'm tempted (or rather obliged) to give it a 5, so be it. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day254.

This probably blew people’s minds when it was first released. The power and darkness of the riffs are still amazing today.

Starting off with rainy church bells is an interesting choice, love that guitar riff accompanying the bells. The ramp up was a lot fun to finish off a solid first track. Starting out the next one with harmonica to soothe the soul. You can tell they had a lot of fun with the directional audio in general, nice engineering.

🤘🤘🤘 The build up on the title track is epic. Listened to this album on my way to work, walked in and punched my boss in the face, took a shit in the drive through tube and quit my job.

Oh god please no

So cool to hear how they were figuring things out. Paranoid definitely benefits from this experimentation. So much harmonica! And jaw harp?!? LOL.

Classic

You can only trust yourself and the first four Sabbath albums Half an hour that changed music

Very good album lots of neat riffs

I can recognize the talent but I'm not a huge fan of metal. Got to give credit for being one of the pioneering albums though. Didn't prefer the long multi song tracks.

I liked the guitars and the melodies.

A bit too instrument heavy for general listening but when in the mood for light metal it is great.

Yes. One of the rock band I can relate to. Mild head banging tunes. Iron Man one of my favorite.

It was weird if im being honest

I quite enjoy Sabbath, though I will say they have better stuff than this self titled album. Still, much enjoyed.

I would give this album 0 stars if I could.

A classic, but not my style personally

I guess I get it but I don't like it

This is the first time I've listened to this album in its entirety!! I loved it!! I need this in my collection!!

Banger

I really enjoyed this. Was really only familiar with Crazy Train (which is just Ozzy anyway) so this was a pleasant surprise. Great riffs and energy, a lot of zeppelin in there.

I like the tone of this one, more rock, less prince of darkness.

Hell yah dude. Absolutely

Fuck yes, so good

And on the 13th day, there was heavy metal darkness. And then came the satanic harmonica, the most fearsome of sounds especially when played in the dark. Frightened, we trembled and fell having no upright bass to hold on to. +one star for kind of creating their own genre.

Good early metal. Love NIB and the Wizard.

Me, having never listened to Black Sabbath before: Ooh, there's harmonica on Wizard! And a llllong-ass guitar solo on the last track.

Halloween rock.

Never really listened to Sabbath before, but this was really interesting, bridging from blues to metal. A worthwhile listen.

Though not better than "Paranoid", it is a really great start for this band's career, and, like Paranoid, a innovative one too. It really tells us that the 60s was no more and that a new era of music is rising. Quite progressive in my opinion, and I like to give it a 8/10.

fuck yeah. i can hear so many other rock songs that this stuff could be an influence of, no wonder they call him the godfather of heavy metal. Warning, what a ballad!

Not my style but ok.

“Alright guys. It’s the first song on our first album. Let’s not get too crazy.” *Single handily invents Doom Metal*

A rip roaring good time indeed. Imagine this being your debut album? Cheeeezzzz. Faves: Black Sabbath, A bit of finger…

Yes, yes, yes! You just have to hear the opening and you'll know what it's about. The church bells, the thunderstorm, the riff, and then the cover, all perfectly arranged; "Black Sabbath" begins. Brilliant.

Of ik moest inkomen of dit album werd gaandeweg steeds beter. 8/10

Not many albums codify a whole genre. It also swings more than you might expect

Jeez. This is fine, but I don’t need Black Sabbath singing white mans blues about baby mama drama.

Best track N.I.B.

I've only ever heard a few Black Sabbath singles as outside of Led Zeppelin, I've never been that into this style of 70s hard rock. However, I really liked this. Some great riffs, with a surprising amount of melody. That said it suffers from being a early (the first?) metal album in that it feels quite quaint in comparison to how heavy the genre has become in some places

This was a solid metal album with a badass vibe. I already liked Black Sabbath before this but this made me have a deeper appreciation for them! Some of the songs reminded me of Led Zeppelin but overall I really enjoyed this album!

One of the best debut albums of all time.

Birth of a new world here, glad I listened to it. Never going to listen again though.

I can't say I've ever been a fan of heavy metal or Black Sabbath, but there is something dark, gloomy and sinister about their debut album that introduced us to Ozzy and his evil intentions. The first heavy metal album is merely an extension of the hard rock blues sound of the late 60's, with Sabbath playing up the devil/anti-religion jargon that attracted additional attention. Definitely a record that has it's influence and importance, blah blah blah...it truly is something you need to be in the mood for full impact, but regardless an essential listen.

Hell yeah, this isn’t polished at all but fuck the tone and the sound is so good. Sabbath’s peak would come a bit later but there’s something to them not having great production or control over the instruments. Iommi sounds like he’s battling his guitar the entire time, the band is thrashing, and Ozzy is in full theatrics. Great fuckin’ album, but could do without the 14 minute jam at the end.

alltime evil riff followed by some mid

Pretty good! I vibed with it, don’t think I’d put a song on my playlist but still good.

Really enjoyed this, effortlessly cool and classic.

This is a pure 70’s rock album. Not my type of music but it wasn’t bad

Rock music - not really my forte. I’ll have to keep this review short since im in a hurry right now - had some really good tracks but I wasn’t really blown away by any of them

The first heavy metal album (at least on purpose), and it still holds up amazingly well. You can hear the foundation of where Black Sabbath would evolve, but still a great debut. 4⭐️

Am playing catch up and following Ozzy's sad death I thought to tackle all 3 of the Sabbath albums on my to listen list. Had not really listened to much Sabbath before and had previously found Ozzy to be a bit of a clown. Was therefore really surprised how much I enjoyed each of the three albums (Black Sabbath, Paranoid & Vol4) - the rhythm section in particular is really tight with some great hooks and riffs. Dug a little deeper and was fascinated about Ionni's missing digits and how he had to adapt his playing style and how this influenced his way of playing. Fascinating to see how influential these albums were in establishing metal and all its various sub genres. I do not particularly like heavy metal but I do really like Black Sabbath - so will score all albums a 5 - with Paranoid being the stand out.

Looking back I wish I’d given Paranoid 5, especially in light of all the awful metal that we’ve had subsequently. I love the portentous storm and bell ringing sound effects leading into the title track. Like the Paranoid album it treads the fine line between silly and serious (or stupid and clever), being both enjoyable and pompous at the same time, and the song is great, swampy and heavy and then galloping, all propelled by excellent drumming and bass playing. The lyrics are also good - whereas later metal bands used satanic imagery to try and shock in an adolescent edgelord way, here the story is more about the religious fear of evil. The Wizard in the same vein is great too, and everyone is happy when the wizard walks by. Little bit of Led Zep to Behind the Wall of Sleep but some nice bounce in the bass. NIB is great, some excellent bass again and I like the riff. I didn’t realise that Evil Woman and Warning were covers at first. I don’t know the originals but I like these, they fit the whole vibe well. And Sleeping Village is excellent, a nice bluesy groove, and the slightly middle easter riff is great, and it gives a slightly different feel to the album. I don’t think it’s quite as good as Paranoid, it definitely feels like the precursor to that album (which in a Beatle-esque manner came out only 6 months later), but it’s still an excellently enjoyable bit of heavy rock, with excellent bass, drums and guitar. If Paranoid should have been a 5 this is an easy 5. 🖤🖤🖤🖤 Playlist submission: Black Sabbath

I surprised myself by giving Paranoid top marks. Black Sabbath are a great find I.e. I obvs had heard them but hadn't listened. They blow away subsequent 'heavy' rock, thrash rock/doom rock/torture rock/pain rock/injury rock, out to the furthest fucking reaches of the universe. First half powerful - second half loses structure and its way. That all comes together in the next album.

This is about as good as it gets when it comes to debut albums. I'm coming to find out more and more that there's something about Black Sabbath that scratches my brain in all the right places.

Not my genre but this project throws up some surprises. Was much kinder to my ears than I expected. Not as heavy or shouty as I expected and appreciated the melody. N.I.B favourite track.

Always enjoy listening to early Sabbath. This album is a good showpiece as to how tight a band Sabbath were. All stand out tracks for me and in particular enjoyed, behind the wall of sleep and NIB this time around.

I like black sabbath by black sabbath on black sabbath

Yeah this is where it all started cunt, never thought about a wizard being scary but I guess they're right. Sounds a lot like a poor man's cream tho

It gets better atleast

Have not listened to this since I was getting punched in the head by someone's older brother in a shag carpet basement some time in the early 1980s.

I think this might be the first and only time I give an album a 5* rating halfway through! :) It has been foretold. Utterly brilliant, I forgot just how much I love this first album and how great it sounds. Thank you 1001 :)

short album, really cool bass riffs

Excellent metal

Debut album. Apparently recorded in a couple days, but the band had been playing 7 45 minutes sets a day in a bar in Zurich, so they had lots of practice for the first couple albums

Surprisingly progressive lyrically for the time (and the public personality!). This goes in the category of expecting I would have felt differently if alive at the time. For modernity it’s just not for me and I didn’t gain much from the exposure.

p198. 1970. 1 star. Below par Brit heavy metal with schoolboy lyrics and a naff cover. Like Wyld Stallyns, they got better. Genre defining, possibly. Essential listening, no.

Good, grimey and way ahead of its time. Not as good as paranoid or MOR though.

Fucking awesome

I have no time for heavy metal and I’ve never really listened to Black Sabbath. I assumed it would be noise for about +40 minutes. Couldn’t have been more wrong. They clearly have their own sound, but what happened to metal after this. So much sh*t!!

Very unsure with this one! Actually wasn’t as bad as I thought, the guitar is incredible

Maybe I’m judging it harder than I should because I know they make better music later (or rather almost immediately with their next album) but I thought this was fine. I’m feeling a strong 6 to a light 7. Favorite Song: A Bit of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning

I forgot how much of this is a blues album. The origins of metal are certainly in here, but to me it's still exceedingly proto. Aside from some riffs and lyrical aesthetic, it's sort of a blues/rock album to me. I see why Christgau and Bangs, two critics I respect the hell out of, found them to be hacks, but I think in retrospect they were wrong. I don't love metal, but I need Sabbath to be a little more metal before I can wholesale sign off. As it stands, they are a blues band with edge. 7.5/10

7/10 Good album by a good band. Not my favorites but I enjoyed this album and will likely return.

I can imagine how this was ahead of its time coming out in 1970. It's ok but not my thing, 3*

Not quite at the level of Paranoid, but still pretty fun.

ну зашибись че

Great debut.

Arguably the first metal album ever, and what a banger it is. Still a unique sound 50 years on. It does meander a bit in the latter half but still.

godinhos

Oh yeah - this album holds up so well for something over 50 years old. Ended up listening to Sabbath all day

Classic

Embarrassingly- I have not listened to this album before though I enjoyed Paranoid. I did this album perfectly with drive that lasted about the same time as the album. As a first listen I was impressed- 4/5

Uuuuuh, one of the best metal albums of all time. Amatzing musicianship + great atmosphere. Plenty of space for improvisation, which they did live. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

That's just blasphemy.

4- Stars (10/15)

If this list has taught me one thing, it’s that Black Sabath A-sides, have nothing in the B-sides. This is absolute carnage and chaos, but controlled in such a delicate, precise manner. Rock and fucking roll, man.

HERE COMES HEAVY METAL! \m/ well, what... can i say? here's where everything starts. although it's still not as good as "Paranoid", i may say. but still a 5.

Killer album. The noodling gets a bit masturbatory in the last two thirds of the album, but it's a damn good album.

A young band had an idea. What if we make music that’s…scary. The rest is history.

Good album but I found the songs sounded similar in many cases dropping it to a 3

It’s Black Sabbath. The beginning of Heavy Metal starts here!

I know this is the start of great things but this is not great it clearly is the origin of there sound and metal being born but its not good. I am sure if this was all new to you you could think this was great but coming to it fresh it's just not finished as a sound and not really worth a listen there later albums are vastly better.

I love u ozzy

Great album and the birth of the metal style. I forget how bluesy this album is but still maintains the metal feel. Completely forgot that they play harmonica even. It's not the fast, shred style, but it carries that darkness in tone and in feel. The singing doesn't really knock my socks off but the rest of the music does.

God this is pretty rancid bar N.I.B. and The Wizard and even then I'm not putting them on any playlist or going out of my way to listen to them. This has aged like piss and the only thing it has going for it is its front cover. I did used to like this but I've grown to dislike it.

Awesome.

Between the album cover and the music itself, I love love love the vibes here.

Neat to see both the origins of Black Sabbath and heavy metal in this album. Although it doesn't reach the heights of Paranoid, it is still a great album with legendary musicians.

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.

fine fine 3/5

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

Ansaitsee paikkansa klassikkona ja genrensä isähahmona. Toimii myös edelleen. 4/5

This shit is so hard! Whoever is on the guitar is absolutely shredding. Ozzy’s voice is the perfect complement to it to, like a cherry on top of a sundae.

When I was a teenager in the 80s, I think I overlooked a lot of bands because they didn't fit my aesthetic at the time. It seems that Black Sabbath was one of those bands. Great album.

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

Wow. Never heard this album before and it was brilliant! So many great riffs and guitar solos, right up my street.

My #10 GAOAT! (10) ★★★★★

Don't like thr sinister vibe too much, but love the guitar playing. 4.5 stars

I'm not a big Black Sabbath guy, and I find this album a bit boring as a whole. I think they get a lot better on Paranoid. "NIB" is probably the standout for me, but the rest I could take or leave. Light 3 stars.

None too shabby Black Shabbath debut. Does lay the seedlings and groundwork for the heavy metal genre ok enough and title song is super iconic. Whilst it is a good late 60s rawk album throughout it is not totally phenomenally top class and all my fav Sabbath songs are indeed on their next one Paranoid. 3.5 stars.

I get it, it was the birth of a new genre and massively influential. For me there is something lacking though, a bit of pizazz or theatrically. There are some killer riffs but it all goes a bit pedestrian and plodding at times. I think the production is partly to blame. Ozzy’s voice is a weak link here. Want to give this 3.5

I can respect what is going on here. Hell, there were moments I found mystifying and worth appreciating! However, I can confidently say I would never be scrolling through my music collection and pick this out for a casual listen. That's a personal preference thing at the end of the day though, and as an album I can see how it paved the way for a genre of music that has become popular, so I will settle with a 3/5 here to split the difference

Best debut album ever Stupendous

Better than i expected

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!

Don’t think that it hits the heights of Paranoid which I rated a 5 but this comes very close to it. Great album, loved it.

Rough around the edges, but understandable for the first of its kind.

They haven't quite figured the whole thing out yet, here. The pieces sound amazing though - such great guitar sounds and the drums are recorded impeccably. It's mind-blowing how much the musical decisions made on this record still reverberate. There must be thousands of kids who imitate this sound (via generations of metal heads) and have never actually heard of Black Sabbath.

Surprisingly this is probably my favorite black Sabbath album I'm probably an odd one out on that one

I found this one a bit basic, I had hoped for better. It failed to capture my attention Standouts N.I.B 3/5

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.

3.5

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.

They're tight and no doubt this was very influential. Liked it, didn't love it 3.4

Not my kind of music. But is was good

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.

This album kind of rules. I can see myself boosting this to five stars with future listens. The first intro track alone, what a first impression!

Didn't enjoy this. Felt like a rather long 42 minutes.

Classic Loud gloomy doomy listen Perfect album

++: Black Sabbath, Behind the Wall of Sleep, N.I.B., Evil Woman +: Sleeping Village, Warning +-: The Wizard 9,0/10

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.

Ozzy! Black Sabbath! I love these guys! This is a great intro album for them it shows you just how they were and of course it's regarded as the first metal album so that's pretty dope! While it doesn't have many of their more popular songs it does well in showing what they could do and what they were planning on going for

I’ve never listened to this and was lukewarm on Black Sabbath coming in, but this is pretty sweet. My favorite British album to date from this journey.

great rock

I first bought this when I was 14, and I thought it was great. I have t heard it in 40+ years and it still kicks butt

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.

Heard it before. Honestly seeing the release year is a little crazy, truly an influential album. That said, I don't have any strong feelings when it comes to the songs 2/5

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!

it was okay. it wasn't bad by any means, but it was a lot of ambient guitar solos and not a lot of lyrics. I also don't like when multiple songs are combined into one song. I liked the wizard the most, probably. But the guitar transition from sleeping village into warning was nice.

🪦

More melodic than I would have thought. Very pleasantly surprised! 4/5

This is just really good rock. Maybe I'm a little numb to how good this is, as a listen to a lot of stuff like this, but this is my first time listening to this album. It's basic, as in, it has all the basic elements of rock of this time, without anything extra or particularly unique. But it's all very high level. The guitar riffs, the singing is excellent. I could listen to this over and over. Favorite Song(s): Black Sabbath, N.I.B., Wicked World

Det er noe så behagelig med å bare drukne ørene i de mørke og tjukke riffene til Iommi. De har en så naturlig og digg driv. Tilbakelent samtidig som intenst. "N.I.B." er definitivt høydepunktet. Noen av sangene mangler fokuset som man hører på de følgende albumene. Dette er langt fra den beste Sabbath platen, men det er et meget banebrytende album for det om.

No thanks. Helter Skelter scratches this itch for me. Paranoid works for me, a bit. This doesn't really.

In my opinion this is the first true Heavy Metal album. Iommi’s guitar sound and style is the sound bands like Metallica would use, not Deep Purple or Zeppelin. Some great blues/metal riffs, incredibly gloomy album 7.8/10

I have heard a bunch of black sabbath through the years and I like a lot of it. Their signature sound is certainly here in this album and you can clearly see where they started. At the same time it makes it clear what they refined towards later albums. It was fun listening to this album but I think I'll stick to the later songs personally.

9/10

Where it all started. A genre defining album

No thanks

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!

It's alright.

# 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

black sabbath rocks

Didn’t really tickle my fancy, and I preferred their album “Paranoid”. I liked N.I.B, but felt that songs blended together on the album overall.

This is good, but didn’t really get any emotional reaction from me. The guys are talented and there’s some bangers in here but this is one of those cases where I don’t have anything to add to the conversation. I do appreciate the trend of rock/metal bands in the 60’s and 70’s all starting off super bluesy because it’s what they would have grown up listening to though. 3 songs added to my playlist, 5 added to the 1001

Without this, we'd never have one of the greatest reality TV shows of all time. I prefer later Black Sabbath albums, but there's still plenty to like here. Imagine being 16 in 1970 and hearing the opening track. How much you can achieve by just tuning down and playing slower... Highlight: Black Sabbath

Pre: Yeah it's hard to qualify this as a pre-listen cause this is one of the first albums I bought on CD and listened to for many a car journey. Still, because of that I haven't listened to it in years so it's good to come back to it. Post: I know a good amount of this isn't Sabbath originals so it's interesting to see how a lot of it does come across heavily bluesy before they really found their footing. Coming back to this though I was mostly surprised how Ozzy doesn't seem to have found his footing yet really, which is hardly surprising for a debut but compared to Paranoid released the same year it's an interesting difference. Despite that though everyone else is on point. Geezer Butler is one of the reasons I wanted to learn Bass and this album has some amazing work in spades. N.I.B. has some excellent highlights from everyone all round. On the whole though I'd rate this album higher if I hadn't listened to the proceeding albums from them and what they're capable of. The Wizard, Black Sabbath are highlights to me but on the whole this does and is a band that hasn't quite found it's footing yet. Highlight: N.I.B. (Specifically the Geezer noodling at the start)

Great album, I enjoyed every song.

I don't know what to say other than that this is pretty good and it drew me in.

Get your dinner of bats and LSD ready: it’s Black Sabbath time! Again, I have heard Black Sabbath my entire life. I enjoy hearing some of the classics over and over again, but I actually enjoy listening to some of the deep cuts. I don’t normally get to hear even more. Geezer’s bass intro on NIB is a classic every bass player must know. What I appreciated more this listen was the continued jazz undertones Bill Ward used throughout, especially on Sleeping Village/Warning. This album definitely was less focused on the hard-driven rock and allowed Sabbath to show how amazing they were all musically. When people rip on metal, this is a good album to play for them with a healthy “HA!!!!”

Random thoughts: * This is the OG metal album. * It is basically a harder version of Led Zeppelin. * I especially hear that Zepp comparison especially in The Wizard due to the harmonica. * This album flowed nicely and was a good listen.

this EP from the very beginning has the distinct BS sound while still sounding raw and at the beginning of it's refinement. The epicness is still there while having a certain innocence to it. great album.

The album that birthed Heavy Metal. The sound, the feeling even the look in some regard. You've got top tier Metal classics like Black Sabbath, N.I.B. The Wizard.... The whole album is great. An essential metal record. A must have.

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

Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill, 4 likely lads from jolly old England. And they kicked off a whole new world. Favorite was the Wasp.

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.

Fantastic, genre defining album. I think there is still growth from here to the next Black Sabbath albums and they were still finding their feet.

classic

One of the best. Amazing detail in the bass

powerhouse rock!