Reviews (page 5 of 17)
me gusta el album pq osea si es rock, pero mas tirando pa lo calmado , como musica de fondo en el carro o pintando
I thought trying not to listen to this after Ozzy's recent death and not let it influence my decision would be difficult but seeing as this album is absolutely fucking immense the band make it easy. The first ever metal album opens with bash your head in riffs, some wailing bloke singing incantations, pummeling drums and surprisingly jazzy bass lines. Goddamn this album rocks and it opens with a song title the same as the album title the same name of the band; how many have done that? If you don't like this album you can just fuck right off and give your ears a clean and try again. Best Tracks: Black Sabbath; The Wizard; N.I.B.
I remember the first time I heard this album: I was very young and it scared the shit out of me. It was the beginning of heavy metal, which is named after the steel plants and industrial factories of Northern England, including Birmingham and Sheffield. I am a Sabbath fan and metal head, and this one's getting full marks from me.
Brilliant, love this album. I’m a recent Sabbath convert
*1970. Debut album. *Pretty standard Black Sabbath sound. *As always, lyrics are abysmal. RATING - 6/10
This and Paranoid were on permanent rotation on my dads record player. I was shocked at how many songs I recognized or at least got a familiar melody out of. Its weird space alien rock, beginnings of heavy metal. Smoke up, turn on the black light and melt into the music.
Some classic heavy metal. Songs about Hell and wizards. Good stuff
I’m really not in to
Not quite as great as their albums, but still very good 4.5*
sick album 8/10
The only thing I liked about this album was the opening thunderstorm which started off the first song. All the guitar riffs and heavy drumming just gave me a headache.
3/5 can see the vision but on first listen sounds very samey with some nice solos and licks best: NIB
Pretty good ngl
The birth of heavy metal. Still totally rocks and takes a well-deserved place on this list. And a big shout out to Louisa Livingstone on that album cover, too, setting the tone for all the tunes to come.
> the Beatles
Yeah this shit rips. This was my first Sabbath record listened all the way through and what a way to start.
Black Sabbath rocks. The bass is surprisingly funky and really good on this record.
Great album
I've never cared much for the slow plodding of doom metal but considering this is the forerunner of the genre and doesn't sound like anything else at the time I'll give it a pass; especially since it does eventually kick into some heavy blues rock.
Surprised my positively. Not my genre of choice usually, but this was good.
Great debut album. Can’t believe I have never listened to it before! Much more reminiscent of Cream than Led Zeppelin for me.
A great album. What else is there to say??
nope.
7/10
Way groovier than expected
Eher lower four stars, aber macht schon Spaß. Wie LED Zeppelin ohne Glam
Literally 1 star, if I could do half I would. Literally so just Satanic and all the songs sound the same. Lyrics aside the guitar and drums have the 1 star.
8/10 Best songs: ??? Not the "heavy metal" I was expecting, but I am pleased with what I got. The music is far and away the strongest part of the album. The vocals aren't very good, and the lyrics are honestly really lame, but the musicality of the album (almost?) makes up for it. Interestingly, I've kind of had difficulty identifying a "best song" - not sure why. The songs are all pretty strong, none are offensive to the ear, so why can't I pick out one or two that stand out?
Idk where my notes go but u liked this album great for tripping or meditating
Not that my music but done interestingly
I’ve obviously listened to this album before, but giving it a fresh listen now. WOW it’s so powerful. I mean the starting title track is legendary and still so effective as a scary and heavy track. Then they pivot into The Wizard which is bluesier and chaotic and still very heavy. Behind The Wall of Sleep gets heavier but keeps the groove going and then we got the incredible bass into and riff of NIB. Man this album just keeps on giving. Energy and quality does drop off in the second side. Evil Woman is meh and Sleeping Village not great. Warning is a cool jam but unfocused. Wicked World is more energetic but overall the second side is weak. Anyway easy for stars for significance and strong first side.
This sounds pretty tame by modern standards but it is clear how transformational it was. RIP Ozzy.
Not my favorite Sabbath album, that would probably be Master of Reality, but the debut is undeniably good. Ozzy's vocals and theatrics are so good on this.
pretty good
even this album released in 1970, the sound still feel modern and relevant in today's date. can't even imagine the people's reaction when this album first release to the world
Best Track - "The Wizard"
1) black sabbath - feels like the opening to a van helsing-esque film mixed with phantom of the opera; scares me a little, not sure if i would opt to listen to this again by choice though i’m always a fan of a good electric guitar section & the ending to this song rightfully hits that 2) the wizard - is that a harmonica i hear? i feel like this would be a great song for the sinners soundtrack. i kinda like this a bit more than the first song but i still don’t think i’d listen to it again. 3) wasp / behind the wall of sleep / basically / N.I.B. - i fear i like this one quite a bit.. lotsssss of guitar & bass, no other notes just 9+ min of pure chef’s kiss goodness 4) wicked world - wasn’t wowed by it but it’s alright 5) a bit of finger / sleeping village / warning - a lil scared again , just too long for my attention span
I liked this album, it combines like sort of heavy with gentle and slow music. I saved a few songs but it seemed to me like most of them were too much alike
feels like a 2
Okay
It was fine, no takeaways for me and nothing crazy. Wouldn't listen to it again, honestly.
This album was my first excursion into heavy metal.
pretty good, i enjoyed it overall :)
This is the all time greatest debut album by any band ever. Yeah, there were heavy-ish things that came before this…Deep Purple, Blue Cheer, “Helter Skelter” by The Beatles…but that opening, the sounds of thunder with a church bell tolling in the distance, then Tony Iommi coming in with THAT riff. I’ve often wondered what it would have been like hearing this when it first came out in 1970 and there being nothing remotely like this that existed before. Because fifty five years later (!) it’s still spooky. The riffs, the atmosphere, one of the greatest albums ever written, never mind the massive influence it had and continues to have.
meh
Truly an amazing album. The fact that this album invented heavy metal and still holds up today is a testament to its greatness.
Of course.
Metal Classic.
Very good album
E assim nasceu o heavy metal 🖤
Masterpiece
Yeah its ok not a big Ozzy fan
1. scared me tbh😐 2. liked the rhythm, not sure ab the lyrics 3. not so bad 4. really liked the start but the song was repetitive 5. liked ittt, wanna be the evil woman 6. mmmm no 7. YEAHHHHHHH, loved everything, wow 8. not my style
Not my thing, but it is enjoyable nonetheless
This change music. Masterpiece.
Solid I can see the relevancy into heavy metal development, and Wicked- Simran
Pretty good but not the best Black Sabbath album
no review required for this one lol
Consistently good except for Evil Woman. A super solid debut, the album as a whole lacks the focus of their later work but there are some great songs on here. Warning is a great extended jam, with The Wizard and Sleeping Village really impressing me. As a whole, it is lacking that extra oomph for me to give it a 4. Highlights: The Wizard, Sleeping Village
Maybe just me today, but I got less out of this than the other Sabbath albums we've had. Still a cut above any other metal on the list. 3.5*
nice not something i would prefer but it was good it didn't make me feel like i wanna skip
lots of instrumental moments, good vocals in a old rock way, not many chorus and very spaced out verses, overall would listen to again maybe for background, good guitar and harmonica moments, definitely about the time in the lyrics, drums standout too
When I saw this album was "5" songs and almost 40 minutes, I thought wtf. But 5 tracks is a misleading number as there are actually 10 songs. Going into this album, I was more familiar with Ozzy's solo work so I was expecting similar vocals and some hard hitting guitar riffs. Boy was I mistaken. His vocal performance was more subdued and he picked the moments where he would go for it and let his voice shine. There were also some surprises on this album sonically like the harmonica in one of the songs. But overall it is hard hitting guitar riffs, with some beautiful guitar and drum solos and there is a lot of space on this album for the instruments to really shine. There were several moments where there were no vocals and the focus is the instrumental. I thoroughly enjoyed this album.
First time hearing black sabbath and was a wonderful experience. Rip Ozzy. ALL the musicians are incredibly talented. Song review in no particular order: Black Sabbath- I think it’s very cool and ominous to have the rain/storm and church bell rings to start. This should be seen more in music. Guitar is very cool and fits perfectly. I love how they continue to use bells as percussion. Drums make me feel like I’m at some sort of fire ritual. Drums and guitar mvp. The bass guitar has some cool bits that add to the whole thing. I love the little switch up in the middle. Guitar riff is nice and vocals are carrying. Great performance musically overall. 5/5 Behind the Wall of Sheep- intro sets the vibe and very well done. Love the drum. I love the almost call and response/ echo type thing going on with guitar and vocals. Found myself bobbing to the music. Guitar is amazing. Bass is added what is needed to make a good song great. Love the drum rhythm. It’s the type of guitar part that people sing when thinking of the song.5/5 Sleeping village- starting guitar definitely makes it feel like a “sleeping village.” Then there’s a pause and oh the villagers are definitely awake now. I wish I could wake up to this everyday. Amazing musicianship once again. I wish I was the drummer. Bass slay. I love the cowbell and tambourine(I think that’s what it is). How is the guitarist and bass guitarist fingers still attached. The boing from the harp is mvp. 5/5 Evil women- love the start. Feels nostalgic for some reason. Love the bass. Vocals are a little catchy. Guitar takes on a bit of a percussive role. Guitar is giving some spice and attitude. Once again blown away by everyone’s skill. 5/5 N.I.B- Guitar slays intro. I love how it fades away. Got my head rocking straight away. Guitar is mvp. I love the crash on drums. Tambourine is great. I like how it slows down. The changes in vibe/tempo/texture keeps it interesting. I like the little “oh, yeah”s. Got a bit sick of it towards end. Was good but not sensational. 4/5 Wicked world- Drums is absolutely slaying. Guitar and bass guitar are amazing as well. This song puts me in a good mood. Love the drum fills and catchy guitar riff. The quiet bit is cool and satisfying. The guitarist is going crazy. I love the drums bringing it back in. This song gives an effortlessly cool vibe. Felt a little long. 4/5 The wizard- love the harmonica intro. Catches attention straight away and fits in well once other instruments join. Has a unique vibe. Guitar is crazy. Love the drums so much. The little guitar trills add a lot. 5/5 Warning- is a very cool song. I feel a bit of spice from the instruments which I love. Vocals is mvp here. The bass is giving off such a cool vibe. The drums and guitar is insanely talented like how are their arms/fingers not filling of. Drums underrated. Guitar slowdown as satisfying and perfectly bring back to tempo. Bass is effortlessly cool. Guitar left me speechless. Everything was absolutely silent in that rest. Surprised it kept me entertained for such a long song. One of the best in the album. 5/5
Great throwback. I feel like the band was very experimental at the time with their sound, which really paid off
A little too raw for me, I like the layer Black Sabbath stuff more, but the riffs are very sick.
sick
Horror move set to music.
If i'm being honest, this is probably my least favorite of the first four Black Sabbath albums. Still a very important release regardless. Best tracks: Black Sabbath, The Wizard
Fantastic stuff. So much energy and creativity - for all their awesome heaviness there’s also so much musicality, which of course is why they are legendary.
No tenía fe por ser del genero Metal, pero me sorprendió.
L’ho ascoltato in sottofondo mentre lavoravo ed è stato piacevole. Molto strumentale, liked it
Cool
Enjoyed this a lot. Never really listened to black Sabbath before despite thinking they'd be my kinda thing
3.8/5
10/10
2026.01.05.
wicked world is decentttt and very quick listen, two songs were unavailable. (?) ☕️
great album
Rocked hard, loved it
Gaaaaar nicht meins
Thought it would grab me more then it did... but still very decent album but just not THAT memorable
It was not really my style back in the 70's and it's still not. The album does have a few moments I enjoyed. I would probably rate it between 2 and 3. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and give it a 3.
A great mix of blues, hard guitar and great melodies and what a harmonica!. My favourite is N.I.B .
Pretty good, good vibes/instrumental parts would listen again
1. Black Sabbath - 2009 Remaster: the instrumental is so otherworldly im levitating. the sinister eerie vibe is really cool. not too much of my style ngl. 7/10 because its simply not my style. 2. The Wizard - 2009 Remaster: again, the instrumental is amazing. this one is definitely more interesting to me. 9/10. 3. Behind the Wall of Sleep - 2009 Remaster: i like the instrumental and also just the vibes. i like how it talks about what i captured was a kind of nightmare and the instrumental really helps the sinister aura grow. this one is definitely shorter than the two before. still, i like it just about as much as The Wizard. 9/10. 4. N.I.B - 2009 Remaster: the start was AMAZING i genuinely jumped out of my chair. the lucifer part definitely made me fully sure that each song in this album is related to the eerie, creepy concept. 10/10. 5. Evil Woman, Don’t Play Your Games with Me - 2009 Remaster: i also really like this song. it is definitely more leaning towards my comfort zone when it comes to music. 10/10. 6. Sleeping Village - 2009 Remaster: i’m pretty sure each song is strategically placed in cronological order to tell a story and it is just SO creative and amazing i’m glad i discovered the album. this song is good. it barely has any lyrics, still it is pretty reasonable since the village is sleeping, therefore there’s nothing too relevant happening. the instrumental eats. 8/10. 5. Warning - 2009 Remaster: the way the last song merged into this one really made it feel like a musical in a great way. i definitely get why people speak so highly of this album. the lyrics are really deep and genuine which is something i look for in a song. the guitar solo left me in awe. it is really long, maybe too much instrumental for my taste. still i really like it and im open-minded towards it. 9/10. 6. Wicked World - 2009 Remaster: the topic this song discusses is a really interesting aspect and it is unfortunately very true. i really like this song. 10/10.
My favorite songs off this album were: the wizard and the last one.
Amazing, loved it
Ozzy's voice is on point in this album. The guitar work is amazing. I had only listened to a handful of Black Sabbath songs before this, so I was pleasantly surprised when listening to this album. I'd give it a 4 stars.
Another artist I've long wanted to get into but never made an effort. I really liked Black Sabbath! Heavy and dark, lots of bass, so much emotion in Osborne's vocals. Really captures that evil sort of sound while remaining sort of refined? The songs are not too noisy is what I mean. Sick guitar solos. I'm learning I love rock that retains its bluesy DNA.
wasn’t a personal fav 😔 but I did like ‘Evil Woman’ !
All sounded too similar. Liked his haunting sound. Evil woman probably was my favorite
Might be the first heavy metal album I've listened to front to back? And it's epic. Definitely had a misconception of what this might sound like. "Black Sabbath" sets an ominous, "doom and gloom" type of tone. Church bells in the background? First song on their first album, what a cool way to intro your sound. LOVE "The Wizard" - the harmonica solos are sick. Sort of blues-y? Catchy guitar riff and memorable solo in "N.I.B." - cool song from Lucifer's POV. Overall Rating: 7.5/10
8 songs, 42 minutes… felt like the same song the whole time and it refused to end.
Too miserable for my taste.
3/5. I liked it but I don’t think I’ll listen to it again
Love it!!!!
There is a definite blues influence to this, and maybe some jazz, but they went in a new direction with the harder sound and the awesome rhythms and cadences. Great album. Warning did bring the rating down a star. Way too long, too bluesy and an overlong guitar solo.
I love this album, but, really it's a hard rock album with a bit of diabolus in musica
Heard before and have the vinyl but never really listened to it more than a few times and probably didn’t pay much attention after the title track. Terrific album, didn’t realize how much like blues and classic rock this album was, was expecting a lot more gain and distortion and much louder drums. That was a big problem I had with other albums (albeit they were more metal, maybe even slash or whatever it’s called): drums were drowning out everything else. Didn’t have that problem here. Really enjoyed every track. Iommi’s the man - I guess I just didn’t know. Crazy to think he was playing with half a finger also. Really great time, played along for most of album. Definitely going to listen to more Black Sabbath in the future. Likely the first 4 first per Murphys advice
i don't hate it but i don't love it either
Not what I would usually listen to, atleast not anymore, but not too far from it. I have listened to some Black Sabbath albums before. Not all that interesting but okay as background music.
bardziej takie dla mojego taty, ale spk
не розумію чому раніше не слухала цей альбом, імбуля, звучить дуже цікаво. хоча багато треків надто схожі між з собою, maybe i just dont know ball
Very heavy for 1970's rock. If you like doom metal, listen to the first track. Cool bass solo in N.I.B.
As a Jesus Christ Superstar lover I loved this… the opening track felt so much like JCS.
Amazing album
Erste mal Black Sabbath, banger
black sabbath goated. nur ein listen tho also vielleicht nicht so stronge opinion aber mochte die slowen mehr grungy songs sehr
Ihan jees. Pitää kuunnella lisää Sabbathia. 3/5.
It's not my genre I guess? Sounded quite repetitive. 1,5/5
N.I.B
This was alright
Not too shabby
Did not expect to like this. I had labeled Black Sabbath as heavy metal that would be insufferable. This album has every element of classic rock but with another form of mixing. The vocals on The Wall and Behind the Wall of Sheep were loud and double tracked. The guitar stole the show, almost making the vocals a supplemental instrument. N.IB bass line I was dream about. Wicked World drum intro was insane. I was on the edge of every note waiting to see what would happen next. Great album!!!
Just ok.
LOVED. I don't think I've ever sat down and intentionally listened to black sabbath but I'm glad i did. Very surprised by how much this one hit me in my feels.
Never listened to it before and thought it was a lot of fun
Was expecting it to be better. A couple really good ones but most take too long to pick up.
I love a bit of Ozzy shouting at me in the morning. Better than Berocca. This album pretty much kicked off heavy rock.
A couple of slightly washy songs but plenty that I enjoyed 7/10
Yes please, love this album. Can't beat a bit of Sabbath
1st listened on 12.29.25 and first impression was good. I liked it. Was a bit surprised it’s only 5 songs but still about 40 mins long
all good, just not really my thing
Icónico. Magnífico. El inicio de una era. \m/
Listened
Can’t deny the influence - set one hell of a stage. Won’t be rocking out to this likely again, but I respect it.
1.Black Sabbath=6/10 2.The wizard=7/10 3.Behind the wall of sleep=8/10 4.N.I.B=7/10 5.Evil Woman, don’t play your games with me=6/10 6.Sleeping Village=7/10 7.Warning=8/10 8.Wicked world=7/10 Overall: 6.5/10
Why did these songs all have to be like 12 minutes long?? Not bad, but not for me.
Fire
It is good, but not their best. Or maybe just not as much to my taste. I think it needs more listens from me to give a thoughtful review.
Black sabbath As someone who dislikes metal and especially heavy metal, this album is very easy to listen to. The beats are in a way very rockish? and easy to enjoy. I especially like the bells on the first song ‘black sabbath’ The lyrics are easy to understand which is an important factor for me. The vocals are an absolute chefs kiss, this album is an masterpiece. As someone who’s not into this genre of music, it’s very fun to listen to different genres and to step out of my comfort zone for a while 4 stars!
I’ve listen to this before, it’s really good. I love how it sounds gloomy. My personal favorite tracks on this album are “Black Sabbath” and “Wicked World”
Some decent rock, that was fine
NIB and behind the wall Of Sleep are perfection
it's kinda cool. not any song I dislike, just a couple that I'm a bit unbothered by, like the first track and also Warning, which is ten minutes and definitely feels like it. I did enjoy it generally. very strong and defining debut album
Nice álbum
YES Maybe not my favorite Black Sabbath album, but that doesn't mean it's not a 5-star album.
I must say I only recently spent some time listening to Black Sabbath, pretty much thinking it wasn't for me because a bit too "hard" on the spectrum. But diving in I found some tasty licks and some very memorable tunes. Though I prefer their next opus, this is a worthy entry and will be returned to. For anyone who's thinking it's not gonna be their bag, it's worth a listen you may be surprised.
Already knew that one
Much written about - birth of genre etc - but stands as a great rock album by a jazz drummer, guitarist with a hampered hand, a bass player who put horror fiction into lyrics and Aston’s village idiot turned most iconic star on vocals - what a combination. And they still put an acoustic number in there…..
Good album. Rest in eternal peace, Ozzy, and know that you will forever live on and inspire others through your music.
Obviously an extremely important album plus it kicks ass. The title track is absolutely chilling. That song being the opener is not only perfect as the introduction to the album, but also a perfect introduction to the genre as a whole. I'm so jealous of MFs who got to experience this album back in 1970. Favorite track: Black Sabbath
Great project! Incredible guitar playing, vocals, and melodies. Truly ahead of its time and it shows
Black Sabbath has an awesome and mysterious sound. N.I.B. is my favorite of the album, great guitar riff and solo.
FUCK YEAH The fathers of heavy metal never miss
not for me
Ah when blues rock became metal. I'd like more metal albums to have this heart lighted blues elements. The first half was perfect, the 2nd half was a bit boring - 4 stars.
Not my genre but pleasantly surprised
Great stuff. Not my favourite Sabbath material, but cool story about Iommi’s fingertips and the detuned sound that resulted (in the Apple Music bio).
I can see why this album paved the way for Metal going into the 70s what an album 5/5.
A classic. 7/10
I liked this more than I expected. Not my genre.
This was a surprise! I wasn't expecting to hear blues influences among the meavy metal guitars. It's rife with incredible guitar solos and drawn out musical interludes. The lyrics are harsh and paint the picture of a world in crisis.
8/10
Not bad for a debut for a whole genre
World changing. I used to think this album was a glimpse of what Black Sabbath would become, but it is a powerhouse record that is among the best first releases ever. Not only introduced the band, but created a new genre. Great sequencing. First 3 tracks come out swinging.
This album invented metal and it's as good today as it was back then. Every song is a banger and I find it hard to believe there will be a better album on this list for me.
Best wel nice
8.5/10
Again not my favorite genre but undeniably performative and inspirational album to a class of rockers
1. black -1 2. uuizard -1.5 3. zleep - 1 4. Nib -1.5 5. Evil -0 6. World - 1
It’s not exactly my type of music, but it grew on me as it went on
Muy melódico el álbum, WARNING es una obra de arte. Pero si muy lejos de lo popular, como Crazy Train.
Not for me.
This came out 55 years ago! Incredible stuff
In a ga bah!!! Had not listened to this all the way through! Solid!!!
Five!!!!!!! Five!!!!!!!! Five!!!!!!!!! So damn good
There weren't really any stand out tracks to me, it all felt a bit meh
ótimo álbum pro meu comeback. rip 😔
Mais um disco lendário de uma banda lendária (incrível sequência do 1001 álbuns). Black Sabbath, a banda mais importante da história do metal, começa sua discografia com um lançamento de peso. Diferente dos álbuns de rock que lançavam na época, esse apresenta, na maioria das músicas, uma temática muito mais sinistra e "doom", muito bem ilustrada com essa capa altamente tenebrosa. Letras muito intensas, riffs clássicos, e a presença da figura mais icônica do metal, Ozzy Osbourne (RIP), tornam esse álbum um patrimônio da música. Atenção especial para "N.I.B.", que é uma das minhas músicas favoritas da vida. Curiosidade: A música Black Sabbath tem a letra inspirada em uma experiência sobrenatural que o baixista Geezer Butler teve enquanto dormia, vendo uma figura o observando (provavelmente similar à figura da capa), após realizar alguns rituais de procedência duvidosa. Acho que o terror é justificado. Melhor do álbum: "N.I.B.". Pior do álbum: "Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games with Me".
glorified blues mid vocals mid-decent all around
I never heard this before and it is awesome 4 to 5 stars.
It’s okay! Didn’t love as much as other BS albums though.
Outstanding early "metal" and hard rock.
really cool sound i like the vibe they went for
I didn't like this as much as other Black Sabbath albums. It's alright.
It's seminal for sure, but it's just not that interesting to be honest. There's a reason none of the songs from this album are popular.
The neatest thing to come out of this music adventure is finding out that I really love 70s/80s Heavy Metal. Who knew!?
The birth of Metal
Fucking Amazing. If you like Black Sabbath you need to listen to this
reminiscent of john mayall and the bluesbreakers lyrically less mature but more metal that zeppelin you can feel that they were on the precipice of war pigs/iron man
Great execution but just not my cup of tea
Banger, rip Ozzy. Loved the guitar and vocals
I first met George Sinnott this past summer… He would play Ozzy Osbourne every time he got the ox cord at work. The first time I thought it was a bit of a joke than the second time I thought OK he’s a fan. The third time was fitting because that was the day Ozzy Osbourne died. George knew something I didn’t but now listening to this album learning the history and how it was released on Friday the 13th… I’m definitely someone who appreciates some good showmanship in any medium. Rest in peace… prince iof darkness
Good, not nearly as good as Paranoid but everyone has to start somewhere.
This is an album that defines heavy metal. The sound of rain and bells lead perfectly into the ominous Iommi guitar sound setting a doom ridden tone that incapsulates Black Sabbath’s sound. Ozzy was a great showman, but that doesn’t do him justice. Even on a slow song such as Black Sabbath he is so engaging. Cards on the table, the Wizard is my favourite Sabbath track. I’m a sucker for a well placed harmonica (see also songs featuring banjos). The drums are insane on this and somehow it maintains the sense of doom whilst also being relatively upbeat and fun. N.I.B provides more great riffage ‘oh yeah’. It provides a great a great rhythm to it as well snd man that ozzy vocal would fit happily on many of the late 60s/early 70s pop hits (if not the actual lyrics) The fun instrumentation continues with the introduction to sleeping village, which appears to feature a mouth harp before those trademark riffs come in. Warning takes showcasing the guitar virtuosity too far for my liking and into guitar wankery but i do kinda enjoy the more bluesy stroll that comes out the other end and the eventual return to the song (even if it does sound a bit like These boots are made for walking)
Look, you will never hear me say a bad thing about Ozzy (RIP 🦇), but this wouldn’t be a Sabbath album I’d pick. It’s all just a little bit too prog rocky for me.
I think Ozzy had the perfect voice for this style of music and I enjoy little hints of his accent coming through every now and again. I also liked the heaviness of the guitars. I didn't enjoy this quite as much as Vol. 4 though, I think because the songs felt a little less focused to me. Still a really solid album that I don't have much to say about. 3/5
Nice
Listened to this before, as part of a complete retrospective of Ozzy's work after his passing (from Sabbath to Solo work). It will be, like Nevermind before it, fun to formally give thoughts to something I already know. Right from the get go, the self-titled song on the self-titled album, "Black Sabbath" tells us everything we need to know about the band before embarking on the journey through their discography: Guitars tinged with evil (as I understand it, the first implementation of 'The Devils Chord'; a G7) and Ozzy's foreboding voice over these plodding guitar chords. Mentions of Satan and Dark figures, his screams and pleas to god create for a wicked visualisation. The harmonicas at the start of "The Wizard" are a unique, fun addition and grab your attention immediately, followed by more of Iommi's iconic heavy guitar chords. Said to be inspired by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, the track is nothing more than a fun hat tip in musical form; other reviewers are way too serious. "Behind the Wall of Sleep" isn't particularly remarkable in terms of lyrics and delivers more of the same in Iommi's telltale guitar sound. Compared to "N.I.B", it feels like unnecessary filler. From the reverbed guitars, Ozzy's swaying sound and the tambourine make Nativity in Black a truly unique song. Combined with the lyrics, told from the perspective of Lucifer himself, it paints epic pictures in the minds eye. As a huge fan of the bass guitar, "Evil Woman" is instantly elevated to one of my favourites. I also love the juxtaposition of the lyric "Evil Woman, don't you play your games with me" delivered in a tone I can only describe as 'festive', as if sang like a Christmas classic. "Warning" feels like a compilation of experimentation or "best bits" of Iommi's messing around with the guitar, which has it's place for guitar enthusiasts who are players themselves or fans of artists like Steve Vai. It has it's place, but didn't land with me. Finally, with "Wicked World", the simple yet strong lyrics are delivered flavorfully by Ozzy in a fuzzy, almost megaphone like sound. Unfortunately, more of Toni's showing off doesn't allow it to reach the heights that it could have compared to how the track starts. Stated by many as the first ever Heavy Metal album, it is undeniable the impact the album has had, breaking new ground for music as a whole. For that alone, it deserves recognition.
Very solid album! Love the fantasy/satan theme-ing. feels very true to Black Sabbath’s legacy.
I just recently listened to Paranoid all the way through for the first time and thought it was great. This one isn’t quite as focused. But still quite good. Much jazzier and jammier than expected. Maybe a little much in places but impressive.
Meh
4.5
So much quality for a debut!
Esse é um dos álbuns favoritos da minha vida. Só de imaginar o quão impactante e medonho deve ter sido na época do lançamento me dá arrepios. QoA Adonis New.
It’s good! I hadn’t realized how closely early Black Sabbath resembled some 60s/70s era bands, like zeppelin, cream, and others. All the members have great chemistry here, and the riffs are insane. Ozzy does some great vocals and the bassist is great as well. The drummer really surprised me, I heard a lot of jazz and alternative genres in his playing. The thing is, it’s not my jam. I feel like the jammy 14 minute tracks are just not my thing from these dudes. The only song I really saved was Wizard. Pros: great riffs, good musicianship early sabbath is historically important Cons: jam tracks are boring, the shorter tracks are good but still too long, the opening track is not my fav but it established the vibe for Black Sabbath’s career which is important.
Amazing
Not quite as good as Paranoid, but great in its own right.
ozzy's voice is genuinely annoying
This is my type of music. Guitar riffs, growling lyrics, just that darkness that only rock of a certain type can convey. And somehow i can listen to it for hours on end. One of my favourites in this list so far.
6 out of 5 stars! I know that in music there is almost never a "first" band/artist/album/song of any genre. But if there was going to be a first "metal" album, for my money this is it! The intro of this album is dark, ominous, and fucking METAL. I can't think of a better way to begin the genre than Black Sabbath. The rest of the album is also great, but nothing really reaches the level of the first track. I'm totally willing to hear the rest of the album as the band trying to figure out how they want do use the psychedelic music they are so clearly indebted to do what they want
Favorite Song: black sabbath Notes: I truly enjoyed this album so much. It was easy to get lost in the music, almost a little frightening as it felt you were deliciously following this guitar to the mouth of the devil. The rock and blues influence shines through as they splash their own sound into what will later become metal music. Absolutely mesmerizing. My only notes is that I could do with a bit more lyrics, but even then, I do love instrumental tracks. Score: 9/10
black sabbath track was actually amazing. its like slow in a heavy way and the guitar is epic. The beat changes halfway through and is still good. whole thing is great. even the long ah songs. 5/5
it was fine.
Good on Sharon for her support of Ozzy and his shenanigans. R.I.P. to the Prince of Darkness.
This album helped define the metal genre. It is also tuneful and melodic. The vocals, now haunting, serve as a fitting testimony to all involved.
8 - GOOD
2 Black Sabbath albums in the span of 4 days? In one week? I don’t know if this is coincidental or not, but I’m definitely not complaining. Of course I love this album, I know it by heart from front to back. The first Sabbath record, self titled, with a song named after the band itself. The album that started everything and created a whole new genre. The birth of heavy metal. A young band had a simple idea, what if we make music that’s scary like horror films? The rest is history. Imagine being in 1970, the heaviest things people had really heard were Zeppelin, Hendrix, maybe Deep Purple. You’re browsing a vinyl shop, you see this eerie unsettling album with a grainy photo of a mysterious woman in a field. You buy it out of curiosity, take it home, put it in the vinyl player and suddenly you’re hearing this tense, evil sounding record. It was unlike anything else at the time and it still holds up today. I’m so lucky I managed to get golden tickets to see Ozzy and Sabbath on their last show, right at the front of the crowd practically at the barriers. The album cover has always struck me. For the longest time I thought the woman on the photo was Ozzy. Even now it has this creepy, unsettling vibe, and I’ve never fully understood its meaning if it even has one. Overall, I know every track on this album inside out. It’s easily in my top 5 Sabbath albums, though I wouldn’t be able to rank them in order.
I had the same reaction to driving in the snow this morning as Ozzy being told he is the chosen one
Let‘s try my patented nostalgia-goggles here. Nostalgia-goggles ON: this is an absolutely fundamental classic and the seed of a budding genre, albeit rough, edgy, and chaotic. Revisiting this mess gives me goosebumps. Nostalgia-goggles OFF: this production is wobblier than the moon landing footage and feels like it has been recorded inside a steel bath tub by guys who were so stoned, drunk, tripping, or all of the above simultaneously that they had to relearn in real-time how to pronounce vowels or switch cords. Revisting this mess gives me goosebumps.
So funny that this was considered metal! It's a good album, melodic and rhythmic but clearly still rock/metal. RIP Ozzy.
Not the biggest fan of the lead singer (even if he had his moments) but the instrumentals are something else. Transcendent guitar solos especially in the final track. Favorite Track: Wicked World
Some of the most iconic guitar riffs of all time.
Mantengo que es un grupo sobrevalorado y que no soporto a su cantante. No obstante, este disco es mejor que el anterior que escuché (creo que se llamaba vol. 4).
Day 5: Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Black Sabbath: (9/10) The Wizard: (7/10) Behind The Wall Of Sleep: (8/10) N.I.B.: (9/10) Evil Woman, Don’t Play Your Games With Me: (7.5/10) Sleeping Village: (9/10) Warning: (10/10) Wicked World: (8/10) Average: (8.5/10) 4 Stars
The first few Sabbath albums were masterpieces that just don't get old
I listened without prejudice but I didn't enjoy it 🙁
A little slower than expected but still fun.
Eh. I liked black sabbath last time but this one isn't for me.
Not really a sabbath fan, but this was alright.
I mean, it’s Black Fucking Sabbath! What else really needs to be said? If you don’t like this, there is a very good chance you simply don't like rock 'n' roll. An absolute, uncompromising essential.
I really like this album. While it doesn't have the punch and popular songs of his other albums, it still provides a great flavor of what Black Sabbath is. Short, powerful lyrics; hard rocking guitar solos; empty space left for feeling the music; and hard rock. It's a pretty good album to listen to, albeit short. A couple of the songs tend to linger a bit long with the guitar solos, but it's not unenjoyable.
The start of it all. Was pretty low-key compared to where things went!
Iconic but not fully developed yet as its a first album. There are better BS albums
3.4
Long live the prince of darkness
Classic SABBATH!
I don’t understand why this is on a list of greatest albums. This album is notable because of how mediocre it is. It’s only interesting because it’s before Black Sabbath found their sound later that year with the paranoid album. Why is this on this list?
nice metal more bluesy than I expected would definitely listen again
classic, listenable, not amazing
I’m not really a metal fan, so i almost dreaded listening to this when i saw it come up. Luckily, i was pleasantly surprised. Not really a crazy, insane, screaming metal, but more melodic and can almost listen to it while doing something else, which is nice for metal. I could absorb it while doing homework but not be distracted, which is rare for the law loud genres.
Album 19 - Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath - 4/5 I’m just a casual fan of them so I don’t know that I have anything to offer beyond what other reviews have said: Holy cow, imagine hearing this in 1970 when there had never been anything like it before. Huh, they were pretty bluesy on that first record. For all the greatness that is there, there is something about it that seems unfinished. As much as I enjoy “The Wizard,” after I was done I just found myself humming songs from Paranoid. But I’m glad I pulled it today… helped me get through a stressful parenting day, which I think would make Ozzy smile.
Bigg riffs, off-center tuning, guitar and bass overlays, occultish lyrics (with the occasional ode to Gandalf); this is a self-assured, fully realized debut that sets the template for future legendary Black Sabbath albums. As their songwriting matures, they earn their place in the pantheon. But it's all here at the beginning, made even more impressive since they only had 12 hours and they recorded most of the songs live in one take.
Every time a Sabbath album passes in the generator, I'm always tempted to hand out the next five out of five. They really have such strong albums. It's mainly because of my undying love for Paranoid, an album which I think is even slightly better, that I'm unable to give the top score, even when it's probably deserved.
4 Stars for self-titled song alone.
Full of classic riffs. Hard hitting. Fantastic.
Oui pas mal mais pas fou
Gut, das Album mal gehört zu haben. Interessante Riffs. Klassischer Rock. Man hat einige Riffs auch schon in anderen Songs von später gehört.
Good album.
Ozzie
GREAT album. Really strong debut album from Sabbath. Love the guitar riffs along with Ozzy's voice (RIP), and Bill Ward's excellent drumming, and ALSO the bass. Top tier guitar strumming on Warning and Wicked World. I love metal, and this is among the top heavy metal albums out there. 4 stars.
I actually think Black Sabbath has some good music. This is a solid 3, but I can't quite give it a 4.
Great
Classic metal album
Seminal album, created a genre of music. Epic crescendos and powerful vocals. One of the best albums of all time.
Nice, dark og syret
I don't really get this style of metal. Can't figure out what they're saying. Old man yells at cloud.
What's this metal obsession with Wizards?! Great licks and Ozzy has a surprisingly good voice.
Meh
4.5
Didn’t really stand out for me. Most of the tracks I felt blended all together and there wasn’t anything too significant in my opinion.
HEAT. I NEEDED THIS TODAY
Just good fun riffage
Great
It took until today for me to understand why people rate Black Sabbath so highly. This album is incredible. It is the foundation upon which heavy music has been built on. I don't even think any of their famous songs are on this one, and it's still sublime! This album is why lists like these exist.
It’s great
What I would give to be a teenager in 1970 hearing the song Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath on the album Black Sabbath for the very first time. What can be said that hasn't been said a million times. Tony Iommi created all the best riffs. Bill Ward's jazzy flourishes and Geezer Butler's bass-playing make it clear that this isn't simply heavy music. And yet the heaviness seeps through everything.
Yes, they're a legendary rock band. But this isn't great. Some good tunes but then a lot of blah
Has that great rock feel Great album, but not their best
Bwaaaaa
Excellent choice for Halloween.
Rip Ozzy. Its a good album and the start of one of the greatest bands of all time but its easily not their best work compared to, Paranoid or Master of Reality. Still good overall 7/10.
meio chatinho, mas acho que eu ia gostar mais do outro album deles (paranoid), vou dar uma escutada dps
This album inspired a whole genre of music. It’s hard to describe the effect this music had when released over 50 years ago. An absolute classic, great drummer, superb bassist and one of the guitar gods. It’s sounds harsh but Ozzy was probably the weakest member of the band. And he became a legend! A great listen half a century after release and still inspiring new musicians to take things forward.
So this is where the legend began Not my favorite album, but you can hear all the key elements that would morph into the definitive Sabbath sound
The origin and the ultimate form of dark metal — timeless and unequaled. I love every track on this album. Ozzy’s distinctive high-pitched voice perfectly blends with Tony’s skillful guitar work and the tight rhythm section. When listen closely, every part sounds incredibly precise and thoughtfully arranged. I can only imagine what a shock it must have been for people hearing this in 1970. I wish I could have seen them live, just once.
The more Black Sabbath I listen to, the more I like them. This is their fourth album I’ve listened to, and I find it easier to listen to them now than during the first time I listened to Paranoid. I’ll have to revisit that album and maybe even change my rating. Anyway, this album rocks.
Hell of an introduction. Not quite as good as what’s to come. But solid
More blues Rocky than I anticipated. Still not bad i guess
Better than I thought
Brooding, dark and theatrical.
Favourite track N.I.B
i just don’t care for metal sorry ozzy
The main enjoyment from this album is just how heavy it is. Funny, that. The whole ‘heavy metal’ thing, that started here. Or rather, was first launched here, to avoid arguments about who originally heavied the metal. It’s just that sound that keeps you so rooted throughout. From the “Oh no! God, please help me!” of the title track, through the double-digit runtime of Warning, this eerie, uneasy, muddy sound is still astounding, 56 years on. Is it weird that this record of uncompromising noise and immaculate riffs makes me think of the tranquility of the English countryside? Probably. It’s also not uncommon for me; there’s plenty of very American records that bring me back to rolling fields and quaint churches. I guess it may be the cover for this one, scary figure notwithstanding.
Hell of a debut
This is one of the greatest records ever released. It changed a genre, if not invented it. It's influenced just about everything since. It's METAL when there wasn't metal. This record is undeniable.
Love this album, love the guitar tone it has, listened to fully with no stops.
As a debut album this massively sets the tone for what was to come for Black Sabbath. It’s punchy, heavy & rich with the haunting metal sound that defines the band. Despite this it really doesn’t hit the same heights as the follow up album “Paranoid”, with a number of the tracks here sounding great but not leaving the same impression. In short, I don’t think this album is as memorable, despite being a strong debut album.
Metal classic. The scary mean blues all electrified and made doomy. Huge riffs. Some less than great songs on side two, but I remain a fan.
A little silly, but obviously they were onto something.
Hot take, I never liked this album that much compared to Paranoid. I always said this album walked so Paranoid could run. I see the similarities, but it's just missing something I can't put my finger on....
another classic, and one that I also listened to often when I was younger. There isn't a single song here that I can't remember in its entirety. These have aged much better for me than most other classic rock songs. The tone is unmatched and this is easily one of the most influential albums of the 20th century, essentially creating multiple entire genres that would follow.
Not my cup of tea. Standard rock riffs and guitar penis extension, but it was not terrible. wont be listening to it again. 3 stars
Solid, and technically promising, and for sure they stayed something entirely new, but it's meh for me. Not the albums fault
Was solid. Groundbreaking. Evil woman was kind of lame to me though.
Dark, heavy, it sets the mood and later the music comes. the first opening Riff and that very dark tone, is what makes this as groundbreaking as it was over 50 years ago, still an amazing record.
This is a foundational album. The birth of metal. To come up with this sound in 1970, while the world was largely still into psychedelia, is impressive.
Not bad. Vocals have a haunting, gothic quality to them that I like. But it just doesn’t really connect with me
The blueprint for all metal to come after. Still holds up and one of my favorite metal albums of all time only passed by Paranoid. 9/10
Nobody has made an entrance as epic as Black Sabbath. The self-titled song on their self-titled album announced the arrival of Sabbath with a slow, ominous, dark riff that eventually descends into a glorious bluesy jam. That's what I always forget about Sabbath: how bluesy they were. Sure, they laid the groundwork for heavier rock (and even metal), but always with a blues and rock 'n' roll core underneath it all. It works so well. The perfect example is, in my opinion, on the absolute best song on the album, "The Wizard". The use of the harmonica in The main riff is iconic, especially when used with those drum fills. It's one of the all-time great songs, and impossible to not make you smile. For all their satanic iconography and dark personas, the music is actually very upbeat and instantly lifts your mood. As I listen to this album for the first time in many years, I hear more similarities to Zeppelin than I ever did in the past. This is proper rock 'n' roll territory, and done perfectly. For example, during "Warning", Iommi seems to forget what he was doing, and goes into an 8 minute long solo, before returning to Ozzy's verse again at the end of the song. But every second of it is enjoyable. There are so many crazy, hilarious stories about the band, that it's easy to focus on that and forget that they had serious skill in both musicianship and songwriting underneath it all. I'm guilty of that - I always loved Sabbath, but I clearly didn't give them enough credit as a serious band, because listening back to this album, it's an absolute classic that deserves the same credit that we give to Zeppelin and other rock legends.
It certainly wasn’t the Black Sabbath album I would have chosen but as their first studio album you got a glimpse of what was to come.
Black Sabbath is always great
A short but impactful opening to heavy metal as a genre providing an important base layer for their later, more noted work. A must listen album.
Loved it. This album was cool. I loved the sounds and just amazed that they could produce something that sounds like this back then. I liked the long "double songs," although it would be hard to really just listen to each one without the other.
Pure Ozzy
Velmi dobrý album, bál som sa že to bude nejaký metál ale nakoniec fakt príjemný tvrdší rock a dobrá gitara
love the vibe, the guitar sounds great. vocals are really good. honsetly the nusic is so good you dont care that the songs are long (6 mins plus). 10/10!
Definitely heavy. The Wizard is probably my favorite.