Black Sabbath

At first i thought this album was not exactly my cup of tea but more and more i listened through the album i really liked it. The riffs and guitar works in this album was wonderful and reminded me of early led zeppelin. My favorite track from this album is warning.

Dark, heavy, iconic

The birth of heavy metal, 10/10 album.

Top albumish

Мого улюбленого Master of Reality з якоїсь причини тут немає. Цей альбом мені не так сильно подобається, але все одно це кайфовий альбом. Тут є одна з моїх улюблених пісень Wizard з гармонью і просто топовим програшем (з якої ще DJ Muggs зробив феноменальний біт для We Ain't Goin' Out Like That). Класична пісня N.I.B. Вплив одноіменної пісні теж, мені здається, складно переоцінити. Супер класика, яку я іноді із задоволенням переслуховую.

Супер класика, хз що тут писати. Напишу історію з дитинства. Памʼятаю колись я вийшов у двір гуляти, а в нас там була прям музична тусовка така, в тому числі один з тіпів, який сильно угорав по старому року. І він такий мені каже - а ти взагалі слухав блек саббат? Я такий - та хз, щось чув. Він таку відповідь не прийняв, побіг додому, виніс плеєр з касетою, на якій був цей альбом власне, і поставив мені NIB. Я дуже кайфанув тоді, та і це був перший раз коли я справді уважно послухав майже повністю альбом блек саббат і я памʼятаю що я був справді вражений.

Really interesting listen

All timer and still bangs

This is my first time ever listening to Black Sabbath, and to be honest, I’m glad this album was my introduction to both the band and the sub-genre doom metal as well, it honestly makes me regret not looking into the band any sooner. A main thing that I love about this album is the dark and sinister tone/vibe that’s created with Ozzy’s vocals, guitar riffs, and drums, along with other background sounds that help bring it altogether. Now, out all of these 5 songs, it was really hard to choose, but my absolute favorite has to be Black Sabbath!! And to expand more on this: I believe this song was the song with a sound that truly captured me out of all of the other 4 on the album. The song is in a way, the embodiment of doom itself with its devastatingly slow rhythm to a sudden switch to a faster one near the end, Ozzy’s haunting vocals with the add of his screams and wails, the melodic riffs, faint sound of a ghostly ring of a bell, and the heavy, and slow beats of drums. All of these elements really tie together to create the essence of a heavy feeling of impending doom that you just can’t shake off, as if you know something devastating is bound to happen, but you don’t know how or when it will. And up until near the end of the song when the slow and depressive mood that you feel suffocated in is suddenly switches to something more tensive and dread starts to creep in as it feels as if time is running out. Overall, this album was amazing and has made me interested in checking out more of Black Sabbath’s music!

Very long songs. They just kept going. Instrumentals didnt shock me much. Bass was pretty cool. For 1970s it is kinda revolutionary i think so thats cool i guess

Absolutely rocks. I don't know about your streaming platform's recommendation algo, but I'd recommend just letting it roll after the album finishes. For me, it started right into a playlist full of the modern descendants of Sabbath -- Kyuss, Mastodon, etc. -- and the influence was all the more apparent. These guys are pretty famous, so I'll skip talking about Ozzy's vocals or Iommi's guitar work (both still great; prominently evident, here) and go to the rhythm section. Butler is a very competent and often very melodic bass player but I want to zero in on the *sound* of his bass. He's really carrying forward that late-sixties psychedelic tone, usually only slightly fuzzy, heavy in low-mid saturation and smooth, overall. It is, incredibly, related to the sounds of Paul Simonon's bass from the Clash, which came out of reggae influences. It fills a lot of space in their soundscape. More importantly, I think Bill Ward on drums is frequently overlooked. His kit sounds a great deal like the jazz and swing greats that heavily influenced him and you can *hear* him bringing big band sounds into this proto-metal doom soundtrack in a couple of places on this record. It's always there, but it gets *explicit* during 'Wasp' and 'Wicked World'. There are only four members of the band and they're famous enough that calling anyone their secret weapon is a stretch but, if it's anyone, it's Bill Ward. It's brilliant. You can keep singles like 'Paranoid' and 'Iron Man', I'll take this all day long. (Apologies to 'War Pigs', it'll never tire.) 5/5 essential listening; at once much more chill than modern heavy metal and yet just as heavy -- the throughline is obvious.

ブラック・サバスのファースト。この時から、すでに自分たちのサウンドを確立しているように思い、それらを拡張したものが後のParanoidや master of realityに受け継がれている。 思っていたよりは重く暗い感じはあんまりなかったけど、それはParanoidを想像しているからかな。 周りがみんなサイケとかやってる中で、これをやろうとして成功してんのはすごいよなたぶん。

I dont like it sue me😬

Première fois que j'écoute un album de Black Sabbath, et j'avais peur que ça soit trop heavy metal pour moi. C'est pas tout à fait ce que j'écoute mais ça reste pas mal avec des musiques que j'ai bien aimées comme "Black Sabbath" et "Behind the Wall of Sleep". 3/5

First metal album of all time, simply a classic and one of the most important albums ever in music.

it kind of fizzle out towards the end but the first 3 tracks are one of the strongest introductions an artist could have

C+

I had no idea that Ozzy played harmonica (pretty well, too). In 2026, this sounds like typical early heavy metal...but when it was released, it was unlike anything else. It's like a Zeppelin or Jethro Tull album with everything but the very heaviest bits distilled away. 3 stars for historical importance and Geezer Butler's creative bass lines, not because I'll likely return to it often.

I haven't purchased this one yet, but I'll be adding it to my collection soon enough. Yes, yes - this is the start of Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, etc. and so on. But there are still all of the elements of the blues-revivalists here - from the guitar riffs to the honking harmonica. The occult themes may seem shocking, but Robert Johnson (who was discovered by the blue-revivalists in the the early 1960s and inspired them greatly) was singing about the devil back in the 1930s - he just didn't have 100w overdriven amps and effects (studio, pedal, or otherwise) to drive the point home. Don't get me wrong I love the first 4 Sabbath albums and am just as amazed as anyone at how good this run of albums is AND how heavy this debut is. But I think that it's short-sighted to think that this album and it's sound just came out of nowhere and shocked everyone. It's hard for a debut album to achieve that. Rather, Black Sabbath takes the sounds of Blues Rock and Psychedelia and mashes them together to great effect largely due to the talents and innovations of each of it's members. The result is cathartic, but that catharsis is a bit outsized because of it's retrospective nature. I was scared of Black Sabbath as a kid, or more precisely, I was scared of Ozzy. But I do love this album - just as much as I love LZs debut or Pink Floyd's output from this period, or hell, even Funkadelic's debut. But to think that anyone picking up an album titled Black Sabbath with a witch-looking lady of the cover and un upside-down cross in the gatefold didn't know what they were getting into... All that is to say that this is essential listening, and easy to call the first of this or that genre etc., but Black Sabbath were far from the only ones with this approach and sound at the time - they were just the best at it. 5 stars.

Monstrous.

Man, I really love the song "Black Sabbath" by the band Black Sabbath from their debut album Black Sabbath. But for real though, this is a great album! Not as good as Paranoid, but I think it's better than Master of Reality. This album does have my favorite guitar performance from Tony Iommi with the crazy guitar solo(s) from "Warning". Yeah, great album! It's a high 4

I really enjoyed “Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath off Black Sabbath. The rest of the album was good too I guess

Decent debut made more interesting with the backstorys

Solid debut before they really found their sound

The birth of metal and being spooky scary in rock and roll.

The cover alone

Ozzy es una locura, sigue sin ser lo mejor que tiene pero ese sonido es una cosa muy propia

My first black sabbath album. what I expected and i loved it

Tolles Album, definitiv der Grundstein für Metal. Die Songs Black Sabbath und N.I.B. sind grandios! Der Rest ist aber auch stark, insbesondere die zweite Hälfte des Albums. Tolle Riffs, düstere Stimmung und Ozzys Gesang machen das ganze definitv zu einem sehr guten Album

Älskar Sabbath! Paranoid är ett av mina absoluta favoritalbum, så det är svårt att mäta sig med det, men även detta har det mesta man kan önska sig av metal.

3/5

Better than I was expecting but still not my bag. It doesn't really say anything I want to hear.

I loved this. Dark, heavy and really well performed. Revolutionary for 1970.

My recollection from listening to this a long time ago was that it felt like undeformed version of Paranoid. But wow, this really feels like a fully formed band just emerging. NIB has to be one of the all time great heavy metal songs and the title track and opening sequence are an amazing way to kick things off. Not a weak track here and helped to define a new genre of music so this is one of the few albums that it's impossible to segue shouldn't be here

This album has been in regular rotation for years. Not only is this an excellent album, but it's interesting as well. While Black Sabbath is widely considered to be a heavy metal act, this album has more of a dark blues sound than a heavy metal sound. The riffs and vocals are impeccable. There really isn't another album that sounds like this. Even Black Sabbath's following albums don't sound quite like this. This will remain in regular rotation for me.

While classic and iconic metal, there have been better black sabbath albums.

One one hand, I thought this album was so and (somewhat) boring at the start. On the other, it starts to pick up and has some decent songs, especially for the influence it had on the genre. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: NIB, The Wizard, Wicked World

The classic hard rock sound.

I am so excited that this album was generated for me on a day in October when it finally feels like fall! Yes, I know I've been shitting on metal this entire challenge, but Black Sabbath to me is the only exception. Especially because this one absolutely leans in a more stoner rock direction, which is a genre that I've fallen in love with over the past few years. Anyway, back to the album - all I can say is that it totally rocks. Ozzy's vocals are excellent, the drumming is superb, the bass lines are funky, and the riffs are hard as hell. And a little harmonica action too? What's not to love? Insanely impressive for a debut. Favorite tracks: I mean, there are only 5 tracks…so all of them? (If I had to choose one, it would be The Wizard)

This wasn't bad, but it wasn't my cup of tea...

High 3 so I rounded up, personally not as good as paranoid but still a great listen.

Immaculately dark vibes just ooze from the whole album. The bass lines are forceful adventurous in the best way. The distortion is glorious. The use of slow tempos, some of the slowest I can recall in rock, just keeps me sucked in. The vocal sound has become iconic. And don't get me started on the fantastic guitar solos.

Sufficiently rocks. I do think they came into their own later, but this is intensely influential. Rip iommi’s fingers of course

I preferred Vol 4 but this was still just about a 4/5 for me

Eternal.

Impossible to overstate its influence or overvalue its importance. This is the big bang.

I much preferred Paranoid, but this album no doubt carries some of that artistic and revolutionary tune. I didn't like the start, I thought the harmonica in The Wizard was definitely not for me and the opening song wasn't my vibe. That being said, as you progressed through the album, black sabbath's unique sound began to emerge in full force and I soon LOVED IT. I'm surprised the most popular songs were the first couple when I felt NIB and Warning were prog rock masterpieces. Were there an excessive amount of riffs? Yes, but that's BS for you.

Classic meta-metal, the album that started countless genres and subgenres

i love the instrumental

Como le hicieron para inventar un sonido tan original???

I only know the more popular songs from Black Sabbath but this was enjoyable

Mange bangers

I liked black Sabbath by black Sabbath on black Sabbath

The late 60s had a dark streak going, and Black Sabbath was there to capitalize. Not quite fully realized yet, but this album laid down an amazing framework for the band. The music is raw and dark, and really puts you there. Fav tracks: The Wizard, NIB

It was a good album to have on in the background while working but I feel like no one’s said that about Black Sabbath ever lol

Track 1 - 4.5 Track 2 - 4 Track 3 - 3.5 Track 4 - 4 Track 5 - 4 Track 6 - 3.5 Track 7 - 4 Track 8 -3.5

Essential in its genre, just happens not to be my genre. Ozzy's voice is great tho.

Great album- nice to listen to some of the tracks I've not listened to as much. Started a genre- classic!

Hell fucking yeah. Phenomenal record. NIB never fails to bring shivers. Perfect.

It good, I knew some of the songs already.

I’d never listened to a full Black Sabbath album before. I just know the hits and every time they come up in conversation I nod along and everybody assumes I’m cool and I’ve heard all the albums. “Black Sabbath are great aren’t they. What’s your favourite album?” “Uhh… the first one” “Yes Matty. You really know the score” Anyway, things have changed and I really loved this.

Not really my type of thing but better than the tribute act I went to in Rochdale a few months ago. Surprisingly bluesy at times. I liked it when he goes 'oh yeah' in N.I.B.

4,5 stars

You may call it the first metal album and I believe you that's historically accurate. Still, it doesn't sound to me too different from the hard-rock/blues-rock played by, say, Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple in the same years. Besides the dark/occulti-ish themes (not that new either), this is also basically a blend of Rolling Stones + Jimi Hendrix + Helter Skelter + ... Which is a blessing, as I despise the sound of metal.

Top notch!

Pretty good first album. Loved the driving bass and the heavy drums. Such a unique sound for the time. Favorite songs were the title track, Wasp/Behind the Wall of Sleep, and A Bit of Finger/Sleeping Village.

Well done

Yeah yeah I know it's Black Sabbath. But meh anyway

I mean it's ok. I don't really like this type of hard rock that much. Like I can appreciate the craftsmanship and talent. But I just personally don't like this that much at this point in my life.

very nice

Review - a classic band but not exactly their classic album. Some very strong songs, a surprising number of great and prominent bass lines, but I think this shouldn't be on the list to make way for more, better Sabbath albums. Score - 7/10 Need to listen? NO

Not my thing.

3,3/5

Heavy but with so much groove. Love the guitar sound.

Release the band name, Sharon. Tell me who you kicked off of the Back to the Beginning Concert

its ok 2/5

Najs

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/black-sabbath/black-sabbath/ Not as strong as its follow-up Paranoid, but still great. Warning just really, reaally drags on too long. The solos are kinda bad and distracting. But the beginning of the album is undeniable. Took me too long to appreciate the magic of Black Sabbath, but all here for it now.

Sabbath!

A doom-laden blues rock fusion named in retrospect as the first heavy metal album. A fun listen, but baggy.

Dug the hell out of this.

Great, quick, and easily consumable album. I listened to it several times this morning alone. Already having been exposed to the band and title track I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the rest of it.

They absolutely nail it on side one presenting to the world their concept of a horror movie in music form. I’m not saying side two is poor, far from it, but the world has already been changed before you flip the record. While they do invent something new, this excellent debut is not without precedent musically. I hear most notably Cream, Hendrix and Zeppelin at various points, but this makes complete sense and since the world was barely ready for what they did offer, I’m not sure it would have coped right then in 1970 if they had been any more original. They would go on to better this album, but even on this debut, even in the first 4 songs, they created a genre that gave birth to a thousand more, they influenced millions of musicians, and they gave immeasurable joy to millions more listeners across the globe and across the decades.

all the songs sound the same and none of them are my cup of tea

İlk defa bu müzik türünü dinlememe rağmen iyi hissettirdi.

It's sort of fun looking back on this and going "this is the music people were getting upset by?"

Wow, I liked that more than I expected

I love the sludgy guitar and Ozzie's vocals. I think the band got better with every album but this is a great album that gives you the Black Sabbath experience.

Fuck it, I really enjoyed this

3.5

It’s a Classic. Was stuck between two scores but decided to go with what it deserves. 5/5 , not a bad track and just sounds timeless.

Nothing else to say other than they’re the GOATs.

Finally something fucking cool and metal about something real (The Devil) !!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to hear the rest of their 70s discography

Seminal, tame by today's standards but completely unheard of at the time. 5 - a near-perfect album

A lot more theatrical than I expected. The harmonica on track 2 feels like an experiment, weirdly out of place. The whole sound feels experimental in fact. Hard to really evaluate without knowledge of what this sound developed out of. Is this a reaction to upbeat 60s teen bop? Ozzy vocals are incredible and hard to imagine in another genre. Hear a backbone of blues, like theatrical blues? A fair amount of empty space that gives that heavy vibe. And wow, in 1970 the lyric "my name is lucifer, please take my hand" must have been scandal!

This album made me realize that I don’t hate all heavy metal.

It ain't no orchid but I always love some Black Sabbath

I can't decide if I like it or not. But I like the guitar and the drums so probably more like 2.5/5

What is this? Riff city!

Hadde hele plata vært like rå som tittelsporet hadde den fått full pott.