Black Sabbath is one of the most important bands in the history of heavy metal, since the British band's debut album is considered the birth of this musical genre. Therefore, we can recognize Sabbath's influence in many bands – and some even blatantly copy them, as Classic Rock .
In its list, the magazine named 10 bands that copy Black Sabbath and nobody complains about it. Being accused of plagiarism can be very negative, as Greta Van Fleet after so many complaints about their similarity to Led Zeppelin , but "when it comes to imitating Black Sabbath, it's not always a bad thing," the publication states.
See below the bands listed by Classic Rock .
Electric Wizard
The English stoner rock and doom metal band Electric Wizard has been described as "metal's most dedicated Sabbath acolytes," starting with the band's name, formed from the songs "Electric Funeral" and "The Wizard."
READ ALSO: What if Black Sabbath and Judas Priest were one band? Get to know Black Priest
Sleep
The Californian band Sleep was cited for their album Holy Mountain (1992), of great importance to the stoner rock genre, and for the sound that proves how "they are almost religious devotees of Sabbath", who "exercise their worship through expansively slow riffs that recall the same sorcery of Tony Iommi ", an influence openly acknowledged by the group.
Lucifer
Classic Rock 's list for its resemblance to Black Sabbath's more occult side, especially the band's debut album, with tracks like "Total Eclipse," "Sabbath," and "Purple Pyramid."
Witchfinder General
In the case of Witchfinder General, part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and recognized as one of the pioneering bands of doom metal, the strong influence of Black Sabbath did not necessarily go without complaints because of the similar riffs, "hazy vocals that sound curiously close to Ozzy's and lyrics inspired by horror," especially on the first album.
READ ALSO: Bill Ward regrets sacrifice to help Black Sabbath on 'Heaven and Hell'
Green Lung
A more recent band on the list is Green Lung, who released their first album in 2019. The London-based group is cited for "fusing the esoteric philosophy of Sabbath with the blossoming of Queen " in their music, bringing heavy metal, stoner rock, and melodic influences to their sound.
Kyuss
Another important Californian band for the establishment of stoner rock was Kyuss, who denied Black Sabbath's influence, considering themselves closer to punk. Even so, Classic Rock points to songs like "Molten Universe" and "Thumb" as featuring "dark and resounding riffs, but with a more abrasive tone" characteristic of Sabbath.
Saint Vitus
Another band whose inspiration begins with its name, a tribute to the song "St. Vitus Dance," this Los Angeles group is highly relevant to the early days of doom metal and continues to deliver music "perfected with diabolical riffs and low-end straight from Tony Iommi's playbook" to this day.
READ ALSO: Tony Iommi takes responsibility for the end of Black Sabbath, but doesn't rule out a reunion.
Orchid
Formed in 2007, Orchid also takes its name from a Sabbath song – and the band's references don't stop there, influencing everything from riffs and occultism to the bass lines in "Down Into The Earth".
The Sword
The American heavy metal/stoner rock band The Sword debuted in 2006 and, since then, has shown the vast influence of Black Sabbath in their discography, whether in the vocalist's timbre or the groove of the songs.
Witchcraft
The Swedish stoner rock band Witchcraft has a sound typical of the 1970s, despite being a creation of the 2000s, and "managed to conjure the same mystical element that led Black Sabbath to be persecuted by witches and banished from conservative circles" during their career.
