Before becoming known worldwide as the fathers of heavy metal , Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward released an album that sent shivers down the spine.
Half a century has passed since Black Sabbath released their self-titled album, giving birth to one of the darkest genres in music. The quartet's power is obvious today, but 50 years ago, the thunder and church bells that open the title track of their debut album were crucial to the creation of heavy metal , and nobody imagined it.
“What is this that stands before me? / A black figure pointing at me” were the first words Osbourne sang to the city of Aston, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. “Oh no, no, please God help me! / Is it the end, my friend?” was the cry that introduced Iommi's incredible riffs, perfectly complementing Butler's powerful bass and, of course, Ward's impeccable rhythm.
In the 1960s, artists like Jimi Hendrix , Cream , and Led Zeppelin had already ventured into the darker territory of rock and roll , but it was Black Sabbath who showed them all – and the world – the true weight of heavy metal and how to genuinely live it as a lifestyle. It was on a Friday the 13th that the quartet released their self-titled album, and the date was just one of several macabre elements surrounding the album, such as the woman – often recognized as a witch – in front of an old house on the cover.
In Black Sabbath , Osbourne uses the gothic, devastating riffs, and dirty psychedelia of the group to detail an encounter with the devil in "NIB," narrate scenes of terror in "Behind the Wall of Sleep," and expose the devils of society in "Wicked World." If it weren't for all this heaviness, Metallica wouldn't have created the classic "Enter Sandman," Judas Priest Slayer certainly wouldn't be saying goodbye to years of "Reign in Blood."
Although some bands still active today, such as Judas Priest, already existed at the time, it's difficult to imagine that they would sound the way they do today if it weren't for Black Sabbath's pioneering role in the dark and unexplored world of heavy metal . It took being born in the dark and cold Aston to start the movement that continues to grow today with groups like Slipknot , Korn , and System of a Down , and even newer ones like Halestorm , Asking Alexandria , and Of Mice & Men.
In its early days, Black Sabbath was called Earth , and its sound was easily recognized as a mischievous offspring of blues and rock. Elmore James, Lightnin' Hopkins, Robert Johnson , and Buddy Guy were some of the artists Earth chose to play in their first shows. From these covers, the quartet found inspiration and created their first original song, "Wicked World," practically a manifesto against hippie culture, from which they wanted to distance themselves. "That wasn't the environment we were born into. Black Sabbath was completely outside of that," Ward said in an interview with Rolling Stone .
With the creation of their sound, Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward were ready to present themselves as the heavy and rebellious quartet. With Black Sabbath, the band showed that music is not limited to a single genre and that it is possible to incorporate different elements into a song. The sound that would become heavy metal was created after bands were inspired by the diversity and heaviness of Black Sabbath.
The blend of sounds and influences in Black Sabbath paved the way for other artists to experiment with the unusual. Today, the importance of this can be seen in the evolution of various subgenres within metal. The slow, inviting introductions we hear on the album gave birth to what is now called metalcore . Iommi's riffs and Osbourne's melodic vocals paved the way for stoner rock . Progressive metal emerged from Tony's distorted guitar and the ten minutes of "Warning." The powerful lyrics and the perfect, heavy marriage of guitar and drums brought about thrash metal . The influence is endless.
Now, even after so much time, the group continues to influence the course of heavy music. Black Sabbath opened a portal to a world of loud, heavy, aggressive, and moving music. The general public might doubt the "moving" part, but thanks to the quartet, fans who were thirsty for something more sensitive, yet that hit hard, found a place. Heavy metal is a sentimental, raw, powerful, and detail-oriented genre. And it wouldn't exist if it weren't for the thunder and church bells in "Black Sabbath."
