Black Sabbath Review
Band | |
---|---|
Album | Black Sabbath |
Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
Released | February 13, 1970 |
Genres | Heavy Metal, Hard Rock |
Labels | Vertigo Records |
Length | 42:56 |
Ranked | #2 for 1970 , #43 all-time |
Album rating : 93.1 / 100
Votes : 81 (6 reviews)
Votes : 81 (6 reviews)
April 4, 2024
The debut album of Black Sabbath, who ended their career some years ago with "The End" tour, appeared 50 years ago in the early twilight of the new decade, when heavy metal as a concept did not yet exist. Of course, there were some songs like Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown" and Cream's "Crossroads," which already pointed the light in this direction.
Even though "Black Sabbath" has been put on a record countless times over the years, you still have to stop for a moment to admire its appearance. The album cover is still menacingly beautiful and mysteriously functional, you could put this on the wall as a large canvas. The thunder and doomsday bells that start the album also seem to rise directly from the world of the cover and it is a perfect opening for the album. "Black Sabbath" itself starts the work and there is no need to present this song any further. The song becomes the cornerstone of the album and the beginnings of heavy metal as a whole.
The name of the band taken from Boris Karloff's horror film and the pressing music taken from the film were something completely incomprehensible at the time. At the end of the song, the tempo is increased and Tony Iommi rolls the first of his dozens of future king riffs. It was no wonder that Sabbath quickly gained a reputation as Satan worshipers and parents were horrified by their children's new fandom.
Another highlight is the catchy "N.I.B.", which, according to the often heard theory, did not come from the words Nativity In Black but came from drummer Bill Ward's beard. Also released as a single, the cover version "Evil Woman" sounds very fitting to Sabbath's more melodic style, even though the band themselves made the song reluctantly and out of necessity. "Behind The Wall Of Sleep", which was still playing in the set list of "The End" tour, has also retained its mystical charm, although the sound world of the original album makes you wish for more weight and faster pedaling.
According to their own words, the band was a blues-based band, and this can be heard on the album, for better or for worse. Songs like "Warning" and "Wicked World" were built from a jamming base, the band just playing without thinking about where the song was going. In the 1970s, this kind of material had its place, but when listened to today, and especially in comparison to Sabbath's later production, some of the songs fall badly. Ozzy Osbourne's vocals, like the music, are raw and unpolished, and the arrangements don't come together in the same way as the previously mentioned highlights.
Black Sabbath developed heavy metal in its time and with that this record has its place. Its status as a historical work cannot be disputed. On the other hand, as a purely musical entity, it is not even in the best third of Sabbath's discography. Just a couple of years later, the band released the great album "Master Of Reality," which I recommend to start getting to know the early roots of 1970s metal.
Even though "Black Sabbath" has been put on a record countless times over the years, you still have to stop for a moment to admire its appearance. The album cover is still menacingly beautiful and mysteriously functional, you could put this on the wall as a large canvas. The thunder and doomsday bells that start the album also seem to rise directly from the world of the cover and it is a perfect opening for the album. "Black Sabbath" itself starts the work and there is no need to present this song any further. The song becomes the cornerstone of the album and the beginnings of heavy metal as a whole.
The name of the band taken from Boris Karloff's horror film and the pressing music taken from the film were something completely incomprehensible at the time. At the end of the song, the tempo is increased and Tony Iommi rolls the first of his dozens of future king riffs. It was no wonder that Sabbath quickly gained a reputation as Satan worshipers and parents were horrified by their children's new fandom.
Another highlight is the catchy "N.I.B.", which, according to the often heard theory, did not come from the words Nativity In Black but came from drummer Bill Ward's beard. Also released as a single, the cover version "Evil Woman" sounds very fitting to Sabbath's more melodic style, even though the band themselves made the song reluctantly and out of necessity. "Behind The Wall Of Sleep", which was still playing in the set list of "The End" tour, has also retained its mystical charm, although the sound world of the original album makes you wish for more weight and faster pedaling.
According to their own words, the band was a blues-based band, and this can be heard on the album, for better or for worse. Songs like "Warning" and "Wicked World" were built from a jamming base, the band just playing without thinking about where the song was going. In the 1970s, this kind of material had its place, but when listened to today, and especially in comparison to Sabbath's later production, some of the songs fall badly. Ozzy Osbourne's vocals, like the music, are raw and unpolished, and the arrangements don't come together in the same way as the previously mentioned highlights.
Black Sabbath developed heavy metal in its time and with that this record has its place. Its status as a historical work cannot be disputed. On the other hand, as a purely musical entity, it is not even in the best third of Sabbath's discography. Just a couple of years later, the band released the great album "Master Of Reality," which I recommend to start getting to know the early roots of 1970s metal.
2 likes
Track listing (Songs)
title | rating | votes | video | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Black Sabbath | 6:16 | 97.5 | 30 | Audio Music Video |
2. | The Wizard | 4:24 | 91.4 | 26 | Audio |
3. | Behind the Wall of Sleep | 3:38 | 87.9 | 19 | Audio |
4. | N.I.B. | 6:06 | 96.2 | 25 | Audio |
5. | Evil Woman, Don't Play Your Games with Me (Crow cover) | 3:25 | 85 | 19 | Audio |
6. | Sleeping Village | 3:46 | 85.3 | 18 | Audio |
7. | Warning (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation cover) | 10:32 | 84.1 | 18 | Audio |
1996 CD reissue bonus track | |||||
8. | Wicked World | 4:47 | 88.9 | 16 | Audio |
Line-up (members)
- Ozzy Osbourne : Vocals, Harmonica (track 2), Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 6)
- Tony Iommi : Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 6)
- Geezer Butler : Bass, Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 6)
- Bill Ward : Drums, Songwriting (tracks 1-4, 6)
4 reviews
cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forbidden Review (1995) | 75 | Apr 6, 2024 | 0 | ||||
30: Very Best of Deep Purple Review (1998) [Compilation] | 70 | Apr 4, 2024 | 0 | ||||
▶ Black Sabbath Review (1970) | 90 | Apr 4, 2024 | 2 | ||||
Perfect Strangers Review (1984) | 90 | Apr 3, 2024 | 1 |
1
13 Review (2013)
DaveÅkerfeldt 95/100
Jun 26, 2013 Likes : 10
향후 어떤 앨범이 나올지는 모르지만, 현재로서는 21세기 최고의 헤비메탈 앨범이라 단언할 수 있다, 1978년 오지옹이 Never Say Die! 를 마지막으로 밴드를 떠나고 아이오미옹과 오지옹은 30년 가량의 긴세월동안 각자의 길을 걷는다, 그동안 팬들은 그들의 재결합을 절실히 원했으나 여러가지... Read More
Paranoid Review (1970)
피규어no5 90/100
Mar 27, 2013 Likes : 10
헤비메탈의 뿌리 그 자체인 역사적 앨범으로 기존의 락 음악 방법론에 이들만의 어둡고 텁텁한 사상적, 음악적 개성을 더 하며 파격적으로 등장한 앨범이다. 한마디로 우리가 지금 듣고 즐기는 헤비메탈의 기틀을 전부 완성시켰다고 볼 수 있는 작품이다. 메탈리스너를 열광하게 만드는 모... Read More
Crimson아이똥 100/100
Dec 19, 2023 Likes : 9
말이 필요없는 디오 블랙사바스의 절대명반이자 나의 삶을 송두리째 바꿔놓은 보물. 악곡과 멤버들의 연주력, 디오의 환상적인 보컬은 너무나도 훌륭하다. 하지만 내게 있어서 가장 큰 충격을 주었던 것은 디오가 써 내려간 가사에 담긴 의미였다. 디오가 이 앨범에서 말하고자 하는 바를... Read More
Paranoid Review (1970)
아나나비야 95/100
Jan 6, 2019 Likes : 9
블랙 사바스는 라인업이 완벽하다. 보컬 오지 오스본은 거칠고 음침한 분위기로 후대 익스트림 메탈에까지 영향을 미쳤다. 베이스는 기타를 대신해 멜로디를 이끌기도 할 만큼 화려하고, 드럼은 7번 곡의 솔로에서 실력이 드러난다.
가장 중요한 건 기타리스트 토니 아이오미다. 독특한 ... Read More
Divine Step 100/100
Oct 8, 2018 Likes : 9
디오는 디오다. 이해 못하겠으면 외우는게 상식이다. 외우자.
오지는 오지다. 이것도 이해 못하겠으면 외워야한다. 근데 얘는 내 취향 아니라 모르겠다.
둘 다 자기 이름 걸고 밴드 활동했으며 그 두 밴드, 오지 오스본과 디오를 싸움 붙인다면
뭐 다들 오지 오스본이라 하겠지만
블랙 사... Read More
Tyr Review (1990)
FOAD 100/100
Feb 6, 2024 Likes : 6
무겁고 둔탁한 리프, 오지의 불길한 보컬로 대표되는 B.S의 음악 색깔에 조금 벗어난 앨범이지만 스튜디오 퍼포먼스만 보면 디오를 능가하는 것 같은 토니 마틴의 보컬, 말 할 필요없는 코지의 천둥같은 드러밍 여전한 리프마스터 토니 아이오미의 기타가 한 편의 장대한 북유럽 신화 OST를... Read More
Live Evil Review (1982) [Live]
FOAD 100/100
Jul 30, 2023 Likes : 5
2023 년 40주년 기념 슈퍼 디럭스 에디션 감상평.
이 버젼을 기대한 이유는 무려 리믹스 버젼이 포함될 예정이라서. 관중소리, 악기들 간의 발란스, 라이브 앨범에는 필수인 공연 현장감 등 모든것이 아쉬웠던 명작. 디오의 보컬과 멤버들의 연주력을 저 괴랄한 믹싱과 마스터링이 다 망쳐놨... Read More
Paranoid Review (1970)
쇽흐 100/100
Nov 28, 2013 Likes : 5
헤비메탈, 아니 음악을 떠나서 어떤 분야에서든 '넘사벽'의 아우라를 갖는 누군가는 필연 존재한다. 이 말을 누가 처음 만들었는지는 모르겠지만 참 이만큼 프로의 세계는 넓고 실력자들은 무수히 많다는 걸 잘 표현하는 말이 또 있을까 싶다. 각설하고, 난 오지 오스본을 별로 안좋아한다... Read More