BLACK SABBATH

An album of sheer sonic beauty, revolation, and, for some, pure terror. The album has been controversial for many years due to the fact that it may have kick-started the genre that we may all know by now as "Heavy Metal." The album itself, musically, is excellent. Now progressive in any way, im not so sure. There are hints in the psychedelia in some songs, but it did have a heavy impact on the world. That's all that turely matters.

1.Black Sabbath - An absolute metal classic. The song has an immortal riff, based on the "tri-tone"...which the guys in sabbath, obviously high or tripping, said "Yeah, let's use the tri-tone in most of our songs, man!" but overall, it worked out well with most of their albums. The track is heavily experimental at the time, and is one of the most haunting tracks that anyone could come across. The bleak vocals of Ozzy Osbourne in their immaturaity make it a potheads dream, with the heavy playing of Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler set the standard for all metal artists. There is a bit of swing in the drumming, thanks to Bill Ward and his fine ability to create complex rhythms out of scratch. A must hear. (10/10)

2.The Wizard - Another fine track, even if it is less heavy than the opening. The energy is always in this track, as suggests in the harmonica of Osbourne. Fast bass playing and furious guitar playing set to the max, this track is like a load of adrenaline to the brain. The lyrics are about a large magical figure, who sends an odd aura to the world. (9.5/10)

3.Behind the Wall of Sleep - The opening riff suggests a much darker song, though it turns to be a more standard bluesy type of track. Still, even in simplicity, is one of my favourite tracks. A steady drumbeat via Ward is always present and is totally grooving with the fuzz bass and ripping guitar. Great vocal melody from Osbourne as well, a truely mystic track. (9.5/10)

4.N.I.B. - Another turely immortal track, with an opening bass solo that can send anyone to groove space. The song itself isn't very complex, but offers some great interplay between guitar bass and drums, with a very trippy chorus to make the song even better. The lyrics don't really mean to much, as they are about love, as with many songs at the time of this release, but they are more dark and sinister, from Satan's point of view, and can send chills down anyones spine. A track that is epically epic, so to speak. (10/10)

5.Evil Woman - This is one of the reasons the track isn't really essential. The track is very direct, though has no sense of energy at all. The cut has a steady bass line that is groovy, but is delivered poorly, as with the vocals and guitar playing. The drumming seems almost standard and does not show much to emphasized the bass playing. A flop, in most respects. (6/10)

6.Sleeping Village - A more medival type of intro, almost as haunting as the title track, though cannot match the energy, as the track seems almost flat. The lyrics are very fine, as Osbourne delivers them with a heavy sense of confidence. The track then turns into a standard bluesy affair, and does not go anywhere. Nice try though, but could have been a little more. (7.5/10)

7.Warning - Grooving psychedelia at it's best. At over ten minutes, the cut has some ultra trippy bass playing, guitar solos that will send you into space, and vocals that will make you travel into vortexes unknown. Despite some good sections, the song still dosent sound as good as the original artist intended and the lyrics overall don't really fit with this type of trippy, dark and gloomy music. (8/10)

Though there are absolute classics and absolute duds, one cannot deny the impact that Black Sabbath had bestoed upon the world after the release of their epic debut album. A 4 stars for a fine and drug induced album, as things would only get better for them after this album.