They were making questionable decisions ( including the image on the cover of the album). Sabotage (1975): This album came out during a strange time for Sabbath. With the next leg of their North American world tour kicking off tonight in Brooklyn, here are their best and worst contributions to the music world.ĥ. Iommi’s playing, coupled with the unique drum patterns from drummer Bill Ward (who was primarily a jazz drummer prior to joining the band), Ozzy Osbourne’s shrill vocal delivery, and bassist Geezer Butler’s ominous lyrics established the gloomy, horror-movie-evocative tone which set a sort of template for the sound we now know as heavy metal (or more specifically, as sludge or stoner metal).Īlthough they didn’t achieve much critical success in their heyday, they’ve retained a loyal fanbase, and have arguably had a more lasting impact on current music than any of their contemporaries, which is why many of their albums remain popular to this day. Tony Iommi developed a fairly unique style of guitar playing, employing power chords, heavy distortion, and a reductive treatment of the blues. They pioneered a sound which countless musicians have emulated, although none were able to truly duplicate. From the late sixties to the present day, few musical acts have had the sort of lasting impact that Black Sabbath can claim.

Black sabbath albums