BLACK SABBATH

This album has been quite rightly credited as a huge early contribution to the heavy metal genre. But this sound has influenced the stoner rock and goth genre's too. It was lyrically and musically very "dark" for the time, freaking out some young listeners and horrifying their parents!

The title track opens with the sound of heavy falling rain, a ringing church bell and light thunder in the background. The guitar, bass and drums kick in at a slow tempo, already sounding quite sinister while the lyrics concern a "figure in black". It is considered a great classic by many fans. "The Wizard" is the second track and a great song with singer Ozzy also on harmonica. The blues influence in the band's early sound is evident which was typical for most rock bands of that period.

Other highlights for me include "N.I.B" and the creepy "Sleeping Village". This is a great landmark album. The cover may trigger off some goose bumps too. Beware of the figure in black! The album was originally released on Friday 13th, which was a very suitable date for this record. It is definitely worth checking out for those interested in exploring the classics. 4 stars.