BLACK SABBATH

One of the most important debut albums in history of rock, Black Sabbath also acts a s a birthplace of heavy metal genre. Dark and menacing sound of tumbling guitar riffs, stomping bass and fiery drums, coupled with freaky Ozzy's vocals and lyrics elaborating on the evil side of human being, horrors of destructive mind and "satanic" imagery were unprecedented before. There are lots of heavy, blues and jazz based jamming which went in line with the emerging progressive rock trends. Therefore, inclusion of this band in PA was more than justified. It is enough to hear a terrifying sound of church bells in the opening title track, followed by slow agonizing guitar riff by often neglected guitar inventor Tonny Iommi, to send shivers down my spine. You can almost physically sense the heaviness of metal "substance" filled with paranoia of a man deluded by a feeling that the Evil is presently chasing him. Not only the later legions of commercialized and bastardized metallic "headbangers" but also many of the Goth-rock actors of the 1980s would testify how influenced was the BLACK SABBATH debut LP.

PERSONAL RATING: 4,5/5

P.A. RATING: 5/5