Metal wasn't just born one day. It was a gradual transformation from 60's hippie hard rock with distortion and heavier bass. So yes, early "metal" was very much just rock music.
Thomas hit the nail on the head. One of the vehicles introducing the term “metal” comes from the Steppenwolf song, Born to be Wild, when John Kay talks about “heavy metal thunder”. You often have pounding, distorted power chords and fairly high tempo guitar solos. It’s also common for the metal guitarists to down tune the 6th string to D or C#, to use 7 seven string guitars (addition of a low B string) and to use guitars with additional frets and cutouts to make it easier to reach high notes on the bridge end.
The fathers of heavy metal 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 There was a lot of controversy as to people thought they were singing about suicide. At the end, people were hearing "end your life" instead of "enjoy life"
@@ractmo That's not exactly what you said before and I had to take the opportunity to troll, fam... In any case, Black Sabbath is by far the most responsible one for the birth of the genre, to the point where you might as well call them the fathers of heavy metal.
I like the live performance of war pigs in front of a crowd of disabled (injured) Military veterans from Vietnam. Obviously was in the US. Can't recall the year. The way the blokes shouted and sang along with the lyrics said it all . The hatred and futility of war . Generals being likened to witches at Black Masses etc. It all makes sense
You need to remember when this came out, the music that was around was the hippie-rock stuff... then Black Sabbath came out with the lower tuned guitars, chuggy riffs and the lyrics that would scare the pants off people back in the day. Then through the years the riffs and speed of playing grew and developed into a massive movement with sooo many genres.
Despite it being associated with Sabbath, Tony didn't actually tune his guitar down until their 3rd album; Master Of Reality. Their first two albums including all their most famous songs are recorded in standard E tuning including; Paranoid, War Pigs, & Iron Man. Tony just played in a way that sounded darker and more heavy than anyone previously! He also used lighter gauge strings which to most people these days is the opposite of what you'd expect from a metal player, his tone was in the fingers (what he had left of them lol), and of course his Laney amps helped
Today it seems most bands take 20 years to produce 6 albums.
Рік тому+37
Sabbath was when they came around in the late 60s early 70s, considered really heavy and dark. As a young kid in the 70s and I but on the first track on their first album, I was blown away how dark and mysterious it was. The first song was Black Sabbath. Another really timeless song from them is their War Pigs, as it is relatable even today. Look up the lyrics to that when reacting to it. For me they ARE the birth of Heavy Metal. It was called heavy rock at first, but the riffs that Tony Iommi delivers on the albums, has inspired almost any modern metal band today.
Wow there is no simple answer to that question what makes a song more of a metal song than a rock song. There are many factors. More distortion of the guitars, bass and vocals. More complicated time signatures. More intense drumming especially double kicks. Different tuning on the instruments. Different styles of playing the instruments. A Rock song follows a more rigid structure while a Metal song is more fluid in its structure. Like I said there is no one answer to this and there are a 100 answers to this. This is also why there are so many genres of Metal. The one thing that is for sure there is something for everyone in the Metal world.
Tony Iommi had an accident that sheared off the tips of several fingers. He downtuned his guitar, made some prosthetic fingertips, and solidified the heavy metal genre. Then the band saw a huge line to see a horror movie (Black Sabbath) and decided to write dark horror inspired songs. There were some bands that dabbled in that sound and style, but Sabbath were the first to go all in.
Tony Iommi was one of the greatest guitarists. No one in this band got enough credit for their talent, except Osbourne, and that was only after he went solo.
This is the start of the heavy metal genre so it is in its "infant" years, so different than today or even 80's and 90's . You can find elements in songs before them like You Really Got me by the Kinks or Helter Skelter by the Beatles and more in bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple but Sabbath was the first band that made this genre started to take form .
Absolutely, all those bands & others likeThe Doors, Vanilla Fudge, Arthur Brown & Iron Butterfly all had elements of proto-metal but Sabbath were the first ones to put everything together & Tony's need to detune coz of his accident brought those slow, sinister riffs. Priest added the look & Maiden turned the whole thing into a well-oiled machine run with military precision 😂🤘
Welcome to the world of Sabbath Jenna, yeah, this song was more of a rock vibe a very popular song. Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath is a great follow up, it’s a bit more their thing! Enjoying your trip around the bands, especially now you’re going into the classic bands; I saw Sabbath live around the early seventies several times locally, their gigs were wild!
They started as a Blues band called Earth and you'll hear heavy blues,jazz influences in alot of they're early music. Despite they're name they were all devout Catholics ,something that will become apparent to anyone who pays attention to the lyrics.
They were basically a hippie rock band but being working class from Birmingham the life they saw was a lot darker and bleak than flowers and peace signs. And then Tony Iommi loosing the tips of two fingers on his fretting hand the last day of his work at a sheetmetal factory as he was planning to go full time musician with the band forced him to come up with a different style of playing and writing guitar music (he made finger prosthetics) and that heavily influenced the types of chords in what eventually became metal music EDIT: Clarify that he didn't loose two entire fingers
Rock Music Versus Hard Rock Versus Heavey Metal Rock Is So Logical! I Don't See How People Can't Comprenend How It Formed! It Is Simple, If You Just Think About Geology, How Rocks Are Formed, Where Metal Comes From, How's It's Made Especially Heavy Metals! Yes, It's Deep! 😎
Isn't it ironic that Tony worked at a metal factory, and on his last day working there had is guitar playing finger tips chopped off, and then became the Godfather of Heavy metal ,, :)
I think one hallmark of metal is that driving guitar gallop. You're literally at the beginning of metal with this song. Another great early metal song is Highway Star by Deep Purple. A similar level of "heaviness" and similar in that they are one of the other bands credited with inventing the metal sound.
At the end everybody always thinks he says I tell you to end your life I wish I could but it’s too late. Most people think that’s what the song says to this day.
I'm late diagnosed autistic, at 54. I started drinking and smoking pot at 14. I don't drink anymore. This song was part of the soundtrack of my life. It addresses psychological issues that weren't even recognised at the time. 'Autism ' is as old as the Internet. 4 to 40 percent of people with autism are undiagnosed. How do you manage it? Self medication. 🍻 Life expectancy of autistic person-54.
As a youngster, my introduction to rock music was provided by my older brother who, in short sequence, brought home the debut releases from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. I think I played them more than he did, and I haven't tired of listening to either of them since. It doesn't matter which one you think is better. You NEED them both! What a time it was to be alive and young!
Welcome to the Sabbath. These guys are the originators of everything that we know of as heavy metal. And the guitarist Tony Iommi has to be credited more than anyone else in the history of the genre. Time has shown that the mighty Sabbath will go down as one of the worlds finest, and most memorable bands ever.
Heavy Metal was born one day: the day Black Sabbath's first album Black Sabbath was released. The first song on that album is Black Sabbath and it is a true Heavy Metal song that has never been bested.
Tommy I has kind of a unique sound because of the technique he uses on the fretboard due to missing most of one finger. I saw him in an interview where he and Ozzy were working factory jobs when they were kids and he cut off his finger in an accident. He thought that was the end for him playing, but he overcame and conquered and the rest is history.
You were correct thinking it was about anxiety. Geezer Butler spoke about writing it as he had had depression. He was writing about that and did not really know about paranoia. This description is on a piece about the making of the album that is on youtube.
Don't worry too much about the definition between rock music and heavy metal , as their descriptions have changed over the years as a slightly different style has emerged. In 1969, all this music would have been described as underground music or progressive music as it was beginning to leave the 60s pop scene behind, and in 1970, it completely broke out into the mainstream, and Black Sabbath ( paranoid) was one of the first records to hit the radio stations. The word metal didn't come out until a couple of years later , so don't worry, it is your own ear that will decided it for you. I hope you can follow my description, and yes I was there at the time.
Their music is simple, or at least not overly wrought. They are essentially a three-piece band with a lead singer, right? I think they are harbingers of metal music but not metal themselves. They are "heavy" without being too fast and loud, most of the time :)
Mostly simple. There are some beautiful bits of time change in their work that bar bands always fail to get. And they swing in pocket as well as anyone.
Oh Girl - what have you just unleashed. I am not even going to try to let you know your initial reaction to Paranoid is even going to illustrate this extraordinary band. I will wtahc with interest 😁🤘🤘🤘
As 71 old who was there to see music progress, I can tell you that rock music drew elements from many genres, including country, blues, and jazz. The early days of rock was called rock n’ roll and we saw artists like Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. Then along came the likes of The Beach Boys and the Beatles. Following close on their heels were heavier rock artists like The Rolling Stones. Then in 1968 Black Sabbath burst onto the scene with their genre quickly dubbed as heavy metal for its hard driving, repetitive guitar and deep bass licks. Their music has many influences from the blues underscoring their compositions, but set to a driving and loud beat, thus heavy metal was born. Soon other heavy metal bands with blues influences hit the scene, bands such as Led Zeppelin and Blue Oyster Cult. Later came Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, and soon others branched off into thrash metal and speed metal. Most of today’s music includes undertones from the early blues but all modern music owe its origins to the giants of yesteryear, Bach and Beethoven.😊
What we call Classic Rock today was just Hard Rock back then. Bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Cream, Pink Floyd and The Jimi Hendrix Experience were just getting their starts. The technology did not exist to play what we now call Metal. I actually saw Black Sabbath in the student union at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1969 or 1970. It cost $2.00 and there were about 10 or 15 people in there. No one knew who they were, yet. The main thing I remember is that the guitarist turned his guitar way up right before each section he played. There was tremendous feedback and then REALLY LOUD guitar. I loved it!
Metal is more thrashing and ripping of the guitar and usually there’s more speed in metal. Rock is a little more slower hard grungy feel still with the guitar solos but more anthem like and both of them are heavy on rhythm guitar riffs. The thing about Sabbath is this is rock ‘n’ roll but they were the forefathers of metal. This music is where metal stemmed from it got faster and more intense and sharper as time went on. And yes this is all my opinion lol
When this was released we called it hardrock and it was not full of klichés and attitudes at that time. It was the first time we had heard something like this. I was seventeen and it was great.
Black Sabbath came out during the "hippie rock" genre/era but decided to shed the peace signs, tune down, and just scare the shit out of you!! Fucking incredible!!
Considered a "filler", Paranoid was written (lyrics by Geezer Butler, bassist & riff, Tony Iommi, guitarist) in one day and recorded, lol. with Ozzy reading the lyrics for the first time when it was recorded. Geezer was such a brilliant bassist (began as rhythm guitar) with insanely fast fingers. One of my favorite basslines that I played back in the days of being in a cover band, lol.
Paranoia is the irrational and persistent feeling that people are 'out to get you' or that you are the subject of persistent, intrusive attention by others. This unfounded mistrust of others can make it difficult for a person with paranoia to function socially or have close relationships.
I'm so glad I found your channel. Subscribed. Please please don't change the format. Its so natural and real. I always took this song to be about clinical depression, which in 1970 was very taboo. So to make a song about mental health issues like that was pushing the bar. My request to you is the Falling in Reverse song 'Watch the World Burn', the live version.
This song and the other classic tracks, on the album of the same name as the song you are reacting to, were a launching pad for super stardom in the 70s as the first true, heavy metal band and would be inspiration for 1,000s of heavy bands that came after. For another great track, do War Pigs but Please do the studio original audio first, it was a huge and controversial track that still is relevant to this day. The best live video versions are Paris 1970 and the California Jam 1974. They still sound fresh 50+ years on, their first 6 albums are the Industry Standard for influence, sound quality, lyrics and their incredible vibe and presence live. I saw them 8 times with Ozzy from 1974 - 2013, he was one of the best front men of all time for me and millions of fans, as were his bandmates, who all rank amongst the best at their respective instruments. They are the real deal my dear and your best bet for your experience is a mix of studio and live stuff, do the first album song by song and some live video of them to break your reaction up and give you some live that you crave but please listen to the studio stuff as you can. Enjoy the Sabbath ride, so many great tracks to hear for the first time, Lucky You! Rock On!🎵🎸🎤🎸🎹🎶
Love the original members....great tune maybe cause it's my era, lol. They had many hits.....I responded more to the music more than the lyrics. Also this group was one of the prime heavy metal bands and made an impression on so many back then.
There's a song by Sabbath that's about young people protesting war, a timeless song because there's always war and young people protesting it, it's called "Children of the Grave"
Black Sabbath was what inspired a lot of more straight Heavy Rock/Metal bands later. They did not start out to be what that music's pioneers is today, after all. This was a sort of edgier and much harder psychedelia, is how I always saw them, once I learned more about the music of the late 60's!
Sabbath are the primordial metallic goo from where all other metal genre's crawled out of. They are not metal, but you can hear the origins of styles in all of their music. Go back and start in the beginning. The first six albums are nonstop winners.
Black Sabbath War Pigs Live 1970 is one of the most incredible performances of all time! Bill Ward on drums at only 21 years old is amazing. Must Watch! If I had to pick one differentiator of hard rock/heavy metal from other music it's the pronounced use of GUITAR played by highly talented musicians. The guitar riffs are the driving force propelling all metal. Additionally there's typically more "bite" or "edge" to the music with tons of energy. Must watch AC/DC Live at River Plate. The audience alone is a spectacle! That concert will go down in history as one of the best rock performances ever!
Tony Iommi once said in an interview " I Don't Know Where The Term Heavy Metal Came From. We're Just A Rock n Roll Band " . Remember that Black Sabbath got its start in the late 60's early 70's as a blues band called " EARTH ". They were influenced by Eric Clapton, Hendrix and blues. They later changed the name to " Black Sabbath ". They even have great ballads.
As metal has since developed into its own, it's important historically to remember that metal is part of an evolution. That is to say, it comes out of rock'n'roll, which itself evolved from blues. So when Black Sabbath is recognized as one of the fathers of metal, that doesn't mean they completely shed off rock'n'roll and played something entirely different at once. It means they took rock'n'roll and evolved it into metal. If you discard the rhythm and the guitar riff itself, but instead listen to the rough, raw in-your-face guitar SOUND, you will recognize that the sound of an otherwise rock'n'roll song has become a lot more aggressive and dark. It's an incremental step towards all-out metal, as opposed to a sudden shift away from rock'n'roll. Evolution more than revolution. That's the shortest way I can try to explain it.
"War Pigs" also from Black Sabbath. This song has an excellent video as well. Metal music tend to be more exaggeration and improvisation with more stage acting of rock n' roll.
Heard it’s called Heavy metal because of where Ozzy was brought up in and around the Black County,West Midlands,England,where there was Heavy metal industry Just found your channel like the way present yourself and your breakdown understanding of the music and Lyrics
'"Heavy metal" as a term didn't come into wide use until the 80's. It's basically just a subgenre of rock that focuses on distorted guitar tomes that give a "crunch" feel, with a pounding rhythm section. There's not always a very fine distinction between metal and hard rock, and back on the day these guys were just considered heavy rock along with their contemporaries Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, etc.
Great review of a song with great lyrics. The band is from my era, with great driving beat . I don't know who wrote the lyrics, but they are very clever.
Rock music is 3-chord guitar and blues based rhythm. A good example is "Jump That Train" by Foghat. Metal music is 1 and 2-chord "bar riffing". Sometimes faster, and power chords are used primarily to augment the riffs as the primary driving force of the song. Since you mentioned symphonic metal, a good example of metal riffs, especially during the verses/chorus, in this genre is "Wish I Had An Angel" by Nightwish. For the most part, but not akways, (especially lyrically), rock is about sex and the brighter side of life, while metal is about violence and life's darker tenets (if this helps)
"Lord Of This World" or "Into The Void" can be considered incredible examples of "metal". The band fought that label, preferring to see themselves as a rock band, pure and simple.
Steppen Wolf coined the word Heavy Metal in a song born to be wild. This song Paranoid was a filler they needed an extra song and they made it really quick. Ended up being so good they named the. album after it instead of the Song WarPigs which to me is one of the best songs ever. Check it out.
And a fact this song was something Tony Iommi came up with while the other guys were out having lunch the record company wanted one more song on the album 2½ minutes long the difference is the rhythm more distortion in the guitar, rock guitars has overdrive in the tone like Guns N´ Roses Metal has this Crunching chugging
The bridge between Black Sabbath & Iron Maiden is 70's Judas Priest (1975-1979), the birth of their brand of brainiac metal. Some suggestions: "Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver" "Tyrant" "Dissident Aggressor" "Beyond the Realms of Death" "Hell Bent For Leather" "Genocide" (live version from 1979) 80's Judas Priest is pretty good, too, but their 70's stuff was so far ahead of its time, I'm still mesmerized by it. Your metal journey is just beginning 🤘🤘
Metal music has obviously spread far and wide but there are still sub-genres that have not been able to or don't feel need to evolve beyond copying or borrowing from Sabbath... Decades later.
yeah, this is a chill relaxed sanitized spot suitable for tv and am radio. for a much better representation of the band... BLACK SABBATH - "War Pigs" (Live Video)
What never made sense to me was why the song was named Paranoid while obviously speaking on Clinical Depression ... an entirely different illness altogether. That said, the song has always been a banger and re-shaped the whole industry in such a short time. Sabbath had a lot of great songs with their different vocalists. Ozzy, Dio and Tony Martin all had their share of hits while the albums with Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan and Ray Gillen were all fantastic and have their fan-bases and dissenters (I'm part of the fan-base of all line-ups of Sabbath while many others prefer to stick to their favorite vocalist, usually Ozzy or Dio).
This song took them like an hour to write and record... It was a last minute fill in to complete an album so don't read to much into it.. for a song they just whipped up in a few minutes it's still good and better than most stuff made today... The heavy guitar is because Tony doesn't have fingertips so he used banjo strings and had to turn the distortion up to make it sound cool...
Still one of my all time favourite bands. Has had many incarnations over the years, with the most legendary and enduring being with Ozzie and the Ronnie James Dio on the mic. Others have said what I was thinking. 🤘😎🤘
this was HEAVY at the time it came out, there was nothing like it, the first metal group, sure there were a few songs here and there that could be classified as metal, but.. Sabbath was the first Metal group. remember the time frame, the Doors and Hendrix were considered hard rock at this time, Sabbath was on another planet.
Black Sabbath was originally a blues rock band called “earth” then one day geezer saw a poster for a film called “Black Sabbath” and said to ozzy “isn’t it weird people will pay money to see a movie that scares them, we should try to make music that scares people” they then wrote a song called Black Sabbath then changed the band name to Black Sabbath and the rest is history….fun fact lol
Black Sabbath have never really embraced the Heavy Metal label. It was applied to them, to Deep Purple, to Led Zeppelin, but I've heard that the first band to embrace the label was Judas Priest.
Hi Jenna have a listen to there self title song Black Sabbath that to me was when Heavy Metal was born So for me Heavy Metal is defined by low guitar tuning's (Which Black Sabbath where the first band to do that), thunderous drums and the lyric's are usaully talking about deep stuff like war, religion, addiction and mental illness These days like all genres there are loads of subgenres of Heavy Metal that all have there own different characteristics
Tony Iommi defines Sabbath for me, but one thing about early Sabbath I love is Geezer Butler's lyrics. They may not have the lyricism of some other contemporary bands, but they tackle real issues in a sensitive way much more often. _St_ _Vitus_ _Dance,_ for instance (which I recommend), looks at a common subject for songs but in a much more genuine way IMO.
Please correct me if I'm wrong. I also want to know the truth :) I think this song is definitely in the ROCK genre (but with more 'gusto/punch' than other rock music of the time. that 'gusto/punch' brings this song closer to the metal genre, but it's still rock.) because pure metal is Judas Priest - Painkiller. too many diferences between this two songs. Early metal has a lot of rock and metal elements. so maybe we shouldn't separate the two :) For example : Judas Priest - Breaking The Law (Official Music Video) this is ROCK or METAL ? Or both ?
Hard rock and heavy metal were pretty much the same in the late 60s and early 70s. Black Sabbath definitely paved the way for the metal bands that developed later in the 70s and bloomed after the death of disco.
Black Sabbath are generally considered the fathers (or grandfathers) of metal. It has always been amusing to me that Ozzy is more understandable when he sings, than when he is speaking. Considering that metal has now evolved into multiple genres, but usually featuring harsh (screaming or growl) vocals, fast tempo (monotonous) drumming and guitars, and often non-melodic song structure, if Black Sabbath were to appear on the scene today as a new band, I don’t many modern Metal fans would consider them a Metal band. As for suggestions, Iron Man is to Black Sabbath what Stairway to Heaven is to Led Zeppelin. 😎
Great question concerning Metal vs. Rock. I am 64 and grew up with this music and while for me there was a fine line in the 70s between Metal and Hard Rock, I feel nowadays it’s a bigger divide. While Black Sabbath definitely laid the foundation for Heavy Metal, more so, than other bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and others they, themselves consider them themselves to be a rock band as I have e heard and read more than once quotes from the band itself. I think it’s very subjective and while a lot of us older fans (though not all I am sure) might not consider these bands Metal, though Sabbath comes closest and I would not argue with anymore calling them Metal. I think over time these bands often fall under the Heavy Metal umbrella today even if they might not have at the time. It’s definitely subjective for a lot of people and I wouldn’t be surprised if I get some people strongly disagreeing with me. I think of bands like Judas Priest to be one of those bands that really signifies the transition from Hard Rock to Heavy Metal.
@Koality: The difference between Metal and Rock, is time. 50 years ago, this was Heavy Metal, tho not sure if they used that phrase in the early 70's. Even into the 80's when I grew up, GNR and Motley Crue were called Heavy Metal back then. Now that "Metal" means the hard core thrash and death metal stuff, newer generations relegate old heavy metal or old metal, as just rock. It confuses me hearing young people say this is just rock. Because hard core metal moved up a few notches, now previous heavy metal gets relegated to "rock". Time is the difference.
Metal wasn't just born one day. It was a gradual transformation from 60's hippie hard rock with distortion and heavier bass. So yes, early "metal" was very much just rock music.
Ohhh okay, fair. This makes more sense! Thank you.
Exactly, what I keep trying to tell these reviewers.❤😊
Metal was born in a day...on a Black Sabbath 😂❤😂
Thomas hit the nail on the head. One of the vehicles introducing the term “metal” comes from the Steppenwolf song, Born to be Wild, when John Kay talks about “heavy metal thunder”. You often have pounding, distorted power chords and fairly high tempo guitar solos. It’s also common for the metal guitarists to down tune the 6th string to D or C#, to use 7 seven string guitars (addition of a low B string) and to use guitars with additional frets and cutouts to make it easier to reach high notes on the bridge end.
And an underlying funkiness I’m there as well. One of my all time favourite bands.
This sounded like nothing ever heard before at the time. It changed Rock music forever
The fathers of heavy metal 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
There was a lot of controversy as to people thought they were singing about suicide. At the end, people were hearing "end your life" instead of "enjoy life"
No single person is father kf heavy metal...although ozzy is the most important person in the development of it
@@ractmo They're not a single person, they're a band! Hahaha.
@@emmanuel1337 again not a single band is responsible, rather multiple bands
@@ractmo That's not exactly what you said before and I had to take the opportunity to troll, fam...
In any case, Black Sabbath is by far the most responsible one for the birth of the genre, to the point where you might as well call them the fathers of heavy metal.
@@emmanuel1337 there are many bands before them, so certainly they are not the father of heavy metal
the live version of WAR PIGS from PARIS 1970 is stellar if you want to check out another early performance
Truth
I like the live performance of war pigs in front of a crowd of disabled (injured) Military veterans from Vietnam. Obviously was in the US. Can't recall the year. The way the blokes shouted and sang along with the lyrics said it all . The hatred and futility of war . Generals being likened to witches at Black Masses etc. It all makes sense
You need to remember when this came out, the music that was around was the hippie-rock stuff... then Black Sabbath came out with the lower tuned guitars, chuggy riffs and the lyrics that would scare the pants off people back in the day. Then through the years the riffs and speed of playing grew and developed into a massive movement with sooo many genres.
Yea, just think about mammas and papas, CSN & somtimes Y, beach boys and all that shiiite, this is real Rock.
Despite it being associated with Sabbath, Tony didn't actually tune his guitar down until their 3rd album; Master Of Reality. Their first two albums including all their most famous songs are recorded in standard E tuning including; Paranoid, War Pigs, & Iron Man. Tony just played in a way that sounded darker and more heavy than anyone previously! He also used lighter gauge strings which to most people these days is the opposite of what you'd expect from a metal player, his tone was in the fingers (what he had left of them lol), and of course his Laney amps helped
Their first six albums are amazing and the progression of the band over those 6 classic albums in 5 years is astonishing.
Today it seems most bands take 20 years to produce 6 albums.
Sabbath was when they came around in the late 60s early 70s, considered really heavy and dark. As a young kid in the 70s and I but on the first track on their first album, I was blown away how dark and mysterious it was. The first song was Black Sabbath. Another really timeless song from them is their War Pigs, as it is relatable even today. Look up the lyrics to that when reacting to it.
For me they ARE the birth of Heavy Metal. It was called heavy rock at first, but the riffs that Tony Iommi delivers on the albums, has inspired almost any modern metal band today.
Wow there is no simple answer to that question what makes a song more of a metal song than a rock song. There are many factors. More distortion of the guitars, bass and vocals. More complicated time signatures. More intense drumming especially double kicks. Different tuning on the instruments. Different styles of playing the instruments. A Rock song follows a more rigid structure while a Metal song is more fluid in its structure. Like I said there is no one answer to this and there are a 100 answers to this. This is also why there are so many genres of Metal. The one thing that is for sure there is something for everyone in the Metal world.
Tony Iommi had an accident that sheared off the tips of several fingers. He downtuned his guitar, made some prosthetic fingertips, and solidified the heavy metal genre. Then the band saw a huge line to see a horror movie (Black Sabbath) and decided to write dark horror inspired songs. There were some bands that dabbled in that sound and style, but Sabbath were the first to go all in.
Tony Iommi was one of the greatest guitarists. No one in this band got enough credit for their talent, except Osbourne, and that was only after he went solo.
I would say he's an amazing guitarist, considering he was a metal worker, who lost the tips of at least two fingers in a workplace accident.
They were a breath of fresh air, when they hit the scene. Heavier than anything going at the time, and played so incredibly well.
I believe written over a coffee break (???) during recording to fill up the record - that is why it is so short !!!
This is the start of the heavy metal genre so it is in its "infant" years, so different than today or even 80's and 90's . You can find elements in songs before them like You Really Got me by the Kinks or Helter Skelter by the Beatles and more in bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple but Sabbath was the first band that made this genre started to take form .
Absolutely, all those bands & others likeThe Doors, Vanilla Fudge, Arthur Brown & Iron Butterfly all had elements of proto-metal but Sabbath were the first ones to put everything together & Tony's need to detune coz of his accident brought those slow, sinister riffs. Priest added the look & Maiden turned the whole thing into a well-oiled machine run with military precision 😂🤘
Welcome to the world of Sabbath Jenna, yeah, this song was more of a rock vibe a very popular song.
Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath is a great follow up, it’s a bit more their thing!
Enjoying your trip around the bands, especially now you’re going into the classic bands; I saw Sabbath live around the early seventies several times locally, their gigs were wild!
Yeah, start with the opening track of the first, self titled album and continue through their first 6 albums for the best Sabbath has to offer.
Thanks Darrell! That’s definitely on the list! 🤍
This song was thrown together in about a day because the record company thought the album was to short.
"Too"
They started as a Blues band called Earth and you'll hear heavy blues,jazz influences in alot of they're early music. Despite they're name they were all devout Catholics ,something that will become apparent to anyone who pays attention to the lyrics.
They were basically a hippie rock band but being working class from Birmingham the life they saw was a lot darker and bleak than flowers and peace signs. And then Tony Iommi loosing the tips of two fingers on his fretting hand the last day of his work at a sheetmetal factory as he was planning to go full time musician with the band forced him to come up with a different style of playing and writing guitar music (he made finger prosthetics) and that heavily influenced the types of chords in what eventually became metal music
EDIT: Clarify that he didn't loose two entire fingers
Oh my gosh, what?! I had no idea. Daaaamn, good for him. So much respect for that.
He didn't lose two whole fingers, just the tips of two fingers.
@@21Piloteer You're right I could have been a bit more clear on that point. Edited my original comment
Rock Music Versus Hard Rock Versus Heavey Metal Rock Is So Logical! I Don't See How People Can't Comprenend How It Formed! It Is Simple, If You Just Think About Geology, How Rocks Are Formed, Where Metal Comes From, How's It's Made Especially Heavy Metals! Yes, It's Deep! 😎
Isn't it ironic that Tony worked at a metal factory, and on his last day working there had is guitar playing finger tips chopped off, and then became the Godfather of Heavy metal ,, :)
I think one hallmark of metal is that driving guitar gallop. You're literally at the beginning of metal with this song. Another great early metal song is Highway Star by Deep Purple. A similar level of "heaviness" and similar in that they are one of the other bands credited with inventing the metal sound.
One thing that’s very important is to realize they wrote and recorded it start to finish in 1hour
At the end everybody always thinks he says I tell you to end your life I wish I could but it’s too late. Most people think that’s what the song says to this day.
I'm late diagnosed autistic, at 54. I started drinking and smoking pot at 14. I don't drink anymore. This song was part of the soundtrack of my life. It addresses psychological issues that weren't even recognised at the time. 'Autism ' is as old as the Internet. 4 to 40 percent of people with autism are undiagnosed. How do you manage it? Self medication. 🍻 Life expectancy of autistic person-54.
As a youngster, my introduction to rock music was provided by my older brother who, in short sequence, brought home the debut releases from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. I think I played them more than he did, and I haven't tired of listening to either of them since. It doesn't matter which one you think is better. You NEED them both! What a time it was to be alive and young!
Welcome to the Sabbath. These guys are the originators of everything that we know of as heavy metal. And the guitarist Tony Iommi has to be credited more than anyone else in the history of the genre. Time has shown that the mighty Sabbath will go down as one of the worlds finest, and most memorable bands ever.
1st album I ever owned. Great reaction.
Heavy Metal was born one day: the day Black Sabbath's first album Black Sabbath was released. The first song on that album is Black Sabbath and it is a true Heavy Metal song that has never been bested.
Oh … Please give Child in time from Deep Purple a listen ? Live version 1970
Tommy I has kind of a unique sound because of the technique he uses on the fretboard due to missing most of one finger. I saw him in an interview where he and Ozzy were working factory jobs when they were kids and he cut off his finger in an accident. He thought that was the end for him playing, but he overcame and conquered and the rest is history.
You were correct thinking it was about anxiety. Geezer Butler spoke about writing it as he had had depression. He was writing about that and did not really know about paranoia. This description is on a piece about the making of the album that is on youtube.
Don't worry too much about the definition between rock music and heavy metal , as their descriptions have changed over the years as a slightly different style has emerged. In 1969, all this music would have been described as underground music or progressive music as it was beginning to leave the 60s pop scene behind, and in 1970, it completely broke out into the mainstream, and Black Sabbath ( paranoid) was one of the first records to hit the radio stations. The word metal didn't come out until a couple of years later , so don't worry, it is your own ear that will decided it for you. I hope you can follow my description, and yes I was there at the time.
Their music is simple, or at least not overly wrought. They are essentially a three-piece band with a lead singer, right? I think they are harbingers of metal music but not metal themselves. They are "heavy" without being too fast and loud, most of the time :)
Mostly simple. There are some beautiful bits of time change in their work that bar bands always fail to get. And they swing in pocket as well as anyone.
The lyrical imagery combined with the music perfectly. That's what made Sabbath.
Oh Girl - what have you just unleashed. I am not even going to try to let you know your initial reaction to Paranoid is even going to illustrate this extraordinary band. I will wtahc with interest 😁🤘🤘🤘
One of the greatest sounding videos of 1970. Unparalleled.
Black Sabbath - War Pigs. The best. 😉
Welcome to the rabbit hole. SABBATH is my favorite.
As 71 old who was there to see music progress, I can tell you that rock music drew elements from many genres, including country, blues, and jazz. The early days of rock was called rock n’ roll and we saw artists like Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. Then along came the likes of The Beach Boys and the Beatles. Following close on their heels were heavier rock artists like The Rolling Stones. Then in 1968 Black Sabbath burst onto the scene with their genre quickly dubbed as heavy metal for its hard driving, repetitive guitar and deep bass licks. Their music has many influences from the blues underscoring their compositions, but set to a driving and loud beat, thus heavy metal was born. Soon other heavy metal bands with blues influences hit the scene, bands such as Led Zeppelin and Blue Oyster Cult. Later came Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, and soon others branched off into thrash metal and speed metal. Most of today’s music includes undertones from the early blues but all modern music owe its origins to the giants of yesteryear, Bach and Beethoven.😊
What we call Classic Rock today was just Hard Rock back then. Bands like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Cream, Pink Floyd and The Jimi Hendrix Experience were just getting their starts. The technology did not exist to play what we now call Metal. I actually saw Black Sabbath in the student union at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1969 or 1970. It cost $2.00 and there were about 10 or 15 people in there. No one knew who they were, yet. The main thing I remember is that the guitarist turned his guitar way up right before each section he played. There was tremendous feedback and then REALLY LOUD guitar. I loved it!
Blue Cheer is the original heavy metal band which inspired Black Sabbath
Metal is more thrashing and ripping of the guitar and usually there’s more speed in metal. Rock is a little more slower hard grungy feel still with the guitar solos but more anthem like and both of them are heavy on rhythm guitar riffs. The thing about Sabbath is this is rock ‘n’ roll but they were the forefathers of metal. This music is where metal stemmed from it got faster and more intense and sharper as time went on. And yes this is all my opinion lol
When this was released we called it hardrock and it was not full of klichés and attitudes at that time. It was the first time we had heard something like this. I was seventeen and it was great.
Black Sabbath came out during the "hippie rock" genre/era but decided to shed the peace signs, tune down, and just scare the shit out of you!! Fucking incredible!!
Considered a "filler", Paranoid was written (lyrics by Geezer Butler, bassist & riff, Tony Iommi, guitarist) in one day and recorded, lol. with Ozzy reading the lyrics for the first time when it was recorded. Geezer was such a brilliant bassist (began as rhythm guitar) with insanely fast fingers. One of my favorite basslines that I played back in the days of being in a cover band, lol.
This song is the best explanation of dopamine deficiency that I know. Typical of drug withdrawal, hugely important!
Paranoia is the irrational and persistent feeling that people are 'out to get you' or that you are the subject of persistent, intrusive attention by others. This unfounded mistrust of others can make it difficult for a person with paranoia to function socially or have close relationships.
Energy and intensity is one part but, it's the sound that sets it apart regardless of the melody.
I'm so glad I found your channel. Subscribed. Please please don't change the format. Its so natural and real. I always took this song to be about clinical depression, which in 1970 was very taboo. So to make a song about mental health issues like that was pushing the bar. My request to you is the Falling in Reverse song 'Watch the World Burn', the live version.
This song and the other classic tracks, on the album of the same name as the song you are reacting to, were a launching pad for super stardom in the 70s as the first true, heavy metal band and would be inspiration for 1,000s of heavy bands that came after. For another great track, do War Pigs but Please do the studio original audio first, it was a huge and controversial track that still is relevant to this day. The best live video versions are Paris 1970 and the California Jam 1974. They still sound fresh 50+ years on, their first 6 albums are the Industry Standard for influence, sound quality, lyrics and their incredible vibe and presence live.
I saw them 8 times with Ozzy from 1974 - 2013, he was one of the best front men of all time for me and millions of fans, as were his bandmates, who all rank amongst the best at their respective instruments. They are the real deal my dear and your best bet for your experience is a mix of studio and live stuff, do the first album song by song and some live video of them to break your reaction up and give you some live that you crave but please listen to the studio stuff as you can. Enjoy the Sabbath ride, so many great tracks to hear for the first time, Lucky You! Rock On!🎵🎸🎤🎸🎹🎶
Love the original members....great tune maybe cause it's my era, lol. They had many hits.....I responded more to the music more than the lyrics. Also this group was one of the prime heavy metal bands and made an impression on so many back then.
There's a song by Sabbath that's about young people protesting war, a timeless song because there's always war and young people protesting it, it's called "Children of the Grave"
Black Sabbath was what inspired a lot of more straight Heavy Rock/Metal bands later. They did not start out to be what that music's pioneers is today, after all. This was a sort of edgier and much harder psychedelia, is how I always saw them, once I learned more about the music of the late 60's!
Sabbath are the primordial metallic goo from where all other metal genre's crawled out of. They are not metal, but you can hear the origins of styles in all of their music. Go back and start in the beginning. The first six albums are nonstop winners.
As a 67 year old you can't deny you were rockin before your deep analysis.😆🙃
as a brummie I absolutely love black sabbath but definitely one of
history's greatest bands. much respect Birmingham UK ✌️☮️🇬🇧.
This song is simple but awesome. You need to listen to more Sabbath to get it.
Black Sabbath War Pigs Live 1970 is one of the most incredible performances of all time! Bill Ward on drums at only 21 years old is amazing. Must Watch!
If I had to pick one differentiator of hard rock/heavy metal from other music it's the pronounced use of GUITAR played by highly talented musicians. The guitar riffs are the driving force propelling all metal. Additionally there's typically more "bite" or "edge" to the music with tons of energy.
Must watch AC/DC Live at River Plate. The audience alone is a spectacle! That concert will go down in history as one of the best rock performances ever!
Paranoid was created to fill last sonf for the album. Had to fill a 2 min slot. This is it.
Tony Iommi once said in an interview " I Don't Know Where The Term Heavy Metal Came From. We're Just A Rock n Roll Band " . Remember that Black Sabbath got its start in the late 60's early 70's as a blues band called " EARTH ". They were influenced by Eric Clapton, Hendrix and blues. They later changed the name to " Black Sabbath ". They even have great ballads.
Keep in mind.. in 1970... OZZY was really still working out the words.. Paranoid and War Pigs were basically fleshed out lyric wise live..
This band was part of the second brittish invasion. Which included Deep Purples branch of heavy metal pioneers
As metal has since developed into its own, it's important historically to remember that metal is part of an evolution. That is to say, it comes out of rock'n'roll, which itself evolved from blues. So when Black Sabbath is recognized as one of the fathers of metal, that doesn't mean they completely shed off rock'n'roll and played something entirely different at once. It means they took rock'n'roll and evolved it into metal.
If you discard the rhythm and the guitar riff itself, but instead listen to the rough, raw in-your-face guitar SOUND, you will recognize that the sound of an otherwise rock'n'roll song has become a lot more aggressive and dark. It's an incremental step towards all-out metal, as opposed to a sudden shift away from rock'n'roll. Evolution more than revolution. That's the shortest way I can try to explain it.
I remember very well on 60's, they were considered at that time as a hard rock metal band.
"War Pigs" also from Black Sabbath. This song has an excellent video as well. Metal music tend to be more exaggeration and improvisation with more stage acting of rock n' roll.
Heard it’s called Heavy metal because of where Ozzy was brought up in and around the Black County,West Midlands,England,where there was Heavy metal industry Just found your channel like the way present yourself and your breakdown understanding of the music and Lyrics
'"Heavy metal" as a term didn't come into wide use until the 80's. It's basically just a subgenre of rock that focuses on distorted guitar tomes that give a "crunch" feel, with a pounding rhythm section. There's not always a very fine distinction between metal and hard rock, and back on the day these guys were just considered heavy rock along with their contemporaries Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, etc.
Ahhh okay, that makes sense. Thank you!
Love when you started to analyse the lyrics..... I found myself saying.... Look at the song title!!! 😂😂😂
For me, Black Sabbath is the original heavy psychedelic sound I love!
Extremely heavy and very laid back.
When you see Ozzie in these days, what a good looking dude, no wonder Sharron fell for this guy, what a LEGEND!!
Great review of a song with great lyrics. The band is from my era, with great driving beat . I don't know who wrote the lyrics, but they are very clever.
Rock music is 3-chord guitar and blues based rhythm. A good example is "Jump That Train" by Foghat.
Metal music is 1 and 2-chord "bar riffing". Sometimes faster, and power chords are used primarily to augment the riffs as the primary driving force of the song. Since you mentioned symphonic metal, a good example of metal riffs, especially during the verses/chorus, in this genre is "Wish I Had An Angel" by Nightwish.
For the most part, but not akways, (especially lyrically), rock is about sex and the brighter side of life, while metal is about violence and life's darker tenets (if this helps)
"Lord Of This World" or "Into The Void" can be considered incredible examples of "metal". The band fought that label, preferring to see themselves as a rock band, pure and simple.
That makes sense to me!
Steppen Wolf coined the word Heavy Metal in a song born to be wild. This song Paranoid was a filler they needed an extra song and they made it really quick. Ended up being so good they named the. album after it instead of the Song WarPigs which to me is one of the best songs ever. Check it out.
the phrase Heavy Metal referred to the sound of Motorcycles roaring down the highway, not the genre.
And a fact this song was something Tony Iommi came up with while the other guys were out having lunch the record company wanted one more song on the album 2½ minutes long the difference is the rhythm more distortion in the guitar, rock guitars has overdrive in the tone like Guns N´ Roses Metal has this Crunching chugging
The bridge between Black Sabbath & Iron Maiden is 70's Judas Priest (1975-1979), the birth of their brand of brainiac metal.
Some suggestions:
"Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver"
"Tyrant"
"Dissident Aggressor"
"Beyond the Realms of Death"
"Hell Bent For Leather"
"Genocide" (live version from 1979)
80's Judas Priest is pretty good, too, but their 70's stuff was so far ahead of its time, I'm still mesmerized by it.
Your metal journey is just beginning 🤘🤘
This song was written last moment as a "fill in " song for time
Metal music has obviously spread far and wide but there are still sub-genres that have not been able to or don't feel need to evolve beyond copying or borrowing from Sabbath... Decades later.
Many people consider the first heavy metal song to be Helter Skelter by the Beatles.
If this was considered the beginnings of heavy metal, then I totally understand that with Helter Skelter for sure!
yeah, this is a chill relaxed sanitized spot suitable for tv and am radio. for a much better representation of the band... BLACK SABBATH - "War Pigs" (Live Video)
What never made sense to me was why the song was named Paranoid while obviously speaking on Clinical Depression ... an entirely different illness altogether. That said, the song has always been a banger and re-shaped the whole industry in such a short time. Sabbath had a lot of great songs with their different vocalists. Ozzy, Dio and Tony Martin all had their share of hits while the albums with Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan and Ray Gillen were all fantastic and have their fan-bases and dissenters (I'm part of the fan-base of all line-ups of Sabbath while many others prefer to stick to their favorite vocalist, usually Ozzy or Dio).
This song took them like an hour to write and record... It was a last minute fill in to complete an album so don't read to much into it.. for a song they just whipped up in a few minutes it's still good and better than most stuff made today... The heavy guitar is because Tony doesn't have fingertips so he used banjo strings and had to turn the distortion up to make it sound cool...
beautiful video ❤❤❤
Still one of my all time favourite bands. Has had many incarnations over the years, with the most legendary and enduring being with Ozzie and the Ronnie James Dio on the mic.
Others have said what I was thinking.
🤘😎🤘
this was HEAVY at the time it came out, there was nothing like it, the first metal group, sure there were a few songs here and there that could be classified as metal, but.. Sabbath was the first Metal group. remember the time frame, the Doors and Hendrix were considered hard rock at this time, Sabbath was on another planet.
Black Sabbath was originally a blues rock band called “earth” then one day geezer saw a poster for a film called “Black Sabbath” and said to ozzy “isn’t it weird people will pay money to see a movie that scares them, we should try to make music that scares people” they then wrote a song called Black Sabbath then changed the band name to Black Sabbath and the rest is history….fun fact lol
The first Metal band!
Black Sabbath have never really embraced the Heavy Metal label. It was applied to them, to Deep Purple, to Led Zeppelin, but I've heard that the first band to embrace the label was Judas Priest.
As far as differentiating pure rock and heavy metal, think Rolling Stones Brown Sugar and Black Sabbath Symptom of the Universe.
I'm definitely hearing a level of depression riding the wave of paranoia in these lyrics . . . :-)
Hi Jenna have a listen to there self title song Black Sabbath that to me was when Heavy Metal was born
So for me Heavy Metal is defined by low guitar tuning's (Which Black Sabbath where the first band to do that), thunderous drums and the lyric's are usaully talking about deep stuff like war, religion, addiction and mental illness
These days like all genres there are loads of subgenres of Heavy Metal that all have there own different characteristics
One of my favorite road trip songs.
I think one of the guys in black sabbath wrote this song, pretty much talking about ozzy. Because I guess ozzy was a very paranoid person.
Tony Iommi defines Sabbath for me, but one thing about early Sabbath I love is Geezer Butler's lyrics. They may not have the lyricism of some other contemporary bands, but they tackle real issues in a sensitive way much more often. _St_ _Vitus_ _Dance,_ for instance (which I recommend), looks at a common subject for songs but in a much more genuine way IMO.
All hail the Godfathers of Metal 🤘
Imo its black sabbath and beatles helter skelter that pioneered metal
I weirdly thought this had a major Beatles vibe but didn’t wanna get roasted. 😂 So I love this assessment!
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I also want to know the truth :)
I think this song is definitely in the ROCK genre (but with more 'gusto/punch' than other rock music of the time. that 'gusto/punch' brings this song closer to the metal genre, but it's still rock.)
because pure metal is Judas Priest - Painkiller.
too many diferences between this two songs.
Early metal has a lot of rock and metal elements. so maybe we shouldn't separate the two :)
For example :
Judas Priest - Breaking The Law (Official Music Video) this is ROCK or METAL ? Or both ?
Hard rock and heavy metal were pretty much the same in the late 60s and early 70s. Black Sabbath definitely paved the way for the metal bands that developed later in the 70s and bloomed after the death of disco.
Black Sabbath are generally considered the fathers (or grandfathers) of metal. It has always been amusing to me that Ozzy is more understandable when he sings, than when he is speaking. Considering that metal has now evolved into multiple genres, but usually featuring harsh (screaming or growl) vocals, fast tempo (monotonous) drumming and guitars, and often non-melodic song structure, if Black Sabbath were to appear on the scene today as a new band, I don’t many modern Metal fans would consider them a Metal band. As for suggestions, Iron Man is to Black Sabbath what Stairway to Heaven is to Led Zeppelin. 😎
Great question concerning Metal vs. Rock. I am 64 and grew up with this music and while for me there was a fine line in the 70s between Metal and Hard Rock, I feel nowadays it’s a bigger divide. While Black Sabbath definitely laid the foundation for Heavy Metal, more so, than other bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and others they, themselves consider them themselves to be a rock band as I have e heard and read more than once quotes from the band itself. I think it’s very subjective and while a lot of us older fans (though not all I am sure) might not consider these bands Metal, though Sabbath comes closest and I would not argue with anymore calling them Metal. I think over time these bands often fall under the Heavy Metal umbrella today even if they might not have at the time. It’s definitely subjective for a lot of people and I wouldn’t be surprised if I get some people strongly disagreeing with me. I think of bands like Judas Priest to be one of those bands that really signifies the transition from Hard Rock to Heavy Metal.
I am sorry for my rambling
No, this makes sense! (And made me feel better for questioning it.) Haha So thank you!
@Koality: The difference between Metal and Rock, is time. 50 years ago, this was Heavy Metal, tho not sure if they used that phrase in the early 70's. Even into the 80's when I grew up, GNR and Motley Crue were called Heavy Metal back then. Now that "Metal" means the hard core thrash and death metal stuff, newer generations relegate old heavy metal or old metal, as just rock. It confuses me hearing young people say this is just rock. Because hard core metal moved up a few notches, now previous heavy metal gets relegated to "rock". Time is the difference.
Completely relatable song. Nails me to a T.