What is this that stands before me?
Figure in black which points at me
Turn around quick and start to run
Find out I'm the chosen one
It should go without saying that some of the pioneers of Heavy Metal have some awesome tracks under their belts, and the fact that they are the pioneers of metal adds even more weight of awesomeness.
- The title track of Paranoid was originally intended as just album filler, but it has since become the band's most iconic song.
- The amazingly riffy "Supernaut". Frank Zappa and John Bonham both named it their favorite Sabbath song.
- From the iconic 5-note riff to Ozzy Ozbourne's iconic vocals of "I. AM. IRON. MAN"
, "Iron Man" soared to new heights with the release of the film of the same name.note - "War Pigs" is the best protest song ever, especially the parts starting at 3:20 and 6:07.
- The opening riff of "War Pigs" is easily one of the most awesomely ominous E-chords ever strummed. It's not hard to imagine the apocalypse being ushered in by that note. It sounds just like THE BELL OF DOOM. And when the tempo changes, you know that this song is gonna be kickass!
- The demo version is no slouch, either.
- "Planet Caravan" from Paranoid. If you ever wanted music to explore space and smoke pot to, then this is your song.
- "Symptom of the Universe" is another biggie. It's a pile-driving number that helped inspire the thrash movement, but what really makes it awesome is that after completing the impressive main song, they float down with an effective acoustic coda.
- "The Writ", an 8-minute screed Ozzy wrote against the music industry when the band was having trouble legally separating from their manager.
- "Children of the Grave", which has such a badass opening riff that it was used in the video games Brütal Legend and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. The opening instrumental "Embryo" should also get a mention for being so twisted and evil sounding.
- "Megalomania". The studio version is awesome enough, but this 1975 live version takes it to another level, especially after the 3:50 mark. Over the top of an absolute dinosaur of a riff, Ozzy jettisons actual singing for anguished shrieks, and sounds utterly possessed.
- "The Wizard" is just bluesy enough to rock out, and just heavy enough to fist pump to. And it shows off Ozzy's harmonica abilities.
- Can you imagine Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden singing "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"? It's awesome, really.
- "N.I.B.", particularly the bass solo at the beginning. "OH YEAH!!!"
- The title track from Heaven and Hell starts with a deep, pounding riff and beat, heavy and foreboding. Dio's vocals are a melodic wail, that complement the pounding rhythm, with a matching wailing guitar solo finishing it, only for halfway through to shift to an entirely-different-in-tone extreme speed metal epic in its own right, completely with rapid fire lyrics. Almost sounds like entirely different songs, except the transition seems so natural, even inevitable, that the listener can't help but feel that the song becomes a whole entity, and incredible masterpiece. There's a reason the reunion of the Dio-led lineup took it as the band name for their tours and reunion album.
- "Neon Knights" and "The Mob Rules" with Dio. If that doesn't get your blood pumping, you don't have any. "The Mob Rules" was used in a trailer to Brutal Legend. It will make you run with an axe too.
- "Time Machine". Take your pick. The studio version or the Wayne's World version are both filled with all kinds of awesome.
- "I" by Black Sabbath during the Dio years. If there is any way to describe it, it's as taking a Large Ham, a healthy dose of magnificent bastardry, supreme arrogance, and a complete lack of a moral compass to a blender. What comes out is a magnificent "I Am" Song.
- The Brussels Concert version of "Behind the Wall of Sleep", turning an above average track from their debut album into a head-banging masterpiece.
- Their self titled song. Truly the greatest use of Tritone ever. Also has one of the darkest, most ominous riffs, even after 40 years. Not to mention having claim as the first metal song. An entire genre birthed from one heavy, spooky tune.
- "The Writ", one of the few songs where the riffing takes a back seat to Ozzy's vocals.
- "Children of the Sea" starts out pretty awesome to begin with. Then the chanting comes in behind one of Iommi's best solos and turns it epic.
- "No Stranger to Love" off the 1986 album Seventh Star is a power ballad from Sabbath. That alone would have listeners bracing for the worst, but it is absolutely glorious and Glenn Hughes sings with such amazing passion and emotion.
- "The Shining", from The Eternal Idol. Reeks of 1980's disease? Yes. Overly cheesy? Yes. But its amazing riffs and an extremely powerful chorus make it a total gem from the Tony Martin era.
- "Nightwing has stirred, and taken to flight. The silence is over, he's shattered the niiiiiiiiii-iiiiii-iiiiiiight!"
- The title track from Headless Cross manages to be an obvious Spiritual Successor to "Heaven and Hell" without sounding like a copycat.
- "Disturbing the Priest" from Born Again is rich with doom and gloom, on par with their earlier work. Ian Gillan’s legendary Metal Scream combined with his Evil Laugh enhances the mood very well for one of the darkest Sabbath experiences.
- "Bible Black" from the Heaven & Hell reunion album The Devil You Know shows us that even before his unfortunate passing, Ronnie James Dio was always in his prime.
