The true origins of heavy metal are debatable. Some say that it began with The Who’s ‘Boris the Spider’ in 1966, while others credit it to The Kinks’ ‘You Really Got Me’. Regardless of where it all started, the genre unquestionably took off in 1970, with the publication of Black Sabbath’s first album. Their music was dark, psychotic and provocative, which did not appeal to Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters.
Pink Floyd was a pivotal figure in the psychedelic rock movement, notably under Syd Barrett’s early leadership. Their impact on the metal genre that followed was considerable. While Jimi Hendrix’s guitar abilities and wild stage presence contributed, Pink Floyd brought a distinct sound to the table.
Led Zeppelin represented the harder side of progressive music, whilst Pink Floyd appealed to a more contemplative audience. Despite this, songs like ‘The Nile Song’ and ‘Young Lust’ suggested that Waters was more critical of Black Sabbath’s grim imagery and lyrics than its heavy sound.
In a 2020 interview with Louder Sound, Sabbath drummer Bill Ward acknowledged the unique brilliance of their lyrics. He went on to say, “Our lyrics were the key factor that set us apart from all the other bands.” While acknowledging the excellence of bands like Zeppelin and Deep Purple at the time, Ward emphasised the grim tone of Sabbath’s lyrics as the distinguishing feature that made them genuinely unique.
Geezer Butler, the bassist, clearly remembered Roger Waters’ response to our debut record in an interview. He stated, “I recall reading about Roger Waters’ reaction to our CD at the time. He disliked all we had produced. He thought the music was really terrible.”
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Waters appeared to be disturbed by Sabbath’s unusual approach, which has attracted a new generation of followers. However, he was certain that this trend would not endure long. Butler confirmed Waters’ prediction, stating. “He believed that both the trend and our band would vanish in no time”. I must admit that this phrase made me grin back then, and it still does now.
Black Sabbath’s revolutionary second album, Paranoid, was released in September 1970, kicking off a run of popular albums in the early 1970s. While their most impactful work came early on, the band continued to push limits and explore, contributing significantly to the genre they helped develop.
Heavy metal has evolved into a variety of subgenres, including speed metal, thrash metal, death metal, and nu-metal. It’s unusual to find a current band in any of these genres that doesn’t cite Black Sabbath as a significant influence.
Source: faroutmagazine.co.uk
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