Ozzy Osbourne’s Most Legendary Black Sabbath Songs

Black Sabbath didn’t just invent heavy metal—they defined it. From doom-laden riffs to stark social commentary, these five songs capture the raw power and enduring influence of Ozzy, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward.

  1. Sweet Leaf (1971, Master of Reality)

A stoner‑metal anthem built around an endless loop of guitarist Tony Iommi coughing after taking a hit—a candid nod to the band’s love for cannabis . Its massive, fuzzy riffs helped pioneer a genre that would influence everyone from Kyuss to modern stoner rock.

  1. Paranoid (1970, Paranoid)

Perhaps their most famous song, “Paranoid” blends breakneck rhythms with urgent guitar riffs and Ozzy’s plaintive vocals. It has earned spots on VH1’s 40 Greatest Metal Songs and Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time .

  1. Fairies Wear Boots (1970, Paranoid)

What begins as a dreamy track about fairy-tale darkness morphs into a headbanger’s delight with a riff that zig-zags between anti-skinhead defiance and psychedelic haze . As wild as it gets before Sabbath hit the mainstream.

  1. War Pigs (1970, Paranoid)

A politically charged heavy metal opus, this song skewers warmongers with epic potency. Consistently listed among Sabbath’s very best, and even covered live by Judas Priest in 2025 .

  1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath)

Born from a writer’s block and creative exile in a haunted castle, this track marked a dramatic evolution in Sabbath’s sound. Slash praised its outro as “the heaviest shit” he’s heard .

The Legacy Behind the Riffs

These tracks showcase Sabbath’s fearless range—from weed-reverent jams to bold protest ballads. Their influence is still rippling through modern rock and metal, cementing the band’s status as true trailblazers.

Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering Sabbath for the first time, these five songs make a powerful introduction to the band that laid the blueprint for metal.

0 Shares:
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like