Black Sabbath’s upcoming final concert on July 5, 2025 is going to be one hell of a rock and roll bash. To celebrate the end of a glorious era, let’s take a look at five essential Black Sabbath songs that fans might want to revisit before the big day.
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“War Pigs”
“War Pigs” is by far Black Sabbath’s most well-known song, and for good reason. It’s a surprisingly political track from a band not particularly known for its protest songs. “War Pigs” was originally written after Geezer Butler had a few conversations with returning Vietnam War vets.
A few conservative listeners took the song at face value and deemed it a Satanic, dangerous tune. Whether listeners liked it or not, they couldn’t deny that this was a genre-changing heavy metal magnum opus for Black Sabbath.
“Paranoid”
We couldn’t leave “Paranoid” off this list. It’s a quintessential Black Sabbath song. And interestingly enough, the now-legendary heavy metal track was originally just a filler song. The band threw it together for the album of the same name. It rewired the brains of many rock fans back in 1970. I’d be bold enough to say “Paranoid” was revolutionary.
“Children Of The Grave”
Ozzy Osbourne himself said in his 2009 autobiography that “Children Of The Grave” was the most “kick-a** song” that Black Sabbath ever produced from their first three albums. It’s hard to disagree with him on that notion. It’s a down-tuned delight, complete with lyrics that just don’t suit Ozzy’s delivery, though that almost makes it a better song. So many metal artists that followed in Black Sabbath’s footsteps were forever changed after hearing this song for the first time.
“Heaven And Hell”
This one’s a big fan favorite. “Heaven And Hell” can only be really described as a majestic song. Iommi and Butler’s riffs are incredible, that chorus will blow your eyebrows off, and that guitar solo is totally unforgettable.
“Iron Man”
“Iron Man” is one of the most celebrated Black Sabbath songs, and it has wiggled its way into television, movies, and pop culture at large through the years. That guitar solo is unmistakable, but the song itself has converted new listeners in the 20th century into certified Black Sabbath diehards.
Photo by Legacy Recordings
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