The definitive Black Sabbath playlist

Black Sabbath is a pioneer of heavy metal — perhaps the genre's godfathers. Even so, the band was never one-dimensional in its sound. The same can be said about "Changes" from Vol. 4 (1972). It's the band's most definitive ballad and one that Ozzy Osbourne re-recorded with his daughter, Kelly, in late 2003. The latter version was a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom. 

We can go round and round about whether to include the late, great Ronnie James Dio era of Black Sabbath on this list. However, it's still a significant part of the band's legacy, and Heaven and Hell (1980), the first with Rio in tow, cracked the top 30 on the Billboard 200. Perhaps the most underappreciated track on the album is "Die Young." It's the perfect blend of intensity and passion Dio brought as a vocalist, with the hard-driving, metal assault the three other original members could still deliver.

Another worthy moment from Heaven and Hell. "Neon Knights" was co-written by Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, the prominent lyricist from the Ozzy days. However, when Ronnie James Dio took over frontman duties, his lyrics took center stage. "Neon Knights" is another example of Dio's imaginative words and fantastical lyrical imagery that made him one of the great hard-rock songwriters of all time with Black Sabbath and during his stellar solo career.

Is Black Sabbath's 1970 second studio album Paranoid the greatest heavy metal record of all time? Perhaps, but it's also a strong example of the band's versatility. Some of metal's most iconic tracks can be found on the album (we'll cover that in a bit), and the genre's most unique. Like the tripping, psychedelic "Planet Caravan ." Complete with Ozzy Osbourne's hollow-sounding lyrical vibration, it's unlike anything we heard from Sabbath before. Pantera recorded a serviceable version of the track on 1994's Far Beyond Driven.

While 1971's Master of Reality was not critically praised upon release as the group's third studio record, it eventually grew to earn more respect. "Into the Void" is the album's closer and has long been one of the more influential tunes in the Black Sabbath catalog. Soundgarden is one of the many bands to cover the song. That version, titled "Into the Void (Sealth)" for including words from Chief Seattle, earned a Grammy Award nomination in the early 1990s.

The title track to Sabbath's ninth studio album. This was the moment that hit home for fans of the band that Ozzy Osbourne was gone, and it was ready to trudge forward. "Heaven and Hell" was that transitional moment in terms of both albums and songs, with the latter perhaps still the signature track of the Ronnie James Dio era of the band. It's a personal song for Dio about pursuing dreams no matter who or what stands in the way.

The second track from 1973's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, "A National Acrobat" is an example of the band digging into more complex subject matter. In this case, the determination of life and sperm selection is told through the lyrics of the bassist Geezer Butler. That sounds pretty deep, but perhaps Black Sabbath was never really given its true due when it came to the band's collective songwriting talents. It's not the most renowned Sabbath track but one that should be celebrated.

The Sabotage (1975) recording proved a rough time for the band. They were in the midst of a legal battle with then-manager Patrick Meehan. The ordeal took its toll on the group and resulted in an aggressive-sounding record. "Symptom of the Universe" is a fine example and often gets credit for influencing the thrash metal movement. It's another exceptional guitar performance from Tony Iommi, who also composed the tune. 

From the band's stellar self-titled 1970 debut album. According to bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler, this track was influenced by famed wizard Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. It features famed frontman Ozzy Osbourne showing off his talent on the harmonica. The song reached No. 61 on Billboard's Hot 100, and though perhaps not one that comes to mind quickly for the causal Black Sabbath fan, "The Wizard" remains a vital part of the group's arsenal.

Geezer Butler's bass intro is the highlight of this classic from Black Sabbath's debut record. Butler also penned the lyrics about Lucifer finding love. If that's not metal, who knows what is? Regarding early Black Sabbath greatness (notably, the band's first two albums), "N.I.B" is an underrated treat. The track can hold its own among some of the group's most famous works.

We touched on the Master of Reality closer ("Into the Void), and now, we highlight the opener. "Sweet Leaf" might be best known for its intro, which is guitarist Tony Iommi coughing from a hit of the joint he was smoking while recording. This hard-charging Sabbath tune is about the band's affinity for marijuana and its role in the boys' everyday lives. It did not enjoy commercial success but has long been considered one of the band's most celebrated tunes for the subject matter alone.

One of the first signature Sabbath songs from Paranoid that we'll highlight. The extended instrumental intro (also known as "Jack the Stripper") begins an enticing hard-rock journey. A certain jazz quality can also be found on "Fairies Wear Boots." The meaning behind the song has varied over the years. Is it about Ozzy's encounter with a group of skinheads, or maybe even an interesting LSD trip? Regardless, it's an amusing rock track.

Rain falling, thunder crashing, and bells tolling: Those sounds were our introduction to Black Sabbath. Dark, dreary, and down-right scary. The band's title track opener from its debut record is a like a vocal macabre. The lyrics, composed through bassist Geezer Butler's interest in the occult, "Black Sabbath" is one of the great album openers not just within the band's lore but in hard rock and heavy metal history. A magnificent listening experience.

Black Sabbath's ode to cocaine. That's what pretty much fueled the band during the early 1970s and the making of Vol. 4. According to Tony Iommi's 2011 book Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, "Snowblind" the working title of the group's fourth album. However, it was changed because Vertigo Records did not feel an apparent reference to cocaine should be the title of an album or draw unneeded controversy.

Whether talking about Bill Ward's opening cymbal work and chaotic drum solo or one of Tony Iommi's most memorable Sabbath riffs, "Supernaut" should be considered the highlight of Vol. 4. The track has been said to influence the likes of John Bonham, Ministry's Al Jourgensen, and Trent Reznor. While "Supernaut" might not hold legendary status like more mainstream Sabbath offerings, this is as good as it gets regarding old-school hard rock and/or heavy metal. 

An anti-war song by nature, "Children of the Grave" is a Sabbath tune that Ozzy Osbourne regularly featured live as a solo artist. Many critics and fans hail this number as the best track from Master of Reality. From the get-go, "Children of the Grave" is relentless. It's like an out-of-control train — a head-on pursuit of rock. In many ways, it's a precursor of Ozzy's solo work. When it does come time to slow down, Tony Iommi's guitar work seems even more impressive.

Black Sabbath didn't shy away from making music with a message. "War Pigs," another exceptional moment from Paranoid, offers an anti-war theme. When we think about those early days of heavy metal, "War Pigs" tends to be at the forefront. It features all the elements fans love about the genre: darkness, power, emotion, speed (when appropriate), and that drudging and prodding of heavy riffs and hooks that set the stage for so much more greatness — not just from Black Sabbath but metal bands throughout the decades. 

Another defining moment for the band. The title track from Sabbath's fifth studio album is considered one of the great metal tracks of all time for its perfect blend of the heavy (Tony Iommi's classic riff) and the light (those melodic breaks), which created a blueprint for many to emulate but only a certain few could come close to mastering. Just how deep an influence did "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" have? Well, 1990s' Swedish alternative pop rockers The Cardigans delivered a tasty lounge version of the tune.

"Iron Man" is iconography within the realm of these icons. From its legendary riff to Geezer Butler's apocalyptic lyrics about a misunderstood futurists hero to the heavy metal aura that has helped defined the band's legacy. It's Black Sabbath's highest-charting single, reaching No. 52 on Billboard's Hot 100 in the United States. In 2000, a live performance featured on the band's Reunion (1998) album won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Legendary pro wrestling tag team "The Road Warriors" used "Iron Man" as their entrance music.

The title track to Black Sabbath's most recognized album. It might not be a true signature song from the band, but it packs a mighty punch for a 2-minute, 48-second running time. Leading off with another legendary opening riff, "Paranoid" is a song that has influenced metal fans from thrash to glam to progressive forms of the genre — making it, perhaps, the one Black Sabbath track that appeals to the masses with little effort.