The greatest heavy metal band in history is Black Sabbath and there is simply no disputing that. Sabbath are the true Godfather’s of heavy metal hailing from Birmingham, England. Their conquest of the universe began in 1968 and have in some way influenced every single band that you hear today. In our opinion, more significant than Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple combined. The classic lineup featuring Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, Tony Iommi on guitar, Geezer Butler on bass, and Bill Ward on drums is legendary. Throughout the 70s Sabbath invented every single riff you hear in heavy music today. Sometimes it’s faster, tuned lower, or played slower, but the fact is that Sabbath already did it. Here are ten of our favorite cover versions of Black Sabbath songs by other heavy metal groups:
#1. “Paranoid” Megadeth
Megadeth’s “Paranoid” Radio on Spotify featuring bands like Anthrax, Motörhead, DemonScar, Down, Mercyful Fate, Fear Factory, Ozzy Osbourne, Machine Head, Skid Row, Slayer, Carmilla, and Lamb of God: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8GweoGXwNFT4?si=MgvAGrnWR6ym0hMp8GAWuw
#2. “Children of the Grave” White Zombie
White Zombie’s “Children of the Grave” Radio on Spotify with bands like Corrosion of Conformity, David HK, Metal Church, Black Label Society, GWAR, Type O Negative, Ministry, Misfits, Atomic Kavemen, Hellyeah, King Diamond, Cvlt Ov the Svn, and Marilyn Manson: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8BUj24tE43sZ?si=rXyYnxWlSp6G7H74Qs483w
#3. “Symptom of the Universe” Sepultura
Sepultura’s “Symptom of the Universe” Radio on Spotify starring bands like Suicidal Tendencies, Sacred Reich, Testament, Diamond Head, Adam Hyman, Dio, Rebel Meets Rebel, Hammer Down Hard, Vader, Voivod, and Nailbomb: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8GU0BvnJLHUz?si=Rknu3VtWTIKZlIP9uY4i9g
#4. “Hole in the Sky” Pantera
Pantera’s “Hole in the Sky” Spotify Radio with legendary talents like Danzig, Accept, Hatebreed, Braincell, Jasta, Coal Chamber, Alice In Chains, Ukranium, Stone Sour, Judas Priest, and Static-X: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8P39KIWsXS8R?si=yvv1l7FhTx2dNY9NUzXaWA
#5. “War Pigs” Faith No More
Faith No More’s “War Pigs” Spotify Radio has sick bands like Mudvayne, Mastodon, Robot Gods, Monster Magnet, Filter, Audioslave, Dead Eye Doll, Clutch, Nine Inch Nails, and Snot: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8AKXT7TVqONG?si=9rgIAqRfQxaih3_ldVUQyw
#6. “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” Anthrax
Anthrax’s “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” Song Radio on Spotify featuring bands like Overkill, Loudness, S.O.D., Count Your Dead, Grim Reaper, Sodom, Nuclear Assault, Biohazard, Malice 213, and L.A. Guns: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8R4sVnCh5Lti?si=mlc9pULVTm-g3Re1jefwxA
#7. “Black Sabbath” Type-o-Negative
Type-O-Negative’s “Black Sabbath” Spotify Radio has bands like the mighty Death, Candlemass, Farmacyde, Celtic Frost, Obituary, Carnivore, Emperor, Residual Self, and Mayhem: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8VaUXVifeV8u?si=eq5MnUrdRM2D9RWvOyO9-Q
#8. “Sabra Cadabra” Metallica
Metallica’s “Sabra Cadabra” Radio on Spotify featuring bands like Misfits, MANOWAR, Scythian Fate, W.A.S.P., Saxon, Trivium, Bad Religion, Airbourne, Iron Maiden, Valar Morghulis, Volbeat, Aron Scott Earthquake, and Motörhead: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8OFiRfSudGTr?si=9Od5OZhSREaKwF_cBoFyPA
#9. “N.I.B.” Primus Feat. Ozzy Osbourne
Unfortunately Primus’s “NIB” with Ozzy on vocals is not on Spotify at press time. Check out Black Sabbath’s original version with bands like AC/DC, Rage Against the Machine, Mötley Crue, Honey Bone Rush, Nazareth, Black Rose Reception, Guns N’ Roses, Electric Wizard, Slash, The Unawake State, Myles Kennedy, Dead Kennedys, Creep Scene, Ghost, UFO, and Crobot: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8BS39x6KDWkB?si=qa7dlXhHTh6O34VIg75ZRw
#10. “After Forever” Biohazard
Biohazard’s “After Forever” Spotify Song Radio mixes it up with metal bands like Napalm Death, Paradise Lost, Sin Seer, Jasta, Sick of it All, True the Gray, Stuck Mojo, Zakk Wylde, Madball, Entombed, Shadow of Everest, Skinlab, The Exploited, and Exodus: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1E8CpmIIkOOa8M?si=v4BMEqLcRO–eKysd_7pDg
Honorable Mentions: “Hand of Doom” Slayer, “Lord of this World” Corrosion of Conformity (COC).
Editorial Note: Post originally appeared December 12, 2011
We recommend this comprehensive Spotify playlist of Black Sabbath covers curated by Ben Young: https://open.spotify.com/user/benjarama/playlist/3b1oc8WFPEA2ydtiFQbYXg?si=1LKAMo2hSeWxeXc4bQBSpg