10 Perfect Metal Albums With ZERO Flaws

It's hard to pinpoint exactly when metal started. While there had been heavier bands in the 60's like the MC5 and The Stooges, nothing really stood out as having the definitive sound that we know metal for. However, if you wanted to widdle the sound of metal down to one instrument, it would be Tony Iommi's guitar.

Though Black Sabbath had gotten their start in 1970 with their powerful debut release, their followup Paranoid was what really cemented them as metal's true pioneers. With each passing song, the album is one classic riff after another, from the wild musings of "War Pigs" to the pure mechanical bombast of "Iron Man." Once the riffs were married to the vocals of Ozzy Osbourne, the music had a much broader power that went beyond just loud volume.

There are also many spots on this record where the band takes a risk, like on the acoustic passage "Planet Caravan," whose creepy subdued aura fits perfectly with the headbangers beside it. The title track might seem a bit formulaic nowadays, but even Sabbath's straightforward cuts have more muscle than most other bands can muster. Metal music had a long journey after this album, but any fan mildly interested in heavy music finds their way to the altar of Black Sabbath sooner or later.