10 Scariest Tracks In Hard Rock

Along with starting what is known as metal, Black Sabbath were responsible for bringing the more macabre songwriting into the rock genre. Inspired by the horror movies of a nearby theater, guitarist Tony Iommi came up with a riff that would make anyone's hair stand up on end.

Centered around 3 notes, this riff of doom invokes what is commonly known as the "devil's interval," which was initially banned in the Renaissance era for fear it would summon Satan himself. The tune alone would make for a scary musical journey, but the words being sung by Ozzy Osbourne add to the initial terror. Bassist Geezer Butler wrote the lyrics after being visited by a demon during the night. After reading various Occultist writings, Butler awoke from a nightmare only to find a shadowy spirit standing at the foot of his bed pointing at him.

Once Butler's paranormal encounters were matched by the haunting riffs of Iommi, the perfect marriage of rock and roll and horror was born. Not knowing what to call it, the band named the tune after themselves, based on a Boris Karloff horror film. Still after 50 years, "Black Sabbath" never fails to send shivers down the backs of even the most hardened hard rockers.