Black Sabbath: 10 Most Underrated Songs

No other band is more synonymous with their genre than Black Sabbath.

No matter what iteration you find yourself listening to throughout the years, the sounds coming from Tony Iommi and co. are all but emblematic of the term heavy metal, down to their song titles and hard-edged guitar riffs. Even though most Sabbath tunes can be considered classic, a few tend to slip under the bar more often than not.

Whereas most fans might like to sing the praises of songs like Paranoid and Iron Man over the years, there have been other songs that deserve to be put on that high a pedestal. As opposed to just another headbanger, these tunes often go down much different roads, whether it's a weird waltz time in the riff or just a different sonic costume Iommi might want to inhabit.

You are also doing yourself a disservice if you leave out the years without Ozzy Osbourne, with everyone from Ronnie James Dio to other rock luminaries out at the front. Whether they come from the golden age of the band's sound or the last few years before their inevitable retirement, these are the Sabbath tunes that will make your hair stand on end that much more.

Sabbath's music has always lent itself to sweeping narratives throughout their tenure. While not everything was necessarily the most thoughtful composition in history, there were still plenty of songs that had potential to be huge if given the right amount of polish. Even though Tyr marked the first time Sabbath had attempted a concept-themed release, Valhalla is one of the only songs that actually capitalizes on that promise.

Given the subject matter and medieval sounding title, this is one of the few songs that seems poised to be played in vast halls throughout the land. Forget the typical stadiums of the world...it seemed like Sabbath had graduated into the realm of high courts back in the Middle Ages with a tune like this, where we see Odin and his army fighting off the demons of Hell to free the souls of the departed.

Since this was an album that was coming amid the beginnings of the grunge explosion, Sabbath didn't really need to go this hard, and yet they came out with one of the better sonic experiments they have ever made in their career. While this might not be the Sabbath that you know and love, don't let that turn you away from the sweeping epic about to unfold. Unpack your broadsword and get ready for the plunge.