In a recent interview with Guitar World magazine, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi reflected on how his groundbreaking riffs shaped the evolution of heavy metal and left a lasting impact on thrash metal pioneers. Songs like “Symptom of the Universe” showcased a raw intensity that would inspire bands like Metallica a decade later.
“And it was nice to hear those thrash bands paying tribute to us,” Iommi shared. “It’s great how they were able to push it forward into something new and turn it into their own thing. I was just coming up with things I liked.”
Iommi’s humility shone through as he discussed the reverberations of his work in the music world. “So it was brilliant to hear about other musicians liking what I’d done, taking the same kind of idea and improving on it, evolving it into their own sound. Like Metallica, for instance, who probably learned things from us as well as other people.”
He went on to praise Metallica’s role in evolving the heavy metal sound into thrash, applauding their respect for their predecessors. “What they did with the metal sound, turning it into thrash, was fantastic. They’ve always been respectful toward us and they’re lovely guys. I love their attitude toward things, the way they write, and everything. It reminds us a lot of how we were – everyone in one room rehearsing together and taking it seriously.”
Iommi’s work in Black Sabbath didn’t just define the foundation of heavy metal — it also paved the way for countless subgenres. From the haunting dissonance of their self-titled debut track to the crushing grooves of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” and the proto-thrash brilliance of “Symptom of the Universe,” Iommi’s innovative riffs became the blueprint for what metal could be.
His reflections on how the thrash trailblazers took some of his work and developed something new at the time highlight the mutual admiration between the founding fathers of metal and those who followed, which was palpable during Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield’s heartfelt speeches highlighting the monumental influence of Sabbath on the world of heavy music during Black Sabbath induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2006.
James Hetfield, clearly moved during his speech, shared a deeply personal connection to Sabbath’s music. Reflecting on his younger self, he said, “He was drawn to them… like a shy boy to his own loud voice. Those monstrous riffs lived inside him and spoke the feelings he could never put into words, sending chills of inspiration through him, from those gloomy lyrics and outlaw chords and all.”
Hetfield didn’t hold back in acknowledging Sabbath’s foundational role in shaping Metallica and the heavy metal genre as a whole. “I realize that without Sabbath’s defining sound, there would be no Metallica, especially with one James Hetfield. Never have I known a more timeless and influential band. They have spread their wonderful disease through generations of musicians. They are always listed as an influence by heavy bands to this day. They are loved and highly respected as the fathers of heavy music.”
Ulrich echoed Hetfield’s sentiments, emphasizing Sabbath’s far-reaching impact. “Obviously if there was no Black Sabbath, there would be no Metallica. If there was no Black Sabbath, hard rock and heavy metal as we know it today would look, sound, and be shaped very, very differently. So if there was no Black Sabbath, I could possibly still be a morning newspaper delivery boy — no fun, no fun.”
