Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett shared his thoughts about Black Sabbath in a recent interview with Consequence.
“It’s a real opportunity to say thank you to Ozzy and Tony and Geezer and Bill, ’cause they freaking wrote the book on the genre,” Hammett said. “They developed it, they fleshed it out so that we can use what they did as a stepping stone to other ways to do this.”
“If it wasn’t for those four guys, man, we might still be just kind of like wandering around in the dark,” he continued. “But the fact that they created a genre — not only created it, but then developed it and then turned it into like a few different things over the course of their career — is completely awe inspiring to me and my peers musically.”
Hammett’s tribute emphasizes Black Sabbath’s profound impact on heavy metal’s evolution and its subsequent generations.
Rock and Roll Garage revealed Metallica’s deep connection to Black Sabbath through their cover of ‘Sabbra Cadabra,’ demonstrating their musical influences.
The foundation of this metal connection traces back to 1970. Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album emerged that year, establishing itself as heavy metal’s cornerstone.
Loudwire documented Hammett’s consistent recognition of metal’s architects. He specifically praised Black Sabbath and Judas Priest for shaping the genre’s signature elements, from harmonized guitar leads to distinctive vocal styles.
Black Sabbath’s influence remains powerful in metal history. Their legacy continues to inspire multiple generations of musicians, solidifying their position as heavy metal’s founding fathers.
