Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath is a definite inclusion here. Not only are they widely regarded as the world’s first metal band, but the content of their lyrics are reason enough for inclusion. From the song that was also the band’s namesake, to “Children of the Grave” and “Headless Cross,” Black Sabbath have embraced darkness, the occult, religion, and evil themes in their music from their very beginnings. They are the benchmark for all of the metal bands that followed in their footsteps, bringing forth the inclusion of “evil” in the genre itself. All shock rock and theatrical metal bands owe a great deal to Sabbath.