It has now been five decades since one record written by four blokes from Birmingham changed everything. It is no exaggeration to say that Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album laid down a blueprint for heavy metal that would sprout, grow wings and blossom into something so multifaceted, brilliant and beautiful that not even its creators could ever have foreseen it. Virtually every musician who has strapped on a guitar and peeled off riffs in the years since its release owes it an immeasurable debt. The fact that Black Sabbath have influenced legends who themselves went on to shape the lives and careers of future generations speaks to the level of their importance and impact. And it all started with their introduction on that monolithic debut album, released on the eve of Saint Valentine...
