Greatest Hits cover

Released 17 years ago this June

Greatest Hits

Black Sabbath · 2009

73 min · 14 tracks · hard rock · heavy metal · doom metal

A thunderous collection of heavy riffs and haunting melodies that defined a generation of rock music.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • nostalgic sing-alongs with friends
  • dynamic shifts in pacing
  • heavy riffs for cathartic release
  • late-night headbanging energy

Maybe skip if you want

  • prefer short, single tracks
  • seek mellow background sounds

Where this album fits

Themes
anti-war sentiment· heavy metal evolution
Career context
By the time 'Greatest Hits' was released in 2009, Black Sabbath was already an iconic force in heavy metal, having formed over 40 years earlier. This compilation features tracks from their early years through their later works, encapsulating their evolution and enduring influence on the genre during a time when they were also experiencing a resurgence in popularity with newer audiences.
Stylistic neighbors
Candlemass· Electric Wizard· Pentagram
Sounds like this from elsewhere
British Steel by Judas Priest — Shares the same heavy riffs and anthemic choruses that defined early metal's evolution.
The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden — Combines haunting melodies with themes of darkness and anti-establishment, echoing Sabbath's influence.
Ace of Spades by Motörhead — Delivers thunderous energy and raw power, embodying the hard rock spirit akin to Black Sabbath's ethos.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Paranoid 2:50
  • 2 Iron Man 5:55
  • 3 Changes 4:43
  • 4 Fairies Wear Boots 6:15
  • 5 War Pigs 7:56
  • 6 Never Say Die 3:50
  • 7 Children of the Grave 5:17
  • 8 The Wizard 4:25
  • 9 Snowblind 5:29
  • 10 Sweet Leaf 5:04
  • 11 Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me) 3:22
  • 12 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath 5:45
  • 13 Black Sabbath 6:18
  • 14 N.I.B. 6:06

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata