Metal's founding father: Tony Iommi on inspiring thrash titans like Metallica

Tony Iommi, the iconic guitarist of Black Sabbath, recently reflected on his band’s influence on thrash metal during an interview with Guitar World.

Recognized as one of heavy metal’s founders, Iommi noted how bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax (the "Big Four" of thrash) built upon Black Sabbath’s legacy to develop the high-speed aggression of thrash metal. He expressed appreciation for how these groups took inspiration from Sabbath’s work and evolved it into something unique, stating, "What they did with the metal sound, turning it into thrash, was fantastic." Iommi praised Metallica in particular, emphasizing their innovation and respect for Sabbath’s contributions to heavy music.

Black Sabbath’s impact on metal is immense, which is normal enough to say, but never seriously disputed. Formed in 1968 in Birmingham, England, the band pioneered the genre with their eponymous debut album in 1970, blending ominous riffs, dark lyrical themes, and down-tuned guitars. Iommi’s revolutionary approach to the guitar — shaped partly by his adaptation to a hand injury — set the stage for subgenres like doom and thrash metal.

Tracks like "Symptom of the Universe" introduced fast, aggressive riffing that, in addition to punk rock, later inspired the thrash movement​. They are obviously one of those bands that revolutionized rock music.

Mutual respect between Black Sabbath and Metallica

Metallica’s James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, both ardent fans of Black Sabbath, highlighted the band’s profound influence during Sabbath’s 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. In perhaps one of the Rock Hall's best induction speeches, Hetfield emotionally recounted discovering Sabbath as a nine-year-old introvert, describing their music as a voice for feelings he couldn’t articulate. He credited Black Sabbath’s "monstrous riffs" and dark themes as a cornerstone for Metallica’s sound, calling them the "fathers of heavy music."

Ulrich echoed these sentiments, stating that without Black Sabbath, heavy metal would have developed in a vastly different way​. Iommi’s admiration for Metallica extends beyond their music to their creative process, which he likened to Black Sabbath’s early collaborative style. Both bands have left a lasting legacy in heavy music, with Sabbath’s pioneering riffs continuing to influence generations of metal musicians and listeners alike.