Is Black Sabbath considered Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, or Death Metal?

[ntw16]

So I've heard many people call Black Sabbath Heavy Metal, some called them Hard Rock, and some called them Death Metal and I just want to know opinions, which classification of rock does Black Sabbath fall under?

 

[Hydrazoic Acid]

I think, they're always played Hard Rock.

 

[LOU/REALM]

There is NO way BLACK SABBATH could be considered Death metal . Early Sabbath...great innovaters in Doom metal.Hard rock, metal ...yes

 

[recgord27]

That Black Sabbath were pioneers in the development of heavy metal there can be no doubt. However, I would classify the early Ozzy era albums as hard rock and maybe a few of the later (post-Ozzy) songs can be considered heavy metal.
I haven't heard anything of theirs that I would even remotely classify as death metal.
Overall I'd class them as a hard rock band.

 

[Johnny-Too-Good]

The key to the Sabbath's early sound is Tony's guitar, and the story of why it sounded the way it did. Geezer's lyrics, screamed by Ozzy, added to the legend. Their music was born out of the Blues, and I don't believe they set out to be innovators, but that's exactly what they became, although it wasn't recognised at the time. In the late '60s the term 'Heavy Metal' didn't exist as a music classification, but, for sure, everything that followed in Heavy Metal was derived from that Sabbath sound.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Fathers of metal, with doom influences on their earlier work.

I hear their influence on some early Draconian tracks.

 

[Metal Health]

Hard Rock

 

[That 70s Guy]

Heavy Metal

 

[Phil B.]

Hard Rock, proto-metal

 

[Vader]

Death Metal without a doubt.