Hole In The Sky

The Zoo Crew is spinning the heavy riffs of Black Sabbath's "Hole In The Sky" from their 1975 album Sabotage, and the Zoo Freaks are surely feeling the groove. This track, the opener of the band's sixth studio album, is a masterclass in raw, driving metal, with a riff that author Mick Wall described as "door-slamming" and not out of place on their earlier, seminal work Paranoid. The song’s abrupt cutoff, segueing into the acoustic instrumental "Don’t Start (Too Late)," was intentional, emphasizing its sheer anger, a reflection of the band’s tumultuous state during recording. Mick Wall noted that Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals rant about escaping through a "hole in the sky," a lyric bassist Geezer Butler clarified as a commentary on pollution, though fans have interpreted it as everything from a prison break to apocalyptic imagery. The song’s live performance at the 1975 Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert in Santa Monica, captured in gritty footage, showcased Sabbath’s raw energy, with Ozzy yelling “LOOK OUT!” before Tony Iommi’s Gibson SG roared into the iconic riff, as described in a Reddit thread by an enthralled fan.

Behind the scenes, "Hole In The Sky" was born in a pressure cooker. Sabotage was recorded amidst a bitter legal battle with former manager Patrick Meehan, with drummer Bill Ward recalling lawyers in the studio, a situation so chaotic that he called it “the only album ever made with lawyers present.” The band felt “sabotaged all the way along the line,” as Tony Iommi put it, inspiring the album’s title and the song’s urgent, rebellious vibe. A post on X from @doomedparade highlights the track’s “heavy groove,” suggesting it, alongside “Supernaut,” helped cement Sabbath’s influence on bounce and groove metal. Music scholar Nolan Stolz broke down the song’s structure, noting three distinct guitar riffs by Iommi, with the chorus riff paired with Bill Ward’s Afro-Cuban-inspired drumming at varying tempos, adding a unique rhythmic flair. The song’s legacy endures, with Metallica covering it in 2006 during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction tribute to Sabbath, a nod to its lasting impact.

Black Sabbath began in Birmingham, England, in 1968, originally as a heavy blues rock outfit called Earth, formed by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. The band, renamed Black Sabbath in 1969 after a song inspired by a horror film, carved a new path with their dark, tuned-down sound, blending occult and horror-inspired lyrics with heavy riffs. Iommi’s loss of fingertips in an industrial accident led to his innovative use of lighter strings and detuned guitars, creating the band’s signature menacing tone, as detailed in their Last.fm bio. Their self-titled debut and follow-up Paranoid in 1970 defined heavy metal, with hits like “Iron Man” and “War Pigs.” Despite lineup changes, Iommi remained the constant, guiding the band through decades of influence, from thrash to progressive metal, as noted in Prog Archives.

Stay connected with Black Sabbath through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share updates and celebrate milestones like the 1975 release of “Hole In The Sky” as a B-side to “Am I Going Insane (Radio).” Fans can dive deeper at Black Sabbath Online, a comprehensive fan site with discographies and news, or join discussions in the Black Sabbath Fan Club on Facebook. The r/blacksabbath subreddit is another hub where Zoo Freaks can geek out over tracks like “Hole In The Sky,” with fans calling Sabotage the band’s “magnum opus” for its raw soul and fearless experimentation.