Black Sabbath

"Take a life, it's going cheap; kill someone, no one will weep. Freedom's yours, just pay your dues, we just want your souls to use."

Ozzy Osbourne

"In all cultures throughout history, music and magic have been closely connected. Music, which does not primarily appeal to the mind, but to the emotional sphere of man, reaches into the subconsciousness. It seems to be one of the keyholes through which one can see the fragments of another reality, even within your own inner-self." ('Rock Session 1', Aug. 1977, p.3).

In Birmingham, in 1969, "Black Sabbath" totally dedicated themselves and baptised themselves to Rock after watching a Boris Karloff horror film. One year later the quartet had become a hit-band on both sides of the Atlantic with their album "Paranoid", which they had composed in only ten minutes. At the beginning, Ozzy Osbourne (voc), Tony Tommi (g), Geezer Butler (bg) and Bill Ward (dr) performed occult rituals on stage and boasted of their violent antics in working class neighbourhoods of Birmingham, till they became popularised as romantic rock outlaws. The success they had with their under-age audience was in reverse proportion to the critics' esteem. The vicious sound of heavy rock with its enervating, lamenting vocal solos shocked society with words like: "Take a life, it's going cheap; kill someone, no one will weep - Freedom's yours, just pay your dues, we just want your soul to use!" (Cornucopia).

These words filled American teenagers with so much enthusiasm that the band toured without ceasing, and constantly collected gold discs. Only after some of the exhausted band members broke down in the concerts did the band give up their hectic US-tours.

Osbourne gave other reasons: "America is the most Satanic country in the world. For a few dollars, the Yankees will do anything. The people (with their greed for narcotics) are almost like living nightmares. I wonder why half of them don't come to the concert with their coffin." (Schmidt-Joos, Graves, "Rock Lexicon", p.54)

Ozzy OsbourneWhile the infernal dance of sounds and shapes takes place everywhere, singer Ozzy Osbourne looks on the scene with pride. He remembers the year 1969, when together with his three playmates from the sand-pit, they founded the band.

On the first LP they immediately conjured up Satan, who indeed appeared. He promised they would have success all over the world if only they would play every year on the great Sabbath. Both parties have kept their word up until this present time. Six successful LP’s, powerful concerts, and with fans from all over the world - they play their hot infernal hard rock, ideally tempered music for infernal festivals. For the black sabbaths; and the bloody ones.

"And you, poor fool, holding this LP in your hands, know, that in doing so, you sold your soul: for in this infernal rhythm and in this music's diabolic power your soul will be caught soon. And this musical tarantula-bite will let you dance endlessly, uninterruptedly." (Cover advertising for the LP: 'Reflection' - "Black Sabbath")

"In our century with its "occult explosion" and "demonic invasion" it is the devil's plan to demonically pollute and rule every man (believing or unbelieving) in his world of spirits." (Dr. U. Senn)

The boom of occult rock actually began in 1969 with the appearance of Black Sabbath. Their first album caused waves of indignation and rejection, but also consent. In addition, it caused a boom on the book market: Books about black magic, witchcraft and evocation were readily sold from the bookshelves.

"Black Sabbath’s debut album was released in the same year as Deep Purple's "In Rock" - both in England. A deviant offshoot developed from hard rock which could be called "creepy rock", for it was inspired by Hitchcock. The aspect of violence is sublimated as fear of the weird. The title song of the album mentioned is accompanied by bell-ringing, and that ominous diminished fifth, the so-called "Tritone" which rarely failed to work in the old Russian film soundtracks. Just as the phantasmagoria in the "better" Dracula movies creates horror, here likewise, the words imply the terror of the night atmospherically, without describing it. The close relation to black magic is demonstrated on the inner cover of the 1970 album which pictures a mysterious, inverted cross. The outside picture shows a dilapidated house, dead branches, and in front, the unreal, pale daughter of Dracula." (Tibor Kneif, "Rock in the 70’s", p.114).

Anton LaVey, a worshipper of Satan and founder of the first Satanic church in the USA ("First Church of Satan"), explained in November 1968: "The multitude which follows evil, perverts the Lord's prayer, mixes it with obscene words, kicks Christ's cross with their feet or hangs it up, upside down."

Here is a sample from the title track "Black Sabbath":

What is this that stands before me?
Figure in black which points at me.
Turn around quick, and start to run,

Find out I'm the chosen one!

Pit black shape with eyes of fire,
Telling people their desire.

Watches those flames get higher and higher!
Oh no, no, please God help me!

The naive will assume that Black Sabbath's lyrics will always reveal which spirit's children they are. Sadly, that is not always the case! Conversely, the band displays a variability and adaptability in their lyrics which is just unbelievable.

Once pseudo-Christian, camouflaged as the "Angel of Light"...

"After Forever"

Or perhaps you think that when you're dead you just stay in your grave,

When you think about death do you lose your breath or do you keep your cool? Would you like to see the Pope on the end of a rope - do you think he's a fool? Well I have seen the truth, yes I've seen the light and I've changed my ways. And I'll be prepared when you're lonely and scared at the end of our days.

Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say,
If they knew you believe in God above?
They should realise before they criticise,
that God is the only way to love.

Is your mind so small that you have to fall,
In with the pack wherever they run.
Will you still sneer when death is near,
And say they may as well worship the sun?

I think it was true it was people like you that crucified Christ,
I think it is sad the opinion you had was the only one voiced,
You had the chance but you turned it down, now you can't retrieve.

Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone,
Open your eyes, just realise that he's the one.

Another time the mask falls - and the "lord of this world" (Satan) speaks...

"Lord Of This World"

You're searching for your mind don't know where to start.
Can't find the key to fit the lock on your heart,
You think you know but you are never quite sure.
Your soul is ill but you will not find a cure.

Your world was made for you by someone above,
but you chose evil ways instead of love.
You made me master of the world where you exist.
The soul I took from you was not even missed.

Lord of this world - evil owner!
Lord of this world - he is your father confessor!

You think you are innocent and haven't anything to fear.
You say you don't know me but isn't that clear?
You turn towards me - with all your worldly greediness and arrogance.
But will you turn towards me also when you will die?

Now he recruits your soul...

"NIB" (Extract)

Some people say my love cannot be true.
Please believe me, my love, and I'll show it to you.

Follow me now and you will not regret
leaving the life you led before we met.
...My name is Lucifer - please take my hand!

I hope that this short summary has made it clear how believing Christians can be misled by satanic trickery! A "religious" text (such as "After Forever") doesn't deliver reliable information about the spiritual background of the singer at all! Already the Apostle Paul has indicated, that Satan himself can change his outward appearance (See 2 CORINTHIANS 11:14). Even if he appears as "an angel of light", inside he is still "a roaring lion" looking for a victim. So evil is not made more harmless through good camouflage, but more dangerous: How many more people will be trapped and deceived by his disguise?

Sadly, people are taken in more and more by such masks nowadays. Here, I am especially referring to Christian youth. Even worse, when the Seducer is finally unmasked, many young people start - with unbelievable vehemence and beyond all reason - quite literally, to defend their idols (better described as the "Hangman of souls") with all means available! What are the reasons for this alarming development?

There are two main reasons. In the words of the preacher Helmut Bauer ("Love, Unity, Peace - at any cost?" p.95 ff):

  1. "Lacking ability to distinguish between true divine, and bare imitation. Without the gift of 'discernment of spirits' it is not possible to differentiate between purely fleshly aspects of life or even demonic effects of power, and the effects of life by the Holy Spirit."
  2. "Fleshly Christianity is orientated to and dependant on feeling. Whatever positively livens up feelings is accepted without any further proof. Emotional highs are understood as legitimately coming from God. People live mainly by feelings, and not by the leading of the LORD Himself."

The danger of being shaped by feelings is underlined by the suggestive effects of the rock scene on people: it leads to the "influence of the thought, emotional, and mental processes, which leads to unchecked acceptance of convictions, values or behaviour. In the case of affectionate bias for a person, the human being opens himself involuntarily to their expressions and appearances, and also, furthermore, their ideas." ("DTV-dictionary", Vol.18, p.62).

...and here we are openly confronted with the highest form of Satanism!!

The number 666, which is the number of the antichrist, is a sign of this rock band’s link to Satanism! (The record cover states: "Sabbath bloody Sabbath").


In 1980, Ozzy Osbourne left the band and started a solo career. His place was filled by ex-"Rainbow" singer Ronnie James Dio, who had already shown tendencies towards the occult in his "Rainbow" days.

Instantly the LP "Heaven and Hell" was released. On the black cover of this record three angels with halos are portrayed, but: with red nail polish, playing cards and smoking cigarettes! Therefore, they are more "hell's angels", and more "hell" than "heaven"! The album "Mob Rules" followed at the end of 1981, from which the title song was used for the soundtrack of the occult-fantasy movie "Heavy Metal".

Ozzy Osbourne, likewise, was not idle and released two records: "Blizzard of Oz" and "Diary of a Madman". Here is a quote from Hans-Jürgen Trabert ("Punkt", Oct. 1981), concerning the first of these two LP’s:

"Ozzy Osbourne, symbolically as ever, comes forward again with the LP "Blizzard of Oz" after leaving Black Sabbath. On the record cover we see Ozzy wrapped up in a red, priestly robe, lifting up a big cross ready for attack, amidst a scene of mist, skulls, a black cat, and so on. And so it is not surprising that Ozzy addresses the most brutal worshipper of the devil and occultist of modern times in one of his songs, one of whose followers is Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin:"

"Mr. Crowley, I wanna know what you meant."

Crowley's Main Law was: "Do what thou wilt!"

(Compare with 2 THESSALONIANS 2:3-4)

"The crucial factor for every successful rock band is energy: the ability to send out energy, to receive energy from the audience, and to send it back again.

A rock concert is actually nothing more than a ritual, where psychic power is released and transformed.

Led Zeppelin concerts are mainly based on volume, repetition and rhythm.

There is a great deal of similarity with the trance-inducing music of Morocco, whose source and purpose is of magical character.

Every form of art - music, painting or literature - is originally conjuration and magic, used to achieve certain aims.

The aim on the Led Zeppelin concert is energy - in the band and the audience. To achieve this, one has to tap the sources of magical power, no matter how dangerous this might be."

Jimmy Page,
Lead guitarist with Led Zeppelin

 After an AC/DC concert involving guitarist Angus Young's insane show (Quote: "Rock'n'Roll is a highway to hell!"), he was asked: "Where do you get your energy from?"

Answer: "From up there." (pointing upwards)

Question: "From up there?"

Answer: "Either from up there or from down there. Most probably from down there. Up there, there is no Rock'n'Roll."

The journalist adds: "It's comforting to now know the explanation for the LP’s title, "Highway To Hell".

Young's fellow band member Cliff Williams reveals further details: "Angus is in a kind of trance when he plays his insane solos. He can't remember anything afterwards."

How does he get into a trance? Through drugs? No - the music itself contains the catalyst: "Never - for heaven's sake, I don't need drugs, the music turns me on sufficiently enough."

Another world-famous guitarist confesses: "Sometimes when I stand on the stage, I feel like it is not me who is playing the guitar (!). The man who is playing looks like me and plays like I do, but it is not me. I get the impression I’m watching myself from the outside (!), as if I was standing next to the person who is playing the guitar, and I, myself (!), marvel at the melodies and improvisations that the person plays on the guitar."

Everybody who is acquainted with occult phenomena, immediately recognises the typical signs of demonic control!

The terrible danger for rock musicians who expose themselves to satanic powers is emphasised in the interesting article "Rock & Black Magic" by the music newspaper 'Spotlight' (Nov. 1978):

"Creativity, emotionally exceeding oneself, exploding energy, trance and totally delivering oneself: attributes which dominate every rock show and to which every rock musician is subjected are, however, magical attributes. And so the step which artists and musicians have to take in order to get in contact with the dark forces of black magic, to provoke them, to be served by them, to meet them... is not far away."

So it is easy to explain why Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin openly admits: "Magic is never good or evil, black or white, but simply a way to take part in the demonic reality and to explore it for your own needs." ('Rock Session 1', p.11).

Watch out - this is temptation! For the Almighty God doesn't make allowance for any kind of magic: "For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord..." (DEUTERONOMY 18:12)!!

The American evangelist John Todd, who was converted from the highest ranks of satanism and who was an insider in the rock scene, reveals the following connections between satanism and rock music: "When wizards or witches get saved, there is no need for any preacher to tell them anything about rock music - they tell the preacher about it. As I burnt all my occult belongings after I was converted to Christ, I also destroyed all my rock records!... If rock musicians want their music to be "blessed" by might and power, then most of them go to a wizard-priest and ask for a certain ceremony within the occult circle. Nowadays, most of the famous rock records in our music industry have such a spell on them. This means that demons are commanded to accompany the record which has been produced. If you buy such a product which was "blessed" by such a ritual, then you get this demon delivered free to your house. Nowadays, if you buy a rock music record or even some albums with so-called country music, then there is a good chance that a demon will come into your house."

The seriousness with which this statement has to be taken is illustrated by the following testimony:

"Last year in our college, I was chosen head of class in the girls dormitory. There I had some discussions about rock music with the girls; nearly every one of them had a positive attitude towards this music.

Some teenagers discovered that if you reverse-play the songs "..." and "..." (Editorial note: Title left out for security) by Jim Steinmann ("Meatloaf") on a record player, at the beginning of the songs a deep and demonic sounding voice could be heard. Well, the girls made fun out of listening to these things.

During one lunch-break two girls suddenly came running up to me from their room screaming. I ran back with them to their room and saw four girls in a trance standing in the middle of the room. The voice from the speakers was, without doubt, that of the devil - it was terrible! It "informed" the listeners, that they (the girls) were now his (satan’s), and he could and would do with them what he wanted to.

I jumped in between, ripped the record off the player and prayed, "Oh God, Lord Jesus Christ, help them!" The room was bathed in a horribly cold atmosphere, but the power of Jesus broke through and the girls fell - as if released from a block of ice - in to my arms. They screamed and cried, shaking and shuddering for over three hours, while I talked to them about what had happened, and how much God loved them as His children.

Later we talked openly about the matter: I informed all the girls about the destructive, demonic foundation of rock music. Finally all the rock records, posters, etc., were burnt. Praise the Lord!" (from "Bob Larson Speaks Out", Jan/Feb 1982).

It is remarkable that many heavy rock bands belong to occult groups. Obviously this kind of music is in direct connection with the occult activities of the musicians:

Demonic influence releases itself in destructive music.

The pernicious effect of hard rock is underlined by Tibor Kneif, an expert in rock music (a.a.O., p.111ff). He writes: "Heavy rock with its shocks speaks... to the whole body, mainly the stomach region, and the last characteristic explains the highly praised sexual stimulation, which comes from it."

According to Tibor Kneif, there is a further basic trend of hard rock: "the celebration of violence" - "A music of esoteric terrors, which knows, with the psychic knowledge of a practising hypnotist, how to cause its victim to shudder again and again."

It should be clearly obvious that music with such effects, and the ability to put the listeners into trance and ecstasy is not to be used for evangelical purposes!

"The often used word "trance" is a state of near-sleep ecstasy with restriction of the conscience - causing the inability to make decisions... The trance seems to encourage paranormal experience, even schizophrenia." (Hehlmann, "Dictionary of Psychology", p.552).

It is generally known that such altered states of mind can be reached through monotonous and strong rhythmic sounds - which characterises rock music. This is clearly proven through scientific trance experiments. Also, the British satanist Aleister Crowley recommended exposing people to continually repetitive music, to put them into a state of trance. In rock music, especially in hard rock, satan has a highly effective tool, accessible to sully the people, to manipulate them, and even to control them.

It is important to know that rock music carries the named effects in itself. It exists independently from the lyrics or from the motivation of the musicians! Logically, rock music in Christian attire exists by the same laws. But because these laws are clearly of a bad (and evil) nature this music is not suitable for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ: "...what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 CORINTHIANS 6:14).

Bob Larson, who was active for years in the rock scene, realised this very clearly after his conversion: "Rock music has a spirit, which stems from a dark and murky well. It can not be cleaned and used for the Gospel."

What should you do now if you, as a believing Christian, are under the spell of this music? Walter Kohli shows in his brilliant book, 'Rock Music and Christian Life' (p.70), the way to liberation: "At the time of the Apostles expensive magic books were burnt (ACTS 19:19). That's why nowadays captives of rock music have to destroy their records with occult, blasphemous and dirty contents, if they want the Word of the Lord to grow mightily in them, and gain the upper hand (See ACTS 19:20). One cannot deliberately and continually expose oneself to wicked influences and maintain a living relationship with God on the side... One cannot compromise with the darkness of the rock world! Experience shows that young Christians badly neglect their relationship with God as soon as they expose themselves intensively to the influence of rock music." John Todd: "And if a Christian comes to me and says, that he still listens to rock music, then I ask him immediately about his spiritual state. And it is usually very, very weak. One can't grow spiritually if one listens constantly to this stuff!"

Fortunately there are young Christians, who take the necessary action. For example: "1,250 young Americans in St. Paul (Minnesota), openly smashed more than a thousand rock music records, burnt the covers and renounced themselves from this "scene"... The organisers called themselves "Born-Again Christians"; most of them are members of the "Zion-Life Centre" in St. Paul. There, a seminar took place where the 400 participants were convinced that rock music "could get them off God's ways." Besides, it stands in spiritual relationship with sexual confusion, drug addiction, occultism and satanic cults." (from "Midnight Cry", Feb. 1980).

As a former Black Sabbath fan I desperately want to warn you: Do not play with the dangers of rock music, or take the message contained here too lightly! If your soul is captured "in the satanic power of this music", and if you don't want to risk losing it, then take this step:

Break these records, before they break you!

by Ulrich Bäumer

Translated from the German original: "Black Sabbath"