Be One of Us #40 - "Children of the Grave"
@teamfreak16 (43418)
Denver, Colorado
August 21, 2019 10:12pm CST
Damn Devil worshippers! I'm doing a 50-song music countdown of songs with "of" in the title, and I'm doing them in no particular order, based simply on what I'm feeling, and damn, I'm feeling this one right now! We are at #40: "Children of the Grave" by Black Sabbath.
You do realize that that "Devil Worshippers" comment was a joke, right. Because despite it's dark title, this (F-Bomb) classic piece of sludge ain't nothing like that. From Black Sabbath's 1971 album, Master of Reality, "Children of the Grave" covers bassist/lyricist Geezer Butler's common anti-war views combined with his love of non-violent protest. Butler and guitarist Tony Iommi both down-tuned their instruments, giving the tune an even darker sound than the band was already known for (and my God, pay close attention to Bill Ward's drumming as you listen. Phenomenal!)
A non-charting single, "Children of the Grave" is one of the songs you can play when you make your case for Black Sabbath as the pioneers of heavy metal. Vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, in true Ozzy fashion, said in his autobiography, I Am Ozzy, that he remembers very little about recording the album, other than the guitar tuning and that "Children of the Grave" was the most kick-ass song we ever recorded."
And if it kicks Ozzy's ass, it certainly kicks mine.
(Info verified by Wikipedia)
Children Of The Grave and Embryo as it's intro by Black Sabbath from their Master Of Reality album. On a few occasions, they would play it live like this so ...
6 people like this
4 responses
@FourWalls (68902)
• United States
22 Aug 19
I eat at a restaurant near my house, and my bill is always $6.66. I tell my server what the price is going to be, then offer to play her some Black Sabbath when she brings the bill. 
4 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Aug 19
Ever have a server named Damian and noticed the 666 tattooed on their scalp?
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Aug 19
Are you ordering Deviled Eggs and Deviled Ham every time? 
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Aug 19
@JohnRoberts - Remember the SNL sketch where John Belushi was Damian and Buck Henry was sticking up for him? Looks at Belushi's forehead from above/behind. "See? 999. Good boy, Damian!"
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
22 Aug 19
Every metal band on the planet should be paying them royalties for starting it!
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
22 Aug 19
it's too bad bill ward can't play like that anymore.
altzheimers/dementia..i can't remember which he has.
2 people like this
@Readingstone (48)
• Iran
22 Aug 19
does the powerwolf fit along the black sabbath genre or im mistaking it for a christian music i know
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Aug 19
Well, Powerwolf is a power metal band, but I'm sure that Black Sabbath had at least a little influence on them. Most metal bands cite them as such.
1 person likes this
