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Black Sabbath Vs Led Zeppelin, your preference?

Black Sabbath Vs Led Zeppelin, your preference?

  • Black Sabbath

    Votes: 75 34.1%

  • Led Zeppelin

    Votes: 128 58.2%

  • Hard Rockin Carrots who sold their souls in Kashmir

    Votes: 17 7.7%
  • Total voters
    220
  • Poll closed .
#41
I don't much care for this question.

Of course I LOVE the Led Zeppelin, and all it did to and for me. It's the bigger band; the bigger themes; maybe even bigger riffs (?) and was consistent in only having the four members it ever had, not counting Jason standing in for John at reunion shows.

But you can't put them up against SABBATH! That's just such a unique, and original band, and did so many things to make noisy metal cool...

What's funny is, I think the Sabbath guys had the exact same intent as the Zeppelins, but filtered through their working class sensibilities, and more down-to-earth chops, it ended up sounding MUCH different. Ask any of them in 1969 what they are out to do, and it would be "play heavy, blues-based hard rock."

Sabbath stayed focused on a theme, while Zeppelin was pushing the boundaries of multiple worlds...

It's not a fair comparison. I had to pick Led Zeppelin, but I didn't enjoy doing it. I was just blasting Black Sabbath in my car today, and it sounds as good as ever!
 
#45
Zeppelin any day of the week. Go from When the Levee Breaks to the Rain Song to Fool in the Rain to the Lemon Song to Thank You to Moby Dick... They covered so much musical ground so unbelievably well.

Zeppelin.
 
#48
Years ago I would've said Zeppelin easily, but as time goes on I find that Sabbath gets more play time on my 8-track...er....mp3 player these days. Zeppelin had superior talent, IMO, but there is a lot of LZ that doesn't appeal to me. Sabbath's first 4 or so albums, on the other hand, never get old. Just killer track after track.

So I pick Sabbath. This week. Ask me again next week...

ETA: I am wearing a Black Sabbath T-shirt as I write this.
 
#50
Never been impressed with sabbath. Ozzy is not a good vocalist IMO. Plant can be an acquired taste, but he definitely had more talent than Oz man to me. The musicians themselves in the bands aren't really a contest either. Page vs. Iommi is no contest Page. Page brought much more to the band than lead guitar, he was also a great arranger and producer, adept at many styles. JPJ vs. Geezer is pretty close, but JPJ's lines are just smoother and more solid to me. And realistically, not many rock drummers of the day could touch Bonham.

Impact on music itself today is probably the same between the two.

Sabbath seemed very narrow musically speaking, while every Zeppelin album contained many different styles, at least to my ears.

No contest at all. Not even close. My vote is Led Zeppelin. (IMO of course. I AM a Zeppelin fanatic after all.)
 
#51
Such a silly thread!!!
However, after reading I've gotta put my two cents in.
The only thing zep and sabbath have in common is that they're British. (and I am assuming that we are speaking of the original line ups)
Both have phenomenal rhythm sections and mediocre vocalists. thats about it.
Page is one of the most over rated guitarists out there, Iommi pretty much pioneered an entire genre of music.
Not to say that Page isn't sweet, but all he really ever did was play what influenced him and put his spin on it. Iommi had his influences, but weren't really prominent on Sabbath recordings. ...Since this a bass forum I would have to say that JPJ may be "better" than GB (technically) but Sabbath is so much better to listen to.
 
#53
IMHO Led Zeppelin is one of the most highly overrated bands in music history....All Jimmy Paige accomplished was to rehash and REGURGITATE Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Skip James...and call it his own. The only thing Zeppelin really had going for them was Bonham and JPJ. ..and no matter how hard i try, i just don't get the accolades heaped upon Zeppelin...When they come on the radio they usually don't last but about 30 seconds before i change the channel

Sabbath on the other hand...are still relevant 43 years later...I'm fairly sure that every metal band around today can cite Sabbath as a direct influence...or in other words, Black Sabbath has been so influential in the development of heavy metal as to be THE defining force in the style. They gave birth to a musical style that continues to attract millions of fans and inspire new bands over 40 years later...

and though JPJ might have technically been a bit more proficient than Geezer, he in no way can match the soul and the feel that Geeezer captured (especially in the early recordings!)...Listening to Geezer as a kid is what made me want to pick up a bass guitar...

They say that Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...there are tons of bands recording today in the Stoner/Doom genre who's entire purpose in life is to be more Sabbath than Sabbath...

I don't see or hear anybody trying to sound like Led Zeppelin...(Unless you count Kingdom Come...lol :hiding:)
 
#55
love Sabbath...love, love, love....(especially their first 4 albums)...but

how can you even ask the question...Led Zep by a mile

and for those of you who say things like "just a fair vocalist" or some such drivel....:spit:...:spit:

yeah, right...Plant is maybe the greatest rock vocalist in history, right up there with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple.

davesignatureII-1.png
 
#60
For me personally, it's Sabbath all the way. If I were to review my record collection, I know I would find many Sabbath records and no LZ!
I really like what Bohnam did and to some degree JPJ, but I simply can't stand Page, unless he has a 12 string in his hands. His electric playing (IMHO) was best described by Edward Van Halen in a mag I read... "Jimmy Page plays like a four year old with a broken hand". IMHO that is exactly correct. His solos sound like he's trying to get as many notes in as he can, but doesn't have the ability. They sound like there's a bee stuck in his cab.
Someone in this thread mentioned sound quality of recordings. To my ear, virtually every record LZ has released sounded like it was recorded in a garbage can, two blocks from the studio.
IMHO, Heaven and Hell blows the doors off of any Zep album...
I recall watching the Song Remains the Same and hoping against hope that it would end. Tow hours of my life I willnever get back... and seriously, if your gonna play a guitar with a bow, try and do a good job!:hiding:
Fishheadjoe

PS... yes, I have had many folks tell me I'm messed up... but the OPdid ask for opinions!
 

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