Beat-Club YouTube channel have unveiled new footage of Black Sabbath‘s masterpiece “N.I.B” from 1970 recordings.
Watch “N.I.B.” via the YouTube player below:
A Heavy Metal masterpiece by Black Sabbath with “N.I.B.” from their 1970 self-titled debut album, Black Sabbath.
“N.I.B.” is a song by Black Sabbath, released in 1970 on the band’s self-titled debut album, “Black Sabbath.” Written by the original lineup — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward — the song became one of the band’s most recognizable early recordings.
The track opens with a distinctive bass introduction by Geezer Butler, often referred to as “Bassically,” before moving into a Heavy Blues-based riff that helped define Black Sabbath‘s emerging sound. Musically, “N.I.B.” combines Blues Rock, Hard Rock, and the Dark, Heavy style that would later become known as Heavy Metal.
Although the song is often mistaken for being about Satanism, Geezer Butler explained that the lyrics tell the story of Lucifer falling in love and changing as a result, making it more of a romantic fantasy narrative than an occult anthem. The title “N.I.B.” itself does not appear in the lyrics; according to band members, it originated as a nickname related to Bill Ward’s beard, which resembled a pen nib.
Today, “N.I.B.” is widely regarded as one of Black Sabbath‘s signature songs and an important early example of the Heavy Metal genre. Its powerful riff, memorable bass line, and dark lyrical themes helped establish the musical identity that would influence countless rock and metal bands in the decades that followed.