When pinpointing the beginnings of heavy metal, many consider Black Sabbath the originator of the genre and, while we all can hum the melody of “Iron Man”, many might be unaware of these five facts that define the band’s legacy.

If Iommi is your God or you worship at the feet of Pepper Keenan then the rough riffs found on Spirit Of Tradition might be right up your alley.

I’m not sure if any one person has had more of an impact on heavy metal than Tony Iommi. His crushing riffs came to define the genre long before there was even a term for it. For me there is not a more definitive moment in my musical life than the first time I heard the crushing riff of, “Black Sabbath” – I was changed forever. The heavy, haunting tone became the back on which metal was built. Iron Man chronicles Black Sabbath from before its inception until present day, touching on the band’s start, their numerous lineup changes and the personal life of the man behind the riff, Iommi.

After more than 25 years Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi have teamed up once again, this time, to raise funds for the rebuilding of a music school in Gyumri, Armenia that was destroyed in the 1988 earthquake. Joining these two legendary musicians on the disc are none other than Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Jason Newsted (ex-Metallica) and Mikko Lindström (HIM).