(TheBRHM.com) We haven’t had a Head 2 Head on here in a while! Let’s look at the three debuts of three metal legends from the same period in Motörhead, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest. All of these debuts come in the 1970s with Sabbath’s being the earliest and best known of the three. Overall, we’re going to look at their debuts, see the strongest tracks on each and find out who’s debut was the better release.
Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath (1970)
The thing about Black Sabbath on here is that I haven’t done much on them. I’ve done plenty on Judas Priest and Motörhead and I’ve got more planned. We should really dig into the Dio-era stuff especially. I don’t want to go into Black Sabbath’s significance as the first metal band and the first doom metal band but this debut showcased both genres at the same time.
Doom metal wasn’t even being considered. Heavy metal wasn’t either but they found that they had created something new and doom metal was just kind of there. It was picked up and shaped by musicians who liked early Black Sabbath’s approach but doom metal was always there. The spotlight just goes more on Sabbath creating metal in the debut album.
If you’re not familiar with doom metal or this album, it’s a slower affair throughout with a lot of blues and psychedelic rock influences. Remember, music from the 1960s still had gas in the tank into the early 1970s, Sabbath simply went slower and darker.
The production on this album is good and the best of the three albums featured here. The songwriting is strong as well but I personally preferred the follow up from the same year, Paranoid. Black Sabbath is a strong debut but Paranoid would’ve been a stronger one.
Strongest Tracks: Black Sabbath**, The Wizard**, Behind the Wall of Sleep
Judas Priest – Rocka Rolla (1974)
By 1974, the formula for heavy metal was out but several bands that formed in the late 1960s-early 1970s were still rooted in influences on music from the 1960s. It happens, those bands still have momentum and a run into the next decade until the genre falls out of favor. So a lot of future metal bands of the 1970s and early 1980s have this blues rock, psychedelic rock, or folk stylings to them.
There’s some heaviness to their version, so we’re in hard rock territory for many of the U.S and UK bands. A good example we went into are the first two Riot albums or Judas Priest’s debut album Rocka Rolla. While the album is fine and an origin worth checking out, you know it’s not the album that really put the rocket pack on Priest.
If anything, it’s the music example of not needing to watch the first film in certain franchises such as the first Friday the 13th movie or the first Evil Dead. Worthwhile watches but not necessary when the films after are more enjoyable and the first isn’t referenced heavily.
That’s Rocka Rolla. Rarely do I see it referenced or reference myself as a must-listen debut album.
Strongest Tracks: Rocka Rolla, Cheater**, Never Satisfied*
Motörhead – Motörhead (1976)
Motörhead’s debut is similar to Judas Priest in the influences and direction. We know Motörhead as these speedy, heavy deliverers of pounders and old school rippers but they had their origins doing smoky, booze-reaking pool hall-style hard rock. Lots of blues rock, blues, and some psychedelia in this debut. Of course, Motörhead founder/singer/bassist the late Lemmy Kilmister had left psychedelic rock/space rock act Hawkwind.
He still had some songs he did for them that would fit this new project—including the band’s namesake. One thing I love about this debut is the variety of the songs. This is the kind of album you simply let play in the background while relaxing on a weekend. The songs have a variety in length as well so some songs will just ride on while others will be here then gone—but it all flows well.
I’d say this is the album with the best default track listing. While I like the production on this album, Black Sabbath really brought it with the production which was important since they were creating something new.
Strongest Tracks: Motorhead*, Iron Horse/Born to Lose*, The Watcher**
Better Debut Album: Black Sabbath (1970)
Whether it’s songwriting, performance, production or significance, Black Sabbath takes it. There was stuff from Rocka Rolla and Motörhead that I preferred over Black Sabbath such as the pace and variety of music. However, as an overall project, Black Sabbath’s project is just the better one in that it’s memorable. You can skip Rocka Rolla or Motörhead and you wouldn’t have missed anything.
Which of the three debuts did you prefer? Let us know down below!
Staff Writer; M. Swift
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.