In a recent interview with Wall of Sound in Australia, Slayer’s legendary guitarist Kerry King shared which Black Sabbath album he’d take with him if Earth were about to be destroyed and humanity had to evacuate to space. Unsurprisingly, choosing just one favorite from the heavy metal pioneers wasn’t an easy task.
“I would take…” King began, pausing to reflect on the weight of the decision—a dilemma familiar to any devoted Black Sabbath fan.
King admitted the challenge lay in his deep admiration for both the Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio eras of the band. “It’s easy and it’s hard because I’m a super [Ronnie James] Dio fan,” he said.
Ultimately, King made his choice: Sabotage. “There’s something about the vibe on that record. It’s cool. I mean, they’re all cool, but there’s something about that one. Maybe ‘Symptom of the Universe.’ I don’t know. It’s nonstop badassery,” he explained.
King’s Love for Sabotage Through the Years
This isn’t the first time King has praised Sabotage. In a 2015 interview with Loudwire, he included it in his list of five essential guitar albums, calling it one of Black Sabbath’s heaviest works.
“Picking just one Sabbath record was hard. I almost copped out and picked We Sold Our Soul for Rock ‘n’ Roll, but I stayed away from greatest hits albums because that’s too easy,” King explained.
“Sabotage is one of their heaviest records. From beginning to end, it never lets up. ‘Hole in the Sky,’ ‘Megalomania’—those are just monster riffs. They never fail to floor me. If you want to learn what a great, heavy riff is all about, try those ones out. Tony Iommi—what can you say? He’s unique in every way possible. Nobody in the world sounds like him. His riffs are monumental.”
Black Sabbath’s Legacy
King also named Sabotage in a 2017 Rolling Stone feature listing his 10 favorite metal albums. Fittingly, Sabotage ranks at No. 32 on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 100 greatest metal albums—just one spot behind Slayer’s own Seasons in the Abyss at No. 31.
With its relentless energy and iconic riffs, Sabotage continues to resonate with fans and musicians alike, standing as a testament to Black Sabbath’s lasting impact on the genre.
