Symptom of the Universe (song)
Encyclopedia
"Symptom of the Universe" is a song by the heavy metal
band Black Sabbath
, originally from their album Sabotage.
The song is divided into two parts, a heavier part and an acoustic portion at the end of the song. The lyrics were written by Geezer Butler
about a dream he had, with many citations about the creation of the universe, the creator and creature and some mythological elements.
It is considered to be one of the first thrash metal
songs with the heavier part containing various thrash techniques.
The song can be heard live on the album Past Lives
. It is also present on Ozzy Osbourne
's solo live album, Speak of the Devil.
The thrash metal
band Sepultura
covered "Symptom of the Universe" for the Black Sabbath tribute album, Nativity in Black
. The song has also been covered by Helmet
, noticeably in the film Jerky Boys: The Movie
, in which they are featured as the club band with Ozzy Osbourne guest starring as their manager. Finnish thrash metal band Stone
released a version as a bonus track on their 2008 compilation Stoneage 2.0
. It was also covered by American heavy metal band Freak Seed
. American rock band Comes With the Fall
have also covered in on their album Live 2002. In the documentary A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
, Metallica
guitarist Kirk Hammett
can be seen jamming the main riff to the song in his hotel room. It was also covered in 2010 by Orange Goblin
for a Metal Hammer
tribute CD to Black Sabbath. And Covered in 1989 by The Melvins, on their Melvins/Mudhoney split 7" Album.
The song has featured in the games Skate 2
and Brütal Legend
.
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, originally from their album Sabotage.
The song is divided into two parts, a heavier part and an acoustic portion at the end of the song. The lyrics were written by Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
about a dream he had, with many citations about the creation of the universe, the creator and creature and some mythological elements.
It is considered to be one of the first thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
songs with the heavier part containing various thrash techniques.
The song can be heard live on the album Past Lives
Past Lives (album)
Past Lives is a live album released in 2002 by Black Sabbath. It peaked at number 114 on the Billboard 200. The first disc was previously known as Live at Last, an album not put out by Black Sabbath's record company, and therefore not an official Black Sabbath album...
. It is also present on Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
's solo live album, Speak of the Devil.
The thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
covered "Symptom of the Universe" for the Black Sabbath tribute album, Nativity in Black
Nativity in Black
Nativity in Black is the name of two Black Sabbath tribute albums that came out in the 1990s and 2000s. The albums were recorded with various heavy metal bands paying tribute to Black Sabbath for their influence on the heavy metal genre of rock music....
. The song has also been covered by Helmet
Helmet (band)
Helmet is an alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989. Founded by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton, Helmet has had numerous lineup changes, and Hamilton has been the only constant member....
, noticeably in the film Jerky Boys: The Movie
Jerky Boys: The Movie
The Jerky's Boys: The Movie, also known as The Jerky's Boys, is a 1995 comedy/crime film starring John G. Brennan and Kamal Ahmed, best known as the comedy duo The Jerky Boys.The film features two men, Johnny B...
, in which they are featured as the club band with Ozzy Osbourne guest starring as their manager. Finnish thrash metal band Stone
Stone (band)
Stone was a thrash metal band formed in Kerava, Finland in the mid-1980s. They released four albums and one live album during the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disbanding in 1991 to pursue different musical directions. Stone reunited to play a final set of concerts in 2000, but parted ways...
released a version as a bonus track on their 2008 compilation Stoneage 2.0
Stoneage (compilation)
-Band members:* Janne Joutsenniemi – Bass guitar, Vocals* Jiri Jalkanen – Guitar * Nirri Niiranen - Guitar * Roope Latvala – Guitar* Pekka Kasari – Drums...
. It was also covered by American heavy metal band Freak Seed
Freak Seed
Freak Seed is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1995 in Parsippany, New Jersey. Freak Seed's sound consisted of "in your face" guitars with a heavy groove, and was considered "good, old-fashioned heavy metal"...
. American rock band Comes With the Fall
Comes With The Fall
Comes with the Fall is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. Since 2001, the line-up has been composed of William DuVall , Adam Stanger and Bevan Davies . Nico Constantine was the band's second guitarist before departing in 2001...
have also covered in on their album Live 2002. In the documentary A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica is a two-part documentary about the process of making the Metallica album , and the following tour. It was produced by Juliana Roberts and directed by Adam Dubin....
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
guitarist Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
can be seen jamming the main riff to the song in his hotel room. It was also covered in 2010 by Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin are a stoner metal band from the United Kingdom that formed in 1995. The band's lineup currently consists of singer Ben Ward, guitarist Joe Hoare, bassist Martyn Millard, and drummer Chris Turner.-History:...
for a Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
tribute CD to Black Sabbath. And Covered in 1989 by The Melvins, on their Melvins/Mudhoney split 7" Album.
The song has featured in the games Skate 2
Skate 2
Skate 2 is a sandbox skateboarding video game developed by EA Black Box and distributed by Electronic Arts as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate. Skate 2 was released in January 2009 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.-Plot:...
and Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
.