1970 Rock Song, Never a No. 1 Hit, Ranked 'Greatest Heavy Metal Song' of All Time

More than five decades after Black Sabbath released “Paranoid,” the iconic 1970 track continues to rack up honors, with the latest recognition naming it one of the greatest songs in music history.

To celebrate heavy metal’s lasting legacy and influence on music, Rolling Stone named the top 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time.

Spanning every era, from classic heavy metal to modern metal, the list features a roundup of timeless tracks that defined the genre through their heavy riffs, thunderous sound and enduring influence.

With the band earning multiple entries on Rolling Stone’s ranking and securing the top spot with the title track from its self-titled debut album, Black Sabbath, the quartet’s song “Paranoid” landed at No. 13.

While the record achieved massive global success, becoming Black Sabbath’s first and only album to hit No. 1 on the Official UK Albums Chart and earning recognition as one of the greatest metal records of all time thanks to signature tracks such as “Iron Man,” “War Pigs” and “Paranoid,” the band never secured a No. 1 hit single.

The Ozzy Osbourne-led band’s highest-charting single was “Paranoid,” which peaked at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

However, despite the song’s success and positive public reception, it was a last-minute addition to the album.

“Paranoid” was written in just five minutes, with Geezer Butler creating the lyrics in a frantic rush.

Paranoid by Black Sabbath is one of the greatest songs of all time pic.twitter.com/ZKVkMCbkio

— 🎸 Rock History 🎸 (@historyrock_) February 3, 2026

“We recorded the whole thing in about two or three days, live in the studio,” the bassist told Guitar World in 2004, as cited by Far Out Magazine, adding, “The song ‘Paranoid’ was written as an afterthought. We basically needed a three-minute filler for the album, and Tony came up with the riff. I quickly did the lyrics, and Ozzy was reading them as he was singing.”

Moreover, he added that the whole track was completed in “about two hours” and made it onto the album’s tracklist.

Far from being just a filler to the album, the band did not disappoint the public as “Paranoid” resonated not only to listeners but also with fellow musicians.

The song’s enduring influence inspired several artists including American punk band The Dickies, whose cover version reached No. 45 on the UK Singles Chart.

Related: 1970 Rock Song, Written in Two Hours, Ranked Among ‘Greatest Protest Songs’ of All Time