"Hand of Doom" is a song by the English
heavy metal band
Black Sabbath, originally appearing on their second album ''
Paranoid'', released in 1970.
Background
The song was conceived after the band had observed a growing number of
US soldiers
The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...
arriving in
England from the
Vietnam War in the late 1960s with severe drug addictions.
[''Classic Albums - Paranoid'' by Isis Productions/Eagle Rock Entertainment.] The song paints an unflattering picture of hard drug use. The lyrics were written by
Geezer Butler while the music is credited to the entire band.
Cover versions
The song has been covered by various bands, including:
*
Slayer
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style ...
on the 2000 Black Sabbath tribute album, ''
Nativity in Black II
''Nativity in Black: A Tribute to Black Sabbath'' are two Black Sabbath tribute albums, released in 1994 and 2000 respectively. The albums feature various heavy metal groups performing cover versions of Black Sabbath songs in tribute to the band.
...
''.
*
Danzig on its 1996 album, ''
Blackacidevil
''Danzig 5: Blackacidevil'' is the fifth studio album by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Danzig (band), Danzig. It was released in 1996 on Hollywood Records, and was reissued through E-Magine Records in 2000 with three extra tracks ...
'', and on the Black Sabbath fan compilation, ''Nativity in Black III'', based on the tribute albums ''
Nativity in Black'' I and II.
*
Isis on its 1999 EP, ''
Sawblade''.
*
Eyehategod on a split album with
Anal Cunt.
*
Orange Goblin on a split with
Electric Wizard.
*
HIM as one of their B-sides on the single ''
The Funeral of Hearts
"The Funeral of Hearts" is a song by the Finnish band HIM, released in 2003. It is the second track and first single from the album ''Love Metal''. It is one of HIM's most popular songs and was usually used to close live shows. It was nominated ...
'', and on their 2007 compilation album, ''
Uneasy Listening Vol. 2''.
*
Reverend
The Reverend is an style (manner of address), honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and Minister of religion, ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and c ...
on its 1990 debut album ''
World Won't Miss You
''World Won't Miss You'' is the 1990 full-length debut by heavy metal band Reverend. This album was dedicated to the late Dave Prichard of Armored Saint and features Chris Goss (Masters of Reality), Rocky George (Suicidal Tendencies), and Damien ...
''.
*
Jazz Sabbath on its 2020 self-titled debut album.
Personnel
;Black Sabbath
*
Ozzy Osbourne –
vocals
*
Tony Iommi –
guitars
*
Geezer Butler –
bass guitar
*
Bill Ward –
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
In popular culture
*
Melissa Auf der Maur
Melissa Gaboriau Auf der Maur (; born March 17, 1972) is a Canadian musician.
Auf der Maur began performing in 1993 after forming the indie rock band Tinker while she was a student at Concordia University. She was recruited as the bassist ...
, known for her work with
Hole and
The Smashing Pumpkins, was the leader of a Black Sabbath cover band named after this song.
*The song was used in a scene in the fourteenth episode of the first season of ''
Elementary'', originally aired on February 3, 2013.
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
1970 songs
Black Sabbath songs
Songs about drugs
Songs written by Tony Iommi
Songs written by Geezer Butler
Songs written by Bill Ward (musician)
Songs written by Ozzy Osbourne