St. Vitus Dance album art

St. Vitus Dance

Black Sabbath
Vol. 4 (1972)
Moderate 142 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range6/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Energetic drum patterns drive a toe-tapping rhythm with groovy bass and guitar riffs, creating moderate intensity without overwhelming harshness. Short structure keeps it punchy but contained.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsmild

A brief, riff-driven heavy metal track from Black Sabbath's Vol. 4, named after a fidgety medical condition and lyrically exploring regret over a misunderstood breakup.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: energetic, nostalgic, rebellious

Traditions: doom metal, heavy metal

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in Black Sabbath's catalog

We have 84 songs from Black Sabbath in the library. Of those, 8 are rated Safe, 27 Moderate, and 49 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits below the artist average of 7.1, making it the #67 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Vol. 4

We have 10 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans intense in sensory profile.

1972 context

Released in 1972. We have 269 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.0/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1970s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
energetic · 5426nostalgic · 1573rebellious · 1970
Traditions
doom metal · 17heavy metal · 279

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-14. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "St. Vitus Dance"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "St. Vitus Dance" by Black Sabbath?

"St. Vitus Dance" by Black Sabbath rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "St. Vitus Dance" — what is its dynamic range?

"St. Vitus Dance" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "St. Vitus Dance" have sudden or surprising changes?

"St. Vitus Dance" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "St. Vitus Dance" best for?

In our library "St. Vitus Dance" is recommended for: energy, movement, workout. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "St. Vitus Dance" released?

"St. Vitus Dance" is from 1972, on the album "Vol. 4". It appears in our 1970s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "St. Vitus Dance"?

We tag "St. Vitus Dance" as energetic, nostalgic, rebellious. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "St. Vitus Dance"?

The vocal style is dynamic vocals.

Should I listen to "St. Vitus Dance"?

"St. Vitus Dance" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Wedding Day at Troldhaugen
Edvard Grieg
safe
DR 7
Precursor
Amon Tobin
moderate
DR 7
Moose the Mooche
Charlie Parker
moderate
DR 7
Opened Once
Jeff Buckley
moderate
DR 6
Riot
Hugh Masekela
moderate
DR 7
I'm Not Your Mother
Courtney Barnett
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

High by the Beach
Lana Del Rey safe
Cantaloupe Island
Herbie Hancock safe
Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Paul Simon safe
Ramblin' Fever
Merle Haggard safe
Walkin' the Boogie
John Lee Hooker safe

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