Hot on the heels of the surprise success of their original album, BLACK SABBATH Paranoid was the next step in the evolution of what was then a very new art form called Heavy Metal. Recorded only a few months after the release of their debut album, this album features a more improved production schedule of a whopping 3 days (as opposed to the 12 hours that the first album had) and more straight ahead songs with a sharper more cutting edge tone to it.
The album opens up with the iconic air raid sirens of “War Pigs” it’s obvious the band are a more focused on making heavier music than their debut. This for me and coherently this album is much heavier than the previous album “Black Sabbath” NOTE: I hold the debut album in very high regard, I just think this solidified the music as Heavy Metal as opposed to heavy blues. It’s again another opportunity to show off the amazing bass chops of Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi’s new found sense of Heavyness. Ozzy’s vocals are in magnificent form echoing over the top of this thing. The album is packed full of Sabbaths’ greatest songs and live staples in the bands set that were played right up until the current day on the eve of the bands’ retirement. “Paranoid” is up next the song that Iommi wrote in a matter of minutes (To be fair it’s a simple but very catchy song) that would be released as single and propel the band to number 4 on the singles chart! Still to this date the highest the band has charted on the singles charts! Legend has it they weren’t even going to include it on the album, but the record label said they need a shorter song for a single. “Paranoid” has a driving guitar rhythm that really laid the foundations for Heavy Metal to come.
The band then slow it down a little with “Planet Caravan” which despite being a slower piece really showcases Tony Iommi’s versatility as a guitarist. It’s clear his control over melody is not just limited to the blues and heavy rock. Next to round off-side one is “Iron Man”. What can you say? Another of the greatest riffs of all time. So far we’re only halfway through the album and we’ve heard 3 of the greatest heavy metal tracks of all time. Does it get any more glorious than this? While I wasn’t even born when this came out, I can see how this album inspired a generation of would-be guitar players (myself included).
Flip this thing over and we get what is the start of doom and sludge metal with “Electric Funeral”, the slow tempo of this song is just weighty on your soul. Next up “Hand of Doom” which I think with these two songs kind of changes the mood of the album. To my years with side one you have a classic metal album, but with side two it really does take on more of a stoner feel. “Rat Salad” is and instrumental which really highlights Iommi’s brilliant blues chops, and Bill wards great drumming. Some excellent fills in this. It kind of feels like an exercise in free from Heavy Metal, something I think should be explored more. It’s still awesome. Such is the magnitude of this album. Then back to the Heavy Blues feel that the first album created with “Fairies wear Boots” great riffage and a fitting way to to finish off the album.
What more can be said about this album. While the album “Black Sabbath” started heavy metal off as a genre, this is the THE album that provided the blue print for the movement and the countless bands that followed in its wake. It is an album that will be remembered forever by metalheds everywhere.For this review I’ve chosen to link to the bands official stream of the album which obviously includes the album but also alternate versions of the songs (some instrumentals and versions of the songs with different lyrcis etc.) which I hope you enjoy!
For more great articles on heavy metal be sure to keep checking back on Metalhed.com as often as you can!