As I write this Black Sabbath have (well I hope they did) finished their last ever live set in England. While I couldn’t be there for it, I thought I’d have a couple of drinks in their honour and listen to this masterpiece from the safety of my lounge. I make no secret that Black Sabbath have been a huge influence in my life. Black Sabbath Master of Reality is my favourite of their releases. We can all argue about which one of their albums is the best but we’re just arguing about differing shades of brilliance. This is my fave. I don’t know why, It just is.
The album, released in 1971 and featuring a new and improved recording budget, thanks to the success of Paranoid, opens up with “Sweet Leaf” the bands homage to a certain green herb they’ve spent a lot of years smoking. One of the greatest riffs ever written here. The song is heavy, punchy and groovy and has that Sabbath groove to it. Probably the perfect way to open up this album. The metal-ness continues in fine form. It picks up nicely from where their last album “Paranoid” left off. “After Forever” is next off the rank with the superb riffage flowing freely. I don’t find this album to be particularly heavier than Paranoid, or even better written but I like it better. More coherent songs perhaps, or just something that resonates with me personally. From a guitar playing point of view it’s also important to note that this is where the band started to tune their guitars down to get a deeper and heavier sound. Normally guitars are tuned to an E, where I’m pretty sure this was tuned down three notes to a C sharp.
We’re now a few songs into it, and Tony Iommi’s solos and riffs are as brilliant as ever, Geez’s bass playing is prominent and sets a granite heavy foundation for everything to sit on and Ozzy’s voice is just brilliant. A brief interlude on guitar “Embryo” follows and then the absolutely crushing song “, Children of the Grave“. This is pure heavy metal bliss. No other way to describe it.
Flipping the record over we have another short interlude with “Orchid” and into “Lord of this World” where the brilliance continues. The big stoner grooves continue on in great style. The Amazing ballad, if you would call it that, ““Solitude” follows up next. This is a haunting song showing both Tony’s versatility on guitar and I’m assuming Geezers skill at writing some very thoughtful lyrics. Finally the 35 minute journey is rounded off by “Into the Void“. Epic riffage to close off the album. I hear the album wasn’t as well received by critics at the time, but as with most things only the great survive and this one as gone on to be regarded as one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Pure Brilliance from start to finish.
Again this is one of those albums I think every metalhed should have in their collection. Regardless of what genre you prefere, this is a foundation album and you really need to hear it. I cannot stress this enough.
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