Black Sabbath – Master of Reality – 1971
Is Master of Reality really just Paranoid Part 2? Sure. Why mess with success? In fact, what’s more interesting to me is that Iommi had hurt his hand before recording this record so he just tuned his guitar down a notch and played everything that way. Butler followed suit and the result was a record even more sludgier, murkier and denser than the others. And sort of brilliant all at the same time.
There are tracks like the brief “Embryo” and “Orchid” and “Solitude” that are actually quite beautiful, while others, like “Children of the Grave” are downright terrifying. And Iommi’s shredding is nothing short of pre-Randy Rhode-ian genius. One listen to “Lord of this World” and just about everything Josh Homme’s been about for the past 10 years makes sense. And he owes Sabbath some royalty checks.
However, I should say that, at this point the Sabbath tricks and licks are getting tired. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe 3 albums in a row is overkill, but that’s the whole point of the LPs.
For now, they, um, what do the kids say, rule? Sure.
MoR is as good as the last.
Grade: A
ASide: Sweet Leaf
BlindSide: Children of the Grave, Orchid, Solitude
