Thoughts on Master of Reality

They peaked with Masters....their first three albums solidified their sound; everything after is too cluttered, too noisy or playing away from their strengths.  Vol. 4 is listenable but Never Say Die and especially Technical Ecstasy find the band forcing, not forging, a new sound.

I actually don't think Master of Reality is their best album. My vote is for Paranoid. 

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote:   Some poeple seem to have a problem with the production of some of `Master', I noticed some tracks are almost like demos, others have a much fuller sound. I've argued endlessly with a friend about this over the years, saying he can't stand the album because of the sound quality, I say the rougher stuff gives the album it's identity and more of a `stoner rock' sound?

sagichim wrote: I never knew so many people didn't like Sweat Leaf, I always considered MOR to be a great album with no weak moments especially not the opener. I love this album it presents Sabbath at their heaviest. I wouldn't say it's their best but I always thought it was better than Vol. 4 which always seemed uneven in sound quality, some tracks sound good but others sound horrible( Cornucopia, Under The Sun). I might be a minority around here but I always liked Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die better than those two as classic as they are.I cant' get enough of that Vol. 4 first minute opener....tiniiiiiiii ti ti ti tiiiiiiiiii wi wiiiiiii ti tininininini < guitar solo

Blasphemy!! Cornucopia and Under the Sun are among my absolute faves from that album. I especially adore the convoluted nature of Cornucopia's riff. May just be the most confused in all of rock. Yummy!

^ I have to agree that Vol.4 is the heavier album but MOR is a fine album and much improved from Paranoid IMO. 

I never knew so many people didn't like Sweat Leaf, I always considered MOR to be a great album with no weak moments especially not the opener. I love this album it presents Sabbath at their heaviest. I wouldn't say it's their best but I always thought it was better than Vol. 4 which always seemed uneven in sound quality, some tracks sound good but others sound horrible( Cornucopia, Under The Sun). I might be a minority around here but I always liked Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die better than those two as classic as they are.

I cant' get enough of that Vol. 4 first minute opener....tiniiiiiiii ti ti ti tiiiiiiiiii wi wiiiiiii ti tininininini < guitar solo

I think the s/t will always be their greatest simply because of the impact it had and how many future styles of metal it influenced. But I really love all the early Sabbath albums, classic band without a doubt.

a friend and i have also wondered what would have happened if Sabbath became a psych rock band. They certainly could capture very nice stoned atmospheres with songs like Planet Caravan...


Edited by Sumdeus - October 26 2012 at 04:24

Master of Reality is my favourite album from the Ozzy era (along with Sabbath Bloody Sabbath which is a bit more proggy and melodic), but the best overall is Heaven and Hell

Love this album but I definitely like Sabotage a lot more than this.  

Probably their most revolutionary in terms of sound.  Along with Raw Power (Iggy & The Stooges) and Red (King Crimson), it sounds like it could have been made recently.

It also happens to be my second favorite of the "Classic six" (right behind Paranoid).

On a related note, here's a review of the album from everyone's favorite hack critic, Robert Christgau:

As an increasingly regretful spearhead of the great Grand Funk switch, in which critics redefined GFR as a 1971 good old-fashioned rock and roll band even though I've never met a critic (myself included) who actually played the records, I feel entitled to put this in its place. Grand Funk is like an American white blues band of three years ago--dull. Black Sabbath is English--dull and decadent. I don't care how many rebels and incipient groovies are buying. I don't even care if the band members believe in their own Christian/satanist/liberal murk. This is a dim-witted, amoral exploitation.
Rating: C-