MASTER OF REALITY

This was my favourite SABBATH album when I was young. I suppose that was because it was so heavy and straightforward. I guess that's why it's not rated nearly as high as I think it should be on this site, because this is a Prog site. I still rate it as a masterpiece just like "Paranoid". I remember a number of years ago my brother in law (who has played lead guitar in some local bands, and is a huge IRON MAIDEN fan) being at a family Christmas get-together with at that time his new girl friend who was a Metal fan herself. He out of the blue says to me "Johnny ! What's SABBATH's best album ?" I said "Master Of Reality". He turns to his girfriend and says "See ! Everyone who knows SABBATH knows "Master Of Reality" is their best." I thought it was funny at the time because I didn't think he would agree with me. Most say "Paranoid".

"Sweet Leaf" is an ode to weed, a love song to Maryjane. I should have had shares in that company. Anyway it opens with that most famous of coughs before Iommi delivers one of his huge riffs, Ozzy then shouts "Alright now ! Won't you listen ?" I really love the sound of Ward's drums on this one. The song picks up the pace 2 1/2 minutes in as Iommi shows he can shred with the best of them. Check Ward out 3 minutes in. "After Forever" is my favourite SABBATH song. It could have been written by a Christian band, yet the music is dark and heavy. I'd love to write down the lyrics of the whole song here because they are that meaningful. Butler shines on this one all the way through. This is so catchy, and the instrumental sections when Ozzy isn't singing are so uplifting thanks to Iommi's guitar tone. The guy is truly brilliant. It opens and closes with what sounds like synths. Check out the lyrics though, like "Is God just a thought within your head or is he part of you ? Is Christ just a name that you read in a book when you were at school." And "Could it be you're afraid of what your friends might say if they knew you believe in God above.They should realize before they criticise that God is the only way to love."

"Embryo" is a very short instrumental before we get into "Children Of The Grave". Listen to the way this one builds in the intro. And check out the percussion throughout. This one can't be played loud enough in my opinion. I like the way it slows down briefly and at the same time gets heavier. An absolute shred-fest from Iommi. It ends ominously with the whispered words "Children of the grave" spoken 3 times. "Orchid" is almost Hackett-like. Another short acoustic instrumental, this one is beautiful. "Lord Of This World" opens with a great heavy sound. This one gets better as it plays out. Metal fills the air 2 1/2 minutes in. Ward is impressive as well. I like the rhythm of this song. "Solitude" is another song besides "After Forever" that surprises me lyrically. I really like this song with it's heart felt lyrics and added flute. On each of their first three albums they have had a mellow track. "Sleeping Village" on their debut, and "Planet Caravan" on "Paranoid". The album ends with "Into The Void".It opens with these slow and heavy riffs. It picks up though before the song takes off after 3 minutes. Giutars come crashing in 5 1/2 minutes. Ozzy's vocals are hypnotic, almost mechanical most of the time.

I really like to compare LED ZEPPELIN to BLACK SABBATH in their early years. Not musically necessarily, but putting album against album. After their first three records I would give SABBATH the edge, although it would be pretty even after four albums in my opinion.