(Classic Metal) Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Mr. Squeegee · 11-16-2003, 11:31 AM

Black Sabbath's second studio album has become a heavy metal classic since its release in late 1970. Although Steppenwolf arguably invented the genre in its 1968 hit Born To Be Wild, it was Black Sabbath who would become to be known as the godfathers of metal, perhaps along with Deep Purple.

The follow-up release to their mildly successful debut album proved to be their best-selling work, peaking at number 1 in the United Kingdom and number 12 in the United States even though it got close to no airplay. It's ironic that Iron Man and Paranoid (the song) are played today on mainstream rock stations over 30 years after their release.

1. War Pigs/Luke's Wall (7:55) - I consider this to be the band's best song. Written as a protest against politicians' emotional removal from war matters, it opens with a sludgy power-blues intro before changing tempo and heading into the first verse with drummer Bill Ward's hi-hat as the only instrument that can be constantly heard. The verse ends, giving way to a power chord riff in which the drums take the lead that will occur throughout the song. Two verses crunch by with a great metal groove before heading into one of guitarist Tony Iommi's trademark dueling-overdub solos. Ozzy gets one more quiet verse before the song slows down even more for a great minor-seventh riff that Iommi uses to bookend the second solo/outro riff. The song ends by accelerating both the speed and pitch of the minor-seventh riff before an all-too-abrupt halt to the perfect Black Sabbath song.

2. Paranoid (2:50) - Even though the band itself admitted that this was just a filler track, it has nevertheless become the most commonly played Sabbath song. It's a very straightforward song that uses only a few power chords to back up Ozzy's tale of a person who can't enjoy life.

3. Planet Caravan (4:30) - The band throws in a quiet track here. Ozzy sings a laid-back melody through an underwater effect over Iommi's jazzy guitar and Ward's bongos. The song ends with a long jazz-type solo.

4. Iron Man (6:00) - Even though Paranoid is likely played more, this is probably the band's most recognizable song. It opens with Ward's thumping bass drum and adds the rest of the band before launching into the famous main riff, which is done alternately by Iommi and Osbourne. The song goes into and out of a double-time guitar solo before the outro, in which Iommi and Ward compete for attention.

5. Electric Funeral (4:50) - This song features a harsh wah-wah riff and Ozzy's over-the-top lyrics about nuclear apocalypse. The song has yet another double-time bridge and solo before going back to the main riff and fading out.

6. Hand of Doom (7:10) - This is one of the coolest songs ever. Geezer's creepy bass riff and Ward's quiet yet forceful drumming back up Ozzy's moaning vocals about heroin addiction before Iommi turns up his guitar to back up the bass riff. The song changes tempo in the middle for more great riffs and another double-time solo before one last verse. The song ends as it begins, with the bass riff fading out after the final line "now you're gonna die."

7. Rat Salad (2:30) - It's a drum solo in the same format as Led Zeppelin's Moby Dick.

8. Jack the Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots (6:15) - Fantastic song with countless great riffs, tempo changes, cool solos, etc. The lyrics are pretty funny if you listen to them too

Bottom line: I give it 5 stars. If you like or wish to get into metal, Black Sabbath, and/or early '70s rock music, get this album. It's a classic

And if anyone feels like doing a better review, please do. I'm just trying to bring attention to one of my personal favorites

guitar_face · 11-21-2003, 02:03 AM

nice review, i should be getting the cd in a couple'a days

BirdsOfFires · 11-21-2003, 12:17 PM

Meh. I still like S/T better. The Wizard pwns all.

mexicanfloydian · 06-22-2004, 12:20 PM

This is an excellent album, easily a 5/5.
I prefer this one than s/t.

Badmoon · 06-22-2004, 05:13 PM

I prefer Master of Reality overall them all.

Five Magics · 06-22-2004, 11:12 PM

Paranoid is their best album, and i agree war pigs is the best song

ieatalotoftacos · 07-02-2004, 12:40 AM

I would definitely agree that this is their best album. Not as long as would like it to be, but all the songs are great, so meh, I'll stop complaining.

HaveACigar2502 · 07-03-2004, 02:26 PM

I don't think this is their best album. Well ya there are a couple of good songs but its not great. When I think of a great album, I think of almost all the songs being good. For Example: Pink Floyd-Dark Side Of THe Moon

07-11-2004, 04:51 AM

sabbath's best, no doubt. Master of Reality is also good, but too heavy-meat for me. This is darker and full of classics. And war pigs is their best song.
Very good review

mike88564 · 07-19-2004, 08:47 AM

nice review, but you should have rated each track really, and i would have to disagree by saying that black sabbath, master reality AND sabbath bloody sabbath are better than this album. And uhh laranra? What are you on about? master of reality is much darker than this, but i could agree with you when you say that war pigs is their best song. maybe it is.

Woodstock · 08-17-2004, 08:26 PM

good review

one of my fav albums
fairies do wear boots

08-18-2004, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badmoon349

I prefer Master of Reality overall them all.

I still have to buy that album (can't find it anywhere lately), but I love Into the Void and After Forever.

Nice review, Paranoid is a must-have album for anyone who calls themself a hard rock or metal fan. As far as the best Sabbath album goes, it's a little too close to call for me, but Paranoid is pretty definitive of classic Sabbath, and a perfect introductory album.

sadisticmonkey · 08-18-2004, 07:50 AM

I think David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" should get some mention when talking about pioneers of Metal...

Paranoid is Sabbath's masterpiece

HA! · 08-18-2004, 09:21 AM

One of black sabbaths best for sure

folton · 08-18-2004, 11:40 AM

it is indeed a great album. and good review. as far as their best album... i cant decide they are just so many great ones by sabbath

Joel_DK_Clash · 08-18-2004, 11:47 AM

Good review, I like S/T better and volume 4 the same as Paranoid.

Vietnow · 08-24-2004, 01:30 AM

This is one of my Favourites. I absolulty love the blusey-ness of the guitar in "Planet Caravan." I also like the drumming in "Rat Salad.".. Whenever I recommend someone a Sabbath album, this is it. This cd has a wider variety of sounds, and such. I would say this album, S/T and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath are my favourite Cds.

Leper-Messiah · 08-24-2004, 04:53 PM

my first and only sabbath album

its awsome

highly recommended I LUV IT

08-25-2004, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vietnow

This is one of my Favourites. I absolulty love the blusey-ness of the guitar in "Planet Caravan."

As the reviewer also noted, I always felt the quality was much more jazzy, but yeah, it rocks. It always makes me think of the Doors.

HendrixSantana · 08-25-2004, 05:47 PM

the only sabbath albums i have are this one and the S/T one.... I'd have to say the s/t is better cause it's perfect material all the way through, unlike paranoid. I mean, come on, theres a certain amount of times one can hear electric funeral in their lifetime. that's just the peak of cheesiness.

11-16-2003, 11:31 AM	#1
Mr. Squeegee Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,020	(Classic Metal) Black Sabbath - Paranoid Black Sabbath's second studio album has become a heavy metal classic since its release in late 1970. Although Steppenwolf arguably invented the genre in its 1968 hit Born To Be Wild, it was Black Sabbath who would become to be known as the godfathers of metal, perhaps along with Deep Purple. The follow-up release to their mildly successful debut album proved to be their best-selling work, peaking at number 1 in the United Kingdom and number 12 in the United States even though it got close to no airplay. It's ironic that Iron Man and Paranoid (the song) are played today on mainstream rock stations over 30 years after their release. 1. War Pigs/Luke's Wall (7:55) - I consider this to be the band's best song. Written as a protest against politicians' emotional removal from war matters, it opens with a sludgy power-blues intro before changing tempo and heading into the first verse with drummer Bill Ward's hi-hat as the only instrument that can be constantly heard. The verse ends, giving way to a power chord riff in which the drums take the lead that will occur throughout the song. Two verses crunch by with a great metal groove before heading into one of guitarist Tony Iommi's trademark dueling-overdub solos. Ozzy gets one more quiet verse before the song slows down even more for a great minor-seventh riff that Iommi uses to bookend the second solo/outro riff. The song ends by accelerating both the speed and pitch of the minor-seventh riff before an all-too-abrupt halt to the perfect Black Sabbath song. 2. Paranoid (2:50) - Even though the band itself admitted that this was just a filler track, it has nevertheless become the most commonly played Sabbath song. It's a very straightforward song that uses only a few power chords to back up Ozzy's tale of a person who can't enjoy life. 3. Planet Caravan (4:30) - The band throws in a quiet track here. Ozzy sings a laid-back melody through an underwater effect over Iommi's jazzy guitar and Ward's bongos. The song ends with a long jazz-type solo. 4. Iron Man (6:00) - Even though Paranoid is likely played more, this is probably the band's most recognizable song. It opens with Ward's thumping bass drum and adds the rest of the band before launching into the famous main riff, which is done alternately by Iommi and Osbourne. The song goes into and out of a double-time guitar solo before the outro, in which Iommi and Ward compete for attention. 5. Electric Funeral (4:50) - This song features a harsh wah-wah riff and Ozzy's over-the-top lyrics about nuclear apocalypse. The song has yet another double-time bridge and solo before going back to the main riff and fading out. 6. Hand of Doom (7:10) - This is one of the coolest songs ever. Geezer's creepy bass riff and Ward's quiet yet forceful drumming back up Ozzy's moaning vocals about heroin addiction before Iommi turns up his guitar to back up the bass riff. The song changes tempo in the middle for more great riffs and another double-time solo before one last verse. The song ends as it begins, with the bass riff fading out after the final line "now you're gonna die." 7. Rat Salad (2:30) - It's a drum solo in the same format as Led Zeppelin's Moby Dick. 8. Jack the Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots (6:15) - Fantastic song with countless great riffs, tempo changes, cool solos, etc. The lyrics are pretty funny if you listen to them too Bottom line: I give it 5 stars. If you like or wish to get into metal, Black Sabbath, and/or early '70s rock music, get this album. It's a classic And if anyone feels like doing a better review, please do. I'm just trying to bring attention to one of my personal favorites Last edited by Mr. Squeegee; 11-16-2003 at 11:35 AM.

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11-21-2003, 02:03 AM	#2
guitar_face Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 2,057	nice review, i should be getting the cd in a couple'a days

11-21-2003, 12:17 PM	#3
BirdsOfFires For Percussive Effect Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Vote for the Green or Social Liberal Parties in the upcoming MX election. Posts: 1,592	Meh. I still like S/T better. The Wizard pwns all.

06-22-2004, 12:20 PM	#4
mexicanfloydian Welcome to the machine Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Chihuahua, Mexico Posts: 1,181	This is an excellent album, easily a 5/5. I prefer this one than s/t.

06-22-2004, 05:13 PM	#5
Badmoon drink up me hardys yo ho! Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southwest Chicagoland area Posts: 15,622	I prefer Master of Reality overall them all.

06-22-2004, 11:12 PM	#6
Five Magics "Fxckin screwball ya" Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 585	Paranoid is their best album, and i agree war pigs is the best song

07-02-2004, 12:40 AM	#7
ieatalotoftacos pretentious prick Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Go to school in Milwaukee Posts: 1,120	I would definitely agree that this is their best album. Not as long as would like it to be, but all the songs are great, so meh, I'll stop complaining.

07-03-2004, 02:26 PM	#8
HaveACigar2502 Shine On Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Hamden, CT Posts: 103	I don't think this is their best album. Well ya there are a couple of good songs but its not great. When I think of a great album, I think of almost all the songs being good. For Example: Pink Floyd-Dark Side Of THe Moon

07-11-2004, 04:51 AM	#9
laranra Guest Posts: n/a	sabbath's best, no doubt. Master of Reality is also good, but too heavy-meat for me. This is darker and full of classics. And war pigs is their best song. Very good review

07-19-2004, 08:47 AM	#10
mike88564 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 77	nice review, but you should have rated each track really, and i would have to disagree by saying that black sabbath, master reality AND sabbath bloody sabbath are better than this album. And uhh laranra? What are you on about? master of reality is much darker than this, but i could agree with you when you say that war pigs is their best song. maybe it is.

08-17-2004, 08:26 PM	#11
Woodstock Clud Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 6,066	good review one of my fav albums fairies do wear boots

08-18-2004, 07:50 AM	#13
sadisticmonkey Rrrronkey Conkey CONK! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: In your soup! Posts: 6,785	I think David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" should get some mention when talking about pioneers of Metal... Paranoid is Sabbath's masterpiece

08-18-2004, 09:21 AM	#14
HA! HA! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 43	One of black sabbaths best for sure

08-18-2004, 11:40 AM	#15
folton Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 181	it is indeed a great album. and good review. as far as their best album... i cant decide they are just so many great ones by sabbath

08-18-2004, 11:47 AM	#16
Joel_DK_Clash Walking The Plank... Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: P.E.I., Canada Posts: 566	Good review, I like S/T better and volume 4 the same as Paranoid.

08-24-2004, 01:30 AM	#17
Vietnow Nagasaki Wetdreams Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chatham, Ontario Posts: 2,420	This is one of my Favourites. I absolulty love the blusey-ness of the guitar in "Planet Caravan." I also like the drumming in "Rat Salad.".. Whenever I recommend someone a Sabbath album, this is it. This cd has a wider variety of sounds, and such. I would say this album, S/T and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath are my favourite Cds.

08-24-2004, 04:53 PM	#18
Leper-Messiah MetalFan Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1	my first and only sabbath album its awsome highly recommended I LUV IT

08-25-2004, 05:47 PM	#20
HendrixSantana Music=Life Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: somewhere Posts: 141	the only sabbath albums i have are this one and the S/T one.... I'd have to say the s/t is better cause it's perfect material all the way through, unlike paranoid. I mean, come on, theres a certain amount of times one can hear electric funeral in their lifetime. that's just the peak of cheesiness.