Paranoid
by Black Sabbath

This is essential listening not only for the metal genre but for music in general as its importance in history is huge. The influence this album had is massive and it has the quality to back it up as well. Musically, it still sounds so fresh and exciting with side 1 being one of the strongest sides of music the metal genre has ever seen. To have War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man on one half of a record makes it seem like this is a greatest hit compilation rather than an album. There is a slight drop off in the second half but it is no way near as large as you expect with Electric Funeral and Fairies Wear Boots being absolute classics for the group. The instrumentation on here is simply phenomenal as well with every member of the group shining at one point or the other. As a result of this we get a heavy and cohesive sound that is a joy to experience. Ozzy Osbourne's vocal is extremely impressive on here also as he showcases why he is considered one of the greatest of all time. Overall, this is Black Sabbath's strongest release as it is the most consistent and has some of the greatest instrumental moments they have ever produced. (Edited)

Without doubt, one of the greatest albums ever made. (Edited)

War Pigs has to be the best opener to a metal album I have ever heard. (Edited)

From souplipton 06/15/2016 23:21 | #168854 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I'm not a huge fan of heavy metal, but this album is just plain great music irrelevant of genre. Black Sabbath's second album (the first was also released in 1970) features one of the best side's of music ever, featuring "War Pigs", "Iron Man", and the stellar title track, along with "Planet Caravan", on side A. Side B is very good as well, with "Hand of Doom" and "Fairies Wear Boots" being the standout cuts. It's not able to stand up to the first half of the album, but still very good, and that it keeps the album around the top 50. Possibly the greatest heavy metal album ever.

From ilovelctr 09/18/2014 11:41 | #122161 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

For me it's better than most of today's so-called metal masterpieces because of its intensive focus on melodies, i.e. the musical content. Conversely, more attention is paid to fierce growling or lousy noise (really lousy at times in the most sensible way) among nowadays' metal works.

I do believe that the tendency in "darkening" metal music is a major contributor to the larger amount of noise and less musical beauty nowadays, but please... this is not a hierarchical development in fact. And music will fail to convey the darkness if it loses its temperament, because by and large, certain unnecessary crazy production only lets the audience think you sound hilarious and mentally disorderly. Once the melodic charisma is rid of, music doesn't appeal that much.

That said, Ozzy's really a great singer who attained a dark vibe via a graceful conduct of his vocal, captivating listeners' minds without annoyance. Also great are the other members of the band, Geezer Butler's dark-fantasy-style lyrics, and their instrumentation. And this is why it sounds timeless and idiosyncratic. (Edited)