PARANOID

Black Sabbath´s second album Paranoid is one of the biggest classics in heavy metal history. I wouldn´t consider Paranoid to be a progressive rock album, but the inclusion here on Prog Archieves is fully deserved as they are the creators of a new genre and therefore in nature very progressive.I´ll rank Paranoid up there with other classic metal and hard rock albums like Iron Maiden´s The Number of the Beast, Metallica´s Black Album and AC/DC´s Back in Black. Albums nearly every heavy metal fan has in their collection. Kind of evergreens when talking heavy metal. Paranoid was just the first evergreen album in the genre.

Black Sabbath has developed and refined the style of music they started on their debut album. Power chord guitar riff based music with a powerful rythm section and a distinct vocalist in Ozzy Osbourne. The songs on Paranoid are all heavy metal evergreens. They have been covered by nearly every metal band out there.

The album starts with the doom laden intro to War Pigs. The pace is fastened after the intro though and we have one of the most classic breaks ever in a song with Bill Ward´s hi-hat the only thing playing. When Ozzy starts to sing all hell breaks loose. It´s just such a great song and the anti-war lyrics are of course very symphatic even though they are a bit naive.

Paranoid is the next song and the fastest song here. A great classic heavy metal tune that I never get tired of. The lyrics deal with paranoia and is an early example of a favorite lyrical theme in heavy metal.

Planet Caravan is a really mellow psychadelic song. Ozzy´s voice is distorted and sounds very stoned. This is a perfect variation from the more heavier tunes on the album.

Iron Man might have the most recognizable guitar riff in history ( the only competition is the riff from Deep Purple´s Smoke on the Water IMO). Again Ozzy´s vocals are distorted when he starts the song in a robotic voice. Great song and a perfect end to side 1 of the original LP.

Side 2 starts with Electric Funeral which is a really doomy song that has kind of a heavy funk section in the middle. The vocal lines are very simple but commanding at the same time. I really enjoy this song.

Hand of Doom is a great song too, with lots of heavy guitars and lyrics about heroin abuse. Kind of funny when you think about the drug abuse many of the members would later become the victim of.

Rat Salad is a short instrumental which serves as a vehicle for a Bill Ward drum solo in the middle. A nice little tune.

Fairies Wear Boots is a personal favorite of mine. Very melodic and with some great lyrics about pot smoking and the experiences you can have while being stoned.

The sound quality is very good. It´s a very powerful production. The music is not very complex though and it shouldn´t be to difficult to make a good production here.

The musicians are all good. Toni Iommi´s guitar riffs and solos are all classic material and the rythm section of Geezer Butler and Bill Ward are very strong. Ozzy isn´t the most gifted vocalist ever, but his delivery is distinct and powerful. It´s all delivered in a kind of casual sloppy fasion that suits the compositions very well.

To me this is a sure 5 star album. The significance of Paranoid can´t be measured it´s too big. This is wonderful music and instantly recognizable.A true classic. When the only thing I can complain about is the extremely ugly cover there is nothing to keep me from giving Paranoid 5 stars.