Paranoid

How did I forget how good this is? 100% the best album on the list. I won't even try to describe the music, I'm sure there are volumes written about it. A lot of the time when we say an album is a classic, it's more of a historical marker in the development of the genre, so a person not familiar with the classic status probably wouldn't be able to pick it out of a selection of just really good albums in a similar vain. Also, they would probably prefer to listen to the more contemporary iteration of the style. Not in this case - Black Sabbath are truly in a league of their own, and always will be - metal hasn't gotten "better" since then, just different.

5/5

4* 88*

One of the greatest albums ever in the entire history of the world.

Das zweite Studioalbum der britischen Rockband Black Sabbath, das 1970 veröffentlicht wurde. Es wurde in den Regent Sound Studios in London aufgenommen und von Rodger Bain produziert. Die Band, bestehend aus Ozzy Osbourne (Gesang), Tony Iommi (Gitarre), Geezer Butler (Bass) und Bill Ward (Schlagzeug), wurde mit diesem Album zu einer Schlüsselfigur im Genre des Heavy Metal. Das Album selbst vereint Elemente des Hard Rock mit dunklen und mystischen Themen, die später zu Markenzeichen des Metal-Genres werden sollten. Besonders hervorzuheben ist der Titelsong „Paranoid“, der zu einem ihrer bekanntesten Stücke zählt. Weitere bemerkenswerte Songs auf dem Album sind „Iron Man“ und „Fairies Wear Boots“. Diese Tracks sind nicht nur musikalisch prägend, sondern auch inhaltlich prägnant, da sie oft düstere, gesellschaftskritische Themen behandeln. Musikalisch lässt sich Paranoid dem Heavy Metal zuordnen, wobei auch Elemente des Psychedelic Rock und Blues zu erkennen sind. Die verzerrten Gitarrenriffs, der treibende Schlagzeugrhythmus und Osbournes markante Gesangslinie gaben der Band einen einzigartigen Sound, der sie von anderen Rockbands der Zeit abhob. Zusammenfassend lässt sich sagen, dass Paranoid ein wichtiges Werk der Rockgeschichte darstellt. Es trug nicht nur maßgeblich zur Entwicklung des Heavy Metal bei, sondern bleibt auch heute noch ein Eckpfeiler des Genres. Das Album ist ein Klassiker, der die musikalische Ausrichtung von Black Sabbath und den gesamten Heavy Metal maßgeblich prägte.

These mf' spittin "Son, Son you've gone too far, Cause smokin' and trippin' is all that you do YYEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH"

An excellent album from a group that helped create the metal genre.

On the self titled you could hear the blues base as it coalesced into a whole new genre. Here they transcend, making some approaching denovo shit. All the classics are on here, love the tumbling drum bits breaking up the high hat pulse in war pigs. Ozzy and the boys find their voice in spectacular fashion.

Such an album. From my yoof to now I still love it. Not really any bad songs, and probably one of Sabbath's best. Very close to a 5.

Finally some classic albums that truly deserve to be on this list. But not something I'd seek out myself.

Esencial. Un gran disco de Rock, pero un pilar sobre el que el Metal se construyó

Esto era Heavy, muy Heavy y la verdad es que lo he oído más como Rock o Rock duro. Me ha gustado más de lo que pensaba. Me guardo: «War Pigs», «Paranoid» y «Iron Man». «Planet Caravan» también tiene su punto.

This album is just iconic. The kind of thing that makes you want to listen to more of an artists discography

Banging album!

Cool ig Paranoid was chill

7/10. Car music. Long drive music

Easy 5 star. Wall to wall bangers. An absolute classic!!

mid

Wow I have been missing out, this is quite solid stuff. 4/5, I enjoy the instrumental songs as well

Sounds really fun to play live

Right on!

Killer riffs. Every band member is embellishing, but never overplaying, and never coming out of sync. Ozzy’s voice is so unique and fits the music perfectly.

Duh.

A quintessential album from the pioneers of sludge and metal.

This was really great! The first four songs are sick— Paranoid is close to being my favorite, but War Pigs is amazing. Some days you just need to listen to hard rock and metal

War pigs is such a banger start to an album. The rest keeps up the energy

👍

Better than expected. 3.5*

All I can think of when I listen to this album is that commercial from the 80s to the tune of “Iron Man” about Santa: “Leave him cookies and beer. He’ll come to your house first next year.” Anyway, I mainly know this album because of my husband, but it still hasn’t really sunk in. 3/5?

Classic

Der Titelsong ist super. Der Rest war irgendwie langweilig. Schade, habe mehr erwartet.

Had some good ones but wasn't a huge fan of the album once again some songs are way too long.

Black sabbath more like light sabbath, that's soft War pigs is not bad

Their debut is a solid 5, and this, their second album, is even better. Classic riff after classic riff

This is one banger after another honestly. Not the genre of music I usually prefer but I enjoyed this. Listened to it a few times through.

Paranoid – Black Sabbath – 3.9/5 A solid album with a great vibe and well-paced songs—not too heavy, which makes it more enjoyable for me. I like it, but it’s not something I’d listen to every day. Definitely a classic with a strong atmosphere.

Good album.

Bit mid I’m not very into rock but it was fine

Better than expected

[4.5*]

Hard to believe this came out in 1970. Must have blown some minds and speakers. War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man on the same studio album doesn’t even seem real. Three of the hardest songs ever. Whole album rocks. Great lyrics too.

I know this album is great, its just not good for me.

First song already starts off heavy metal, slightly haunting with alarm sounds. Amazing start to an album, and very solid progression. Immersive. Second song starts really good, nostalgic and kickass. One of the best songs in the album. So short, yet so damn good. Third song starts off very immersive and spacious with Pink Floyd vibes. Easygoing and nice to listen to. Fourth song starts very heavy. Nostalgic, amazing, and badass! One of the best songs in the album. Progression makes the song better. Fifth song starts off amazing, doom and psychedelic guitars. Sounds epic and unique! Progression throughout the song becomes better. Sixth song starts off with nice vocals and becomes better when the guitars kick in. Song progression becomes better. Doom metal elements emerge at halfway of the song, then subsides and re-emerge again. Seventh song starts off nice, immersive, psychedelic and heavy. Overall, nice song. Eighth and last song starts fuzzy and psychedelic, really great intro. Song progression, as always like in the other songs becomes better. Buildup at halfway of the song was really great, and the shift to another melody. 9 out of 10 rating. 5 out of 5 stars.

7/10

Amazing album. I must admit I haven't listened to this in a while. It sounds as fresh as ever! Every track has something about it.

The perfect bridge between the 60s and 70s — hard rock and psychedelia giving way to metal, spritely fantasy turning into demonic nightmares, groovy collectivism becoming dissatisfied individualism.

Classique de chez classique! Black sabath arrive avec un deuxième album qui met place à une notoriété du groupe! Une ambiance rock ou riff de guitare électrique et ambiance américaine anti guerre viennent mettre la note tout au long de l’album. Ma chanson préférée je crois se place sur planet caravan, un style totalement antipode du reste de l’œuvre. Guitare, réverbères et tambourine s’unissent dans un titre qui s’accompagne bien autour d’un joint. A mentionné 10/10 pour le cover! Couleur superposition mettre l’accent sur les sons écliptiques des 8 chansons.

Where’s the 10/5 button?

Legendary album with tons of variety, from the groundbreaking doom of the opening track, to the numbingly mellow 'Planet Caravan'. A concise offering of 8 tracks that don't outstay their welcome; Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward all have amazing highlights throughout. Best Tracks: - War Pigs - Paranoid - Planet Caravan - Hand Of Doom Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 8.5/10

Didn’t listen to all of it but seemed oka

For some reason I always had in my mind Black Sabbath as a 90s band. This in 1970 seven zero is crazy. Thank you website for making me finally listen to this

Excellent. Never listened to the whole album but it is foundational to so much of the progressive rock & metal that I love from the 90s and 00s. Now in rotation

I know they get credit for initiating metal - that thematically, there wasn't much like it, and their riffs established something heavier than Zeppelin or Jeff Beck - but I can't help but feel they're magnitudes richer and more pleasurable than most metal, not merely b/c they came first, but b/c they're really another sort of thing entirely. They may sing of Iron Man, electric funerals, and hands of doom, but they can hardly be said to embrace the make believe, so realist is their ethos, whereas much metal as I see it is Halloween w/o recreation. For instance, this isn't fantasy, but portentous: 'Burning globe of obscene fire / Like electric funeral pyre.' And the riffing is an impossibly sustained adventure - so luxurious it's nearly unfair.

Not bad.

Ground breaking. 4.9/5

Av en eller annen grunn har jeg aldri tatt black Sabbath på alvor. Kanskje pga. The Osbournes. Men damn. Første halvdel er bangers med en Jammete paletecleanser som nr 3. Andre halvdel holder ikke samme nivå men er ikke dårlig av den grunn. Andre halvdel er også helt ukjent for meg. Produksjon er dritbra. Legendariske riff. Ozzy sin stemme funker godt til tross for at den er litt axl roseesque. Kan se for meg at det var mind blowing å poppe den lpen på spilleren i det tidlige 70-tall.

Rösk mig på midtsommarsknoppen! Trodde inte jag skulle gilla det här, men jävlar det er grymt til tider. Mycke mer groovy enn forventad!!

1. Paranoid 2. War pigs 3. Planet Caravan/hand of doom

Favorite Track: War Pigs

чуть веселее, но тоже хуйня

One of the first and best metal albums ever.

Some of my favorite rock tracks open this album. I love the energy, and even 55 years later you can tell that this sound was new.

Some classics on here. It feels like the start of something when they can't even play in time properly, but it's a lot of fun.

Masterpiece start to finish, the number of iconic hooks and riffs is incredible. Can’t pick out a favourite song but I’d forgotten how good Hand of Doom is 5/5

Great album, tailed off slightly otherwise may have been a 5

You might think you've heard Iron Man too many times in your life, but what you've actually heard too many times in your life is the first 30 seconds of Iron Man. The rest of it, I need to occasionally remind myself, is an absolute fucking masterpiece.

you can only trust yourself and at least this black sabbath album.

Fine, not a big fan

Goated album

Fifth grade music in the best sense

3 Iconic tracks unfortunately the rest are pretty forgettable

While it hosts a few of Black Sabbath's biggest hits, Paranoid feels like a sidestep from their debut than a true step forward. There is most definitely experimentation happening, but there are growing pains. Yes, "War Pigs", "Paranoid", and "Iron Man" are all here and are evidence of better songwriting, though, for me, their anthemic status lessens my enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, "War Pigs" and "Paranoid" are objectively amazing songs, but they are so engrained in culture that I hear them frequently whether I want to or not (commercials, sporting events, movies, etc.). As for "Iron Man", it fatigues me and always has. It and "Electric Funeral" both share the common flaw of being redundant to a fault. I don't mind a bit of repetition in my music. but neither song feels particularly inspired, and I am baffled at how it has achieved such longevity. The real treasure of Side A, is the haunting "Planet Caravan", which is so unlike anything Sabbath had done at this point. For me, the back half of the record shines. "Hand of Doom" is just as strong as "War Pigs", "Rat Salad" get almost jazzy at times and we get pretty awesome drum solo from Bill Ward, not to mention one of my all-time favorite Sabbath tracks "Jack the Stripper / Faeries Wear Boots" closes the record. Not Sabbath's strongest record, but a rock solid release.

After Black Sabbath more or less singlehandedly created Metal with their self-titled debut album; they refined the genre's vocabulary with Paranoid. Tony Iommi created riffs for the ages - Paranoid and Iron Man are both absolute classics that make this album's place on this list justified on their own. Bill Ward and Geezer Butler complemented this by being a very tight rhythm section. Meanwhile, Ozzy's singing was competent, but the melody-lines were mostly an affair of "just do whatever the guitar is doing and call it a day", and not all material on the album is of equal quality, proving that the genre still hat some way to. 3.5/5

Cool I guess

My memories of this album were pretty good but honestly, it sucks ass.

classic

Good album, the second or third song was a banger and sounded nothing like what I expect Black Sabbath to sound like

Fantastic album. War Pigs and Paranoid are some of the best songs ever written. This is metal I can understand and I think is pretty good.

Dit is zo één van die albums die je op max. volume afspeelt terwijl je aan het koken bent ofzo. Sorry buurman. 4.5

10/10. Absolute BEHEMOTH of a record and a masterpiece of original sound. You have to remember that Sabbath was making this noise in 1970. Metal wouldn't peak for another decade and who doesn't love the psychedelic blues influence on these numbers? I mean c'mon now if you rated this anything below a 4 star, I simply can never be your friend and hope that you can get to a doctor to check out whatever you've got going on inside of your messed up head. This is a masterpiece on all fronts and is one that I will blast on the way to dropping off my son at school with no remorse. Perfection.

It's crazy that this album came out in 1970 and was this hard. Warpigs is a wild album starter- the sirens make you feel like we're about to get into some shit. I've heard Ironman, Paranoid and Warpigs a million times, but never really listened. Ozzy was speaking some truth 50 years ago. Musically everything was awesome, I may have enjoyed the songs I've never heard more than the big three tracks. Is Ironman one of the most iconic guitar riffs ever?

Easy 5 stars. Great album that still holds up. Brutality’s cover of Electric Funeral and Pantera’s cover of Planet Caravan are both worth a listen.

Finally, a metal album. Praise be to Satan 🤘🏻🤘🏻. I have not listened to this album all the way through since my brother threw a party and my CD case went “missing” back in 99. Black Sabbath are the grand daddies of Metal, and I assume every 13 year old metal curious kid gets a copy of this at some point. So fucking good. Although admittedly pretty tame by today’s Metal standards, this thing still rocks. Everyone knows the hits, but I’m a sucker for Electric Funeral. This album was the soundtrack to many a Magic The Gathering game back in the day. I really should buy another copy.

A classic for sure. Side A is perfect. 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid', AND 'Iron Man'?!?! What else needs to be said? Black Sabbath must have blown people's minds in the 70's.

Дает сил и желание что либо делать

Ozzy's voice and lyrics remind me of Stimpy from Ren & Stimpy. He just sounds like someone who got dropped on his head as a child. Multiple times. Luckily the rest of the band carries... HARD! 3 bashes to the noggin with a wooden log out of 5

Odd this is the suggestion I get on the first day after Ozzy announces a Black Sabbath reunion/farewell tour. I grew up with access to all the music, I got my first record player when I was 5, Black Sabbath was a band I never gave a chance because of the name. In my mind they would be something else. I realized later that I had heard many Balck Sabbath songs throughout my life growing up, but didn't realize the artist did those songs I heard on the radio and in movies. Paranoid is an absolutely FANTASTIC album (and is one I had access to when I was younger, that I regret not listening to throughout the years.

This one actually slaps

Thoroughly enjoyed it. So many bangers! But the version that'll remain to be my favourite is still Nelson Muntz. I am iron man. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo vote for me.

Banging album

Prog metal

probably the quintessential metal album, at least from before the 90s. not sure whether to give it a 4 or a 5… don’t think it quite reaches that level of perfection for me

Listened to this while playing Lisboa. I lost hard, but had a great time, largely thanks to this album. Every time I hear the beginning riff of the album, I expect to hear Girl Talk's album...but this was still fantastic. So many solid songs. Not a perfect 5 for me, but pretty darn near close.

No need to talk, just listen.

So great!! I love this cover too... but yeah I specifically love their first two albums a lot, I think the emphasis on mood is so strong in the self-titled and this carries that over but with a grander scale. But then you still have tracks like Planet Caravan which is just such a great little venture into this quieter, spacier sound. Very very cool

So sick but feels more front door than their first 2 albums. Maybe that shouldn't be a bad thing but I'm a jerk so

Basically one of the 19 best albums of all time according to me ... its sooo epic and ozzy is soo stupid which I love about this band

Classic, but first half far exceeds second.

very good album!

Great album. 5

I went straight to my record player to listen because it was already queued up. This is a masterpiece and I will fight anyone who disagrees.

5 stars

ominous lyrics with themes of war, nuclear annihilation, and addiction. one of the most important albums in the history of heavy metal. highlights: “war pigs” “paranoid” “electric funeral”

This shit is legit.

It's good. I can see why it's considered a classic, but it's not something I would sit and listen to again in my own time. It's like there's something missing in the album, I can't really put my finger on it. Maybe it's the same-ness of every track, maybe it's the lack of energy I feel from a genre it's supposed to be full of it, but I grow bored with listening to it by the second half. They're great at what they do, don't misunderstand me, but it's not for me.

Black Sabbath’s *Paranoid* (1970) stands as a cornerstone of heavy metal, blending raw musical innovation with dystopian lyricism to create an album that remains culturally resonant over five decades later. While often hailed as the genre’s first true masterpiece, its strengths and flaws reveal a work that balances primal energy with thematic prescience, albeit with occasional unevenness. Below, we dissect the album’s lyrical depth, musical architecture, production choices, thematic weight, and enduring influence. --- ## Lyrical Themes: From War Pigs to Electric Funeral Lyricist Geezer Butler infused *Paranoid* with a grim worldview reflecting Cold War anxieties, mental health struggles, and ecological dread. **War Pigs** condemns political warmongering (“Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses”), framing war as a capitalist puppet show [2][7]. **Electric Funeral** envisions nuclear annihilation with apocalyptic imagery (“Robot minds of robot slaves / They lead them to atomic graves”), while **Hand of Doom** critiques heroin addiction through a soldier’s post-war spiral [7][9]. However, the album’s lyricism occasionally veers into camp. **Iron Man**’s sci-fi narrative (“Is he alive or dead? / Has he thoughts within his head?”) borders on B-movie theatrics, though its allegory for societal alienation redeems it [4][7]. Critics argue Butler’s blunt delivery lacks nuance [4], yet his working-class perspective—shaped by Birmingham’s industrial decay—lends authenticity. As noted in [3], “Black Sabbath didn’t need complex theory to understand their broken world.” --- ## Musical Architecture: Riffs That Shaped Metal Tony Iommi’s down-tuned guitar work redefined rock instrumentation. The **Paranoid** riff—a galloping, palm-muted groove—became a metal blueprint, its simplicity masking rhythmic sophistication [1][8]. **Iron Man**’s lumbering chromatic riff and **Electric Funeral**’s doom-laden chords established sludge and stoner metal DNA [7][9]. Even the instrumental **Rat Salad** showcases Bill Ward’s jazz-inflected drumming, though some dismiss it as filler [5][6]. The album’s dynamics contrast brutality with restraint. **Planet Caravan** floats on psychedelic congas and Ozzy Osbourne’s filtered vocals, while **Fairies Wear Boots** merges bluesy swagger with anti-fascist lyrics (“Telling me I had no right / To be walking down the street”) [7][9]. However, the pacing falters slightly; the abrupt shifts in **Hand of Doom** feel disjointed compared to the cohesive flow of later Sabbath works [7]. --- ## Production: Raw Power Over Polish Recorded in just four days, *Paranoid*’s lo-fi production emphasizes immediacy. The guitar tone—achieved via a Dallas-Arbiter Rangemaster treble booster and Laney amplifiers—bites with metallic clarity, while Ozzy’s vocals sit starkly in the mix, avoiding studio trickery [2][8]. This “warts-and-all” approach enhances the album’s urgency but reveals limitations: the muddy bass on **War Pigs** and thin snare sound on **Paranoid** reflect budget constraints [2][9]. Producer Rodger Bain’s minimalist ethos proved a double-edged sword. While avoiding overproduction preserved the band’s live energy [2], the rushed process led to inconsistencies. The title track was famously written in 20 minutes as a filler song, yet its chart success inadvertently typecast Sabbath as a “singles band” for casual listeners [8]. --- ## Thematic Resonance: Eternally Paranoid *Paranoid*’s themes of societal collapse and personal despair remain startlingly relevant. **War Pigs** mirrors modern military-industrial complexes, while **Electric Funeral** anticipates climate crisis rhetoric [2][3]. Mental health, then stigmatized, is explored unflinchingly in the title track’s depiction of isolation (“Can you help me occupy my brain?”) [2][7]. The album’s bleakness is tempered by dark humor. **Fairies Wear Boots** mocks violent skinheads, and **Iron Man**’s absurdity underscores its anti-hero narrative. This balance between gravitas and irreverence became a metal trademark [3][6]. --- ## Influence: The DNA of Heavy Music *Paranoid* codified metal’s sonic and ideological framework. Its impact spans: - **Genre Foundations**: Doom (via **Electric Funeral**), thrash (Slayer covered **Hand of Doom**), and stoner metal (Kyuss’s low-tuned dirges) [7][9]. - **Lyrical Blueprints**: Bands like Metallica and Megadeth adopted Butler’s war critiques, while grunge artists channeled his existential angst [3][6]. - **Cultural Reach**: **Iron Man**’s riff is taught in schools, and the album’s anti-establishment ethos inspired punk movements [2][9]. --- ### Pros vs. Cons | **Strengths** | **Weaknesses** | |-----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Revolutionary guitar tone and riffs [1][7] | Lyrical simplicity in tracks like *Iron Man* [4] | | Thematically timeless and politically bold [2][3] | *Rat Salad* feels underdeveloped [5][6] | | Raw, energetic production [2][8] | Inconsistent mixing quality [9] | | Diverse songwriting (doom, blues, psychedelia) [7][9] | Ozzy’s limited vocal range [4] | --- ## Conclusion *Paranoid* is less a flawless album than a seismic cultural artifact. Its rushed production and occasional lyrical missteps are overshadowed by revolutionary musicianship and thematic fearlessness. By marrying Iommi’s tectonic riffs with Butler’s dystopian poetry, Black Sabbath crafted a template for metal’s future—one where heaviness serves as both catharsis and critique. As Butler noted, “Substitute Vietnam with any current war, and the lyrics still stand up” [2]. In an era of perpetual crisis, *Paranoid*’s warning bells ring louder than ever.

Interesting sounds, hard death rock not my thing but I can see the attraction. Much yelling. 2.5/5

First? 4/5 Again? 4/5

easiest 5/5. in my top10 of all time.

Was familiar with the big three on this album, but really enjoyed the entire thing. Awesome musicianship across the board, nice production that doesn’t muddy the heaviness of the rock. Perfect length where it’s not too bad to listen a second time, great album!

Not into heavy metal so had low expectations but every song was unique and did interesting things. I do enjoy that Tony Iommi guitar

Classic album, classic songs. Really fun to listen to

This is the Black Sabbath album that belongs here.

I really enjoyed this album. I've heard many of the songs over the years, but not all. It was a great album.

Not bad

Enjoyed it. Much more musically diverse than I thought. Strong riffs also!

Enjoyed this more than the earlier Black Sabbath which probably to be expected since I think this is their most well known? Loved the title track but I prefer Cardigans cover of IronMan to the original.

Great opening salvo of tracks, gets a bit stale in the back half. Lyrically, up there with “The Skeletons”, a band I was in aged 11.

Is Black Sabbath underrated? They certainly were by me. Perhaps they just weren't fashionable when I was in high school, but their influence and talent for writing power cord riffs is perhaps un parallelled, and in evidence on 3 classics on this album; War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man. Their sound is so heavy, I don't know if the term Heavy Metal was coined for them but it shuld have been. What appeals to me is their NON-RRELIANCE on guitar and vocal histrionics, the musicianship is in service of the song. Sure the lyrics sometimes are sophomoric but that's a minor quibble. I even enjoy the "quiet" songs which have a depth and gravitas that is rare in this genre. A nearly perfect Heavy Metal album. 5 stars

This is crazy timing. A buddy asked me which I liked more, Paranoid or Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. I gotta go with SBS, but it’s damn close. This is a classic!

Excellent, familiar. Energy

I only just listened to this a few days ago after seeing Sabbaths farewell gig in Birmingham on the telly. It sounds as dark, heavy and fantastic as it did 40 odd years ago when I first heard it. Fabulous musicians who know how to play, I always thought Ozzy was the weakest link but I am so used to him now that it couldn’t be any one else! I saw Ozzy live a couple of times but never managed to see Sabbath.

Groupe et album connu. J'aime beaucoup cet album, mais comme je l'ai indiqué précédemment je préfère les albums avec RJ Dio. Donc celui ci n'hérites pas de la note maximale, mais pas loin ! => 4.5/5

as a fan of rock and metal in general, i loved it! and i've heard of black sabbath's other works already so it checks out, not my favourite but definitely worth the listen

It’s rock idk

I enjoyed the songs War Pigs and Hand of Doom. Classic goth rock sounds to my ear, but what do I know! I enjoyed the listen through but wouldn’t necessarily listen to the whole album again.

Classic metal album with cool guitar riffs and lyrics sadly still relevant today.

Här känner man iaf igen låtar. War pigs, paranoid osv. Iron man, klassiskt riff. Deras andra skiva, har alla bangers.

Very metal

Good. I liked planet caravan

Good but can't do a whole album of it. 3/5

Great album. The classics that I knew from Black Sabbath. Standouts: War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man, Electric Funeral, and Fairies Wear Boots.

Couple of recognizable songs. Not for me.

It is actually insane this came out in 1970. I feel like they basically invented metal out of the blue. Listening to the album as a whole you can hear the influences of the 60s bleed through, but it's like they had this vision, twisted the music of the time to their wills, and invented something completely new. Still sounds amazing, too. Definitely a classic.

Many bands would kill to have an album like Black Sabbath have atleast 5 like this in their catalog

1/16

One of the best things I've listened to on this list so far.

this album is totally frickin awesome

Side 1 is an easy 4/5. By the second half, it all blurs into one, with little to grab the attention. Fairies definitely wear boots though.

Riffs on riffs on riffs, over great drums. The lyrics are pretty corny these days, but I'm here for it. The opening salvo of War Pigs and Paranoid is hard to beat, and the reprieve of Planet Caravan is welcome before Iron Man completes one of the strongest side 1s I've heard. I was fully expecting it to drift off a bit after that, but side 2 is strong too

Minor key proto-metal blues rock. The foundation

Badass album. Great relistening to it while mowing. Obviously Ironman is a banger. All the songs are great including the more instrumental moments and has good contrast that make the louder parts hit harder

Classic rock. Really enjoyed

I actually enjoyed this album I think I have such a fear of heavy metal bc all I know of it is the more recent stuff but to me this is much more rock than anything else

Geezer Butler's bass tone. So good. He never got his due for that. His lyrics? Sure. But that tone...

My husband is stoked that I enjoyed this one.

Better than I expected. Particularly the strong opener (War Pigs). Standout Tracks: - War Pigs - Paranoid - Iron Man

Peak

Fucking hell, it's good Widely understood Children devil-warned Whole new genre spawned Tuning sounds amiss Lyrics look like this

5 star heavy album. What a statement. Geezer Butler created an entire ominous universe and use the most suited musicians to bring it to life. Punishing tracks that still manage to be catchy. Listening to this it isn’t a surprise this band spawned entire genres. 5s all around for songs, sound, band members, album cover. A goodun

GREAT ALBUM

The black sabbath album along with heaven and hell to listen to.

When I was 15, a school friend taped Queen's Greatest Hits for me, and on the spare room at the end of the cassette he included War Pigs, Paranoid and Iron Man. I played that tape incessantly and fell in love with those Sabbath tracks. I used to buy records from this weird UK catalogue printed on cigarette paper with 6 pt font lists of new (not secondhand) overstocked or deleted records from warehouses around Europe. The records were cheap, but they took about 3 months to arrive in Australia via sea mail. About one in three records would turn out not to be available, but what did turn up were like Portuguese pressings at substantial discount. I am sure that is where I bought my German pressing of Paranoid, still one of my favourite albums. Black Sabbath aren't great musicians, but they managed to turn their shortcomings into a whole new genre. You can hear them desperately trying to be Led Zeppelin, but it turns into their own thing through sheer hamfisted-ness. There are some classic tunes on here (War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man, Calm Caravan). But, as a fan of stoner rock and sludge metal, this is one of the seminal texts and all the tracks are worth a listen. The Rat Salad drum solo is a bit rubbish, but even that isn't too long, and everything else I find super fun, rockin' and charming in its own way. I mean, it's all as dumb as a box of hammers and Lester Bangs wasn't far off the mark when he described them as "unskilled laborers... just like Cream! But worse!" But I also agree with Charles Shaar Murray (review of Hammersmith Odeon show, NME, 1976) that the key to enjoying Sabbath is to listen to them REALLY LOUD! I find Black Sabbath really fun; they rock hard and get me all worked up whenever I listen to them (especially if it is REALLY LOUD!!). I also refer to Henry Rollins' spoken word piece titled 'The Virtues of Black Sabbath' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ovATokHcqw) as uses Iron Man as an example of why Sabbath is awesome (short version; because rejection sucks and AAAARRRGH!) Five stars, perfect. Wouldn't change a note! I even like the famously shit cover.

I’ve never listened to this album as a whole and it’s phenomenal. Planet caravan took me for a ride . . .

Un clasico

Banger

Heavy metal was never as fun as on this record. All killer no filler. Is one of those few albums in which each song gave birth to a whole sub-genre.

Hand of Doom and especially Rat Salad are a bit weaker than the rest, but overall an absolute classic.

★★★½

Ozzy at his super power height.

Despite becoming familiar with Black Sabbath slowly through the likes of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, I have found myself really liking this album. I knew the songs in the first half (although didn't realise Planet Caravan was a Black Sabbath song as I knew it through Pantera's cover). Absolutely solid album. Rating: 4

I listened to this album twice-my first Black Sabbath album! I like the tempo shifts and the overall vibe and songs on this album. That said, I never particularly cared for Iron Man (possibly overplayed?), but it is still a solid and delightful mash up of blues, hard rock, and Proto-metal. I’d give it a 4.5 if I could, but will likely round down.

What a romp. I love every song on this album!

One of the all time metal greats, and definitely deserving of its status as a GOAT. This album is immensely top-heavy, but there's a whole lot of substance once you get past the first 4 or so songs. War Pigs, Iron Man, etc. have all been done to death, so I'll take a deep dive into the lesser known 4 songs on the album. Electric Funeral is hands down the worst song on this album. Ozzy is a real let down with his vocals I adore every song on this album, except for this one. This song is genuinely a bit of a miss for me. It picks up nicely at the end, but the start of the song really wigs me out. Hand of Doom is probably the most exciting song on the album. It is really similar to Paranoid, but I think it plays better on the ears. Rat Salad is a nice solo, with some great drumming in between. It's a great song, but I think it would have gone really well placed further up the album to break up some of the similar sounding songs like near Iron Man. The drum fill definitely does drag on, and it does show when you compare streaming rates of this song to the others. Fairies Wear Boots is another pretty good song, that seems to combine pieces of all the previous songs into one. I enjoyed this song, and it's a nice way to top off the album. Genuinely an incredible album, and deserving of a 5. Well worth its spot in the top 10 of all time on this list.

It feels kinda stupid to write something about a universally loved album that I don't really have any issues with. What the fuck do you want me to say 'ooohhh the melody is so rich' yeah we all know the album is cool I guess my take away is start feeding the kids in the music industry today some live bats and see if we can activate the same kind of shit that caused these guys to drop Paranoid and their Self Titled Album in the same year

That bat had it coming.

10/10 Fav tracks - All -1 Least fav - panet caravan

Crazy ratio of worst album cover to best music right here. Unfortunately this is also crazy front loaded. War Pigs/Paranoid/Planet Caravan is an absolutely god tier hat trick of great songs to kick off an album with. Iron Man is a pretty good song but I’ve always found it a bit corny. People talk a lot about Tommy Iommi’s guitar work here but the drums are absolutely the heart and soul of this album for me. The last few songs are okay, none of them are bad (except for Electric Funeral) but nothing that has the same energy and magic as the first half. Highlights: War Pigs/Luke’s Wall, Paranoid, Planet Caravan

I liked it!

Really? All the albums in the world and this is your second recommendation?

Hands down, one of the most significant albums created. From start to finish, I can listen to this entire album over and over. A true progenitor for so many flavors of rock and metal.

So good - raspy, raw and fun.

Hell yes, everything about this album. Hell yes all the hits, hell yes the rest of it, hell yes the guitars, hell yes.

This is the first heavy metal record on my list, which seems auspicious, as I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I still think the two singles from this album are corny, but I can't say if that's due to the tastes of rock fans in 1970, or idiosyncratic associations I've made over the years. War Pigs absolutely rips though, and I enjoyed several other tracks here. A couple of new bands are turning me around on metal, finally. I came up in a post-Black Album world (which was a sound that couldn't do it for me), but there are sonic ideas present here and absent in that scene that are still being honest by bands I'm just learning about.

I already know this record well but a fresh listen was fun

One of the best opening tracks ever? Paired with one of the best closing tracks ever? A regret I have in life is not really getting deep into Sabbath until much later in life. So many wasted years!

Obvious why it's foundational to metal. Some great riffs and fun subject matter.

I loved this album when I first heard it in the early 70s and it still sounds fresh today. Probably the best album Sabbath ever recorded IMHO. Pure heavy metal bliss!

First time I’ve ever intentionally hit the play button on a metal album. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. Some of the drum breaks were cool (like in Rat Salad). My college roommate used to listen to heavy metal while he straightened his hair in the mornings. So I guess at least this brought back a memory?

10

a classic

After their debut's success they really just said "Eh fuck it, let's just define the genre more." Some of the most iconic Sabbath songs, which inherently became the backbone of metal (and its many genres) musically and personality. Really incredible to hear about their tight writing process and how some of these songs just fell into place. Instrumental in moving ALL music forward.

Looking back, it doesn't sound old - it's pertinent and continued to be replicated across many genres today.

EASY 5 stars. This album is perfect. No notes. Favorites were all of them.

With their first album Black Sabbath basically invented heavy metal. With their second album Black Sabbath perfected heavy metal. This very well may be the top of the mountain. It’s not even my favorite Sabbath album (Master Of Reality), but the timelessness is undeniable. I love how Planet Caravan is a brief reprieve from the super iconic moments on the first side that feels like you are listening underwater. Electric Funeral is my favorite kind of metal song with the slow tempo and chunky guitar riff. Rat Salad is the Sabbath equivalent to Moby Dick. Everything is great here.

Amazing album from start to finish.

Starts amazingly, doesn't finish off as strong. Extremely influential, but there are better albums in the genre and even in the band's discography. Best: Planet Caravan, Hand of Doom, War Pigs; Worst: Rat Salad, Fairies Wear Boots 4.3/5

If this truly is the beginning of metal it was all downhill from here. Metal ranks easily my least favorite genre, but in my opinion this is one of the greatest albums ever. War Pigs, Paranoid, Planet Caravan, Iron Man, and Faeries Wear Boots are all extraordinary

this is for crazies to listen to when they are drunk at night, walking in the woods, and yoloing

Heilt king Kong. Kanskje beste så langt

A classic, but most of the songs kinda sounded similar to one another after several listenings, hence the missing star.

I don't think there's anything to be said.

Paranoid is an interesting album. From one point of view, it doesn't feel complex, I'd even call it a bit basic. But that's maybe because it's a precursor to all the other ones, and then... being a bit basic doesn't mean it's not good. It employs the tools it has effectively. I knew some songs off of it, but the ones I didn't, I was vibing to them. Feels like the delivery of it is perfect for what it wants to achieve. Well, maybe, for an album called *Paranoid* I'd expect to hear something that makes me feel paranoid, but no. This is my biggest problem with the album, it sells you on the vibe, but not so much emotion. I'm a bit hesitant to call it a masterpiece, it'd be a 5/6 for me, but it's pretty good and solid. A bit hesitant 5.

No matter how dubious the credentials of selectivity are of this list, there's one thing that is beyond doubt when it comes to music: that Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid' belongs on a far more exclusive list of album's that can truly be described as 'seismic'. This record is a hulking behemoth of sound, and it remains an utterly astonishing listen today. Curiously, the band weren't rated much by contemporary criticism. To these naysayers back in 1970, their music wasn't quite the revolutionary yardstick for heavy metal that its eventual canonisation would have you believe. In fact, the first two Sabbath records were derided as subpar attempts at some bluesy space rock. The reason why it holds up so well today is that it doesn't fall into the well-worn science fiction tropes that have dated so much of that scene. The song structures are elaborate, but they're purposeful and never overstay their welcome. Tony Iommi's playing is deliberate and offensively catchy - here, he demonstrates why he's the undisputed king of the riff. His playing presages an entire spectrum of sound that would follow in the monumental trail he blazed on this record for the next forty years (without even coming close to the ear worms he hammers out on this album). Paranoid is one of the few 'classic albums' that more than deserve that accolade. A record that delivers its groundbreaking gut punch with as much force today as it did back then.

This album is easily one of the best I've heard so far and I've already heard a fifth of the album's! It cemented metal as a genre to be taken seriously. There are eight be songs on this album and somehow they're all 8/10 or higher. Other than the obvious highlights (War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man), I really enjoyed Rat Salad, Hand of Doom, and Planet Caravan. As someone who listens for the drums in songs, this album blew me away with one of the best drum performances in an album. The guitar is also incredible and those solos are otherworldly they're so good. Everything about this album is peak metal and a permanent member of not only the top 1001, but top 50 albums of all time!

Seminal

I thought Vol. 4 was my favorite, but it's probably this one. Banger after banger. Still not my favorite band overall, but can't really argue with this one. 4/5

One of my favorite albums of all time. The godfathers of heavy metal at there best.

About 100 albums in now and a handful of metal albums have come up - stuff from Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and a few others - but Paranoid is the clear frontrunner. This album rules. It kind of nails exactly what I want out of the genre, lyrically and... uh... guitarically. Never heard "War Pigs" before but it's perfect.

Amazing album from beginning to end!

Obviously the greatest album of all time and not-surprised it came first.

Can’t argue with the massive impact this album had on so many that came after it. Still holds up.

Heavy.

CLASSIC. Just one of those albums that is completely necessary for all music listeners. As a metalhead, this is one of the most well-written and well-aged records to ever be made. War Pigs <33 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)

Really good album but not quite 5 star. Let me down a little at times

The one-two punch of "War Pigs" and "Paranoid" is hard to beat in this era for hard rock power and mastery. Suddenly, though, with track 3 we are a bunch of hippies ("The Earth, a purple blaze / Of sapphire haze ... While down below the trees / Bathed in cool breeze / Silver starlight breaks down the night") before "Iron Man" melts our face again. Side two tells us "Dying world of radiation / Victims of man's frustration / Burning globe of obscene fire / Like electric funeral pyre"... now THAT'S the Sabbath we know and love. Ozzy tells us how doomed we all are then in "Hand of Doom" tells us how ridiculous we are for doing drugs to escape the pain of our destruction. We end with "Fairies Wear Boots" and our singer hallucinating, not heeding his own advice... it's a chaotic mess in the Sabbath brain, but the simplistic sludge riffs are epic and have been copied for 50+ years now.

Didn't listen but know it well, great album!

I have not actually listened to any of their albums before now. I really enjoyed this album. The guitar, the drums, and Ozzy’s vocals were very good. Their songs have some actual meaning, sorry I did not give them a chance previously.

Was it my favorite style? No but it was enjoyable and solid overall. I already like Ozzy though. The guitar was remarkable.

Loved this. First Sabbath album I’ve ever listened to. The hard guitar riffs combined with great bass playing, and incredible drums to tie it all together. The vocals are great as expected. Lyrics were surprisingly really mature and very interesting. Loved the variety on the album too, not many metal bands can do that well. Superb

maybe it's the long string of subpar/mediocre albums, but I quite enjoyed this listen. couple tracks kinda rambled on but other than that, a nice listen

not my usual kind of music, but i actually quite liked it. not too much else to say as i listened to it over a week ago but forgot to type out my thoughts... oops!

easy five stars. i was -22 years old in 1970, but it would've been wild to hear this album for the first time when it released (and to see everyone else's reactions to it). this album is chock full of classic sabbath tunes and really feels like their magnum opus. war pigs is one of the best album openers i can imagine, paranoid is straightforward but powerful, planet caravan shows another side of sabbath's musicality, iron man is another powerful track with an iconic riff... and that's just side A. maybe the best rock/metal side A of that generation. the back half is pretty good too, definitely takes a turn for the weird but i enjoy it. anyway i don't have anything terribly new or groundbreaking to say about this album but the wikipedia article was a fascinating read. oh, i also wish rat salad were a better song because it has the best name imaginable. that's all. favorites: war pigs, paranoid, planet caravan, iron man, electric funeral, faeries wear boots

🤘

Air raid sirens! Decent, particularly enjoyed War Pigs and Iron Man.

All bangers, great fun!

10/10 THE Black Sabbath album. Favourite Song=War Pigs Least Favourite Song=

This was awesome. I knew War Pigs, Iron Man and Paranoid, but the rest of the tracks were new to me. Such an awesome proto-metal sound, even all these years later. Totally hummable and grooving. I listened to it twice -- five stars easily.

I mean, how can you not like it?

Am playing catch up and following Ozzy's sad death I thought to tackle all 3 of the Sabbath albums on my to listen list. Had not really listened to much Sabbath before and had previously found Ozzy to be a bit of a clown. Was therefore really surprised how much I enjoyed each of the three albums (Black Sabbath, Paranoid & Vol4) - the rhythm section in particular is really tight with some great hooks and riffs. Dug a little deeper and was fascinated about Ionni's missing digits and how he had to adapt his playing style and how this influenced his way of playing. Fascinating to see how influential these albums were in establishing metal and all its various sub genres. I do not particularly like heavy metal but I do really like Black Sabbath - so will score all albums a 5 - with Paranoid being the stand out.

Oh hail thee Prince of Darkness! I probably set a world record with war pigs and getting stoned. One of my favs of all time. The kings of dark metal rising to power. If you listen to this record backwards it tells you to worship Satan, but it might screw up your turntable and needle, so don't try it! 🤘🏻 😈

This may be the album that brought heavy metal to the masses. There’s no denying the success and appeal of Black Sabbath. Paranoid is top notch in every way and fairies really do wear boots.

Seriously solid first half, drops off a bit at the end but still loved alot of this

Hail Iommi

War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man on one album is insane

pedradão. dá pra entender pq os cara praticamente criaram o gênero pprt

eu acho essa capa muito bacana eu não sou muito do metal (mais), mas esse é pedrada demais. os cara joga todos os hits da banda em um album só como se num fosse nada. num é meu preferido deles não, mas deu pra apreciar bastante. no mais, album super influente com uma capa mto foda. infelizmente fez surgir os metaleiro, não dá pra ganhar todas.

What a treat!!

No skips

No notes.

It was interesting. Would wish the songs were tied together a bit more. Not exactly my cup of tea

Absolute monster album for the history of metal and it's held up incredibly well. 4.5

Liked it - paranoid and iron man are both brilliant. Rest isn’t on par though.

Lyrics were much better than I ever gave Sabbath credit for. Lots of class riffs, but can be a little samey

You know, this sophomore Black Sabbath record has always been one of THOSE classics, the one where, maybe, on a purely conceptual level, its slow and sludgy presentation always turned me off of it ever-so-slightly, it's just never been MY style. But when it comes time to sit down and listen to the thing, I can just fucking hear it, I can hear all of why this album is so beloved. I'd say it usually clicks on that faster switch-up on 'Electric Funeral' with those squawking guitar hits right before the song, once again, muddies itself in that swampy riff that evokes this lethargic and almost comatose-inducing feeling within my gut. 'Paranoid' is just flat-out catchy, like a banger rock tune with some of the most haunting Ozzy lyrics out of ANY Sabbath song. The other huge song, 'Iron Man', I'm maybe more indifferent towards as a standalone track, I've never been a fan of that lead guitar and synched vocal melody, though in the track listing here it works really well in reigniting the album's momentum after the slower 'Planet Caravan'. And I do like 'Planet Caravan'...it's a much-needed, Black Sabbath-standard, slow switch-up - it's ethereal and warm, something the rest of this album is very much not. Case in point, 'Rat Salad', which if the name isn't raw enough for you, its short instrumental run-time sounds like an atonal punk track trying its hardest to squeeze its way onto a large radio station's queue, all while its ugly personality can't help but rear its head. The two undoubted highlights for me though are the two "two-part" songs here. First is 'Jack the Stripper / Fairies Wear Boots', which may have my favorite intro on the whole thing with that reverb guitar and tribal drum pattern. More than anything though I love how well it works with Ozzy's fantastical and dream-like imagery, especially as the song comes to its explosive closing and his insane ramblings come to a head. Then there's the opener 'War Pigs / Luke's Wall' which may be one of the greatest songs of all time. I just love everything about it. The ominous opening with those atomic sirens, the lyrics painting the destructive nature of the world's governments, as the ones who pull the strings hide behind the ones pulling the triggers. And maybe the most horrifying part is how many of these pigs will die peacefully, likely of old age, with no charges brought against them - but Ozzy almost seeks solace in the fact that they will pay their dues come Judgement Day. And when I call the music on this album dramatic, I reference moments like this song's opening 2 minutes with that effective tension-building and unpredictable song structure, right before it bursts into that sharp groove. I haven't listened to this album enough to dub it "memorable", but every time I do put it on it's just so much fun to get through. Well maybe not "fun", if there's one thing this album is, it's unabashedly dark and troubled. But it's a familiar kind of darkness, one that takes the shape of this addictive classic rock album. Like Iommi's constant riff switch-ups, those fat, melodic basslines, Ozzy's wailing vocals, and those staccato, stuttering, dramatic, and fill-heavy drums are like fucking crack. 'Paranoid' lands perfectly between those late '60s hard-rock sounds, and the sounds of '70s metal to come...a sweet spot very few other bands (and even albums) have ever found themselves in. This is what rock music was always meant to be.

best leuk, 7/10

Forging together elements of the blues, jazz, and classical music, Black Sabbath created one of the finest examples of early heavy metal with 1970's Paranoid. Building off of their pivotal self-titled debut released just 7 months prior, the band brings their songwriting skills to new heights with several all-time classic compositions, including apocalyptic war protest War Pigs and the instantly catchy and anthemic Iron Man. Even the "afterthought" title track purportedly written in 5 minutes became an enduring staple of the heavy metal canon. Vastly underappreciated by music critics of their time, Black Sabbath's influence cannot be overstated. Ozzy Osbourne's eerie vocals, Tony Iommi's dark blues riffs, Bill Ward's masterful drum fills, and Geezer Butler's melodic basslines and imaginative lyrics all come together to make a truly unforgettable record. Highlights: -War Pigs/Luke's Wall -Iron Man -Electric Funeral -Hand of Doom -Jack the Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots Lowlights: -Planet Caravan

Influential.

Oh man, such a great album. Every single track is killer. Truly a foundational album for any metal fan. The sludgy guitar, the funky bass, the driving beats, and Ozzy's singular voice, all come together to form a monster.

Pretty iconic, not much else to say that hasn't been said already by my peers.

Very good like it very very much

Probably the best metal album out there, they got it down on lock by the second album, incredible, back to back classics on this. It’s like if Led Zeppelin had Black Dog, Rock and Roll, and Stairway to Heaven on the same album. Not my personal favourite from them but hard to argue that it isn’t their best output

An absolute staple in music history, if crazy train was on here it very well could be a top 10 album personally. Rat salad isn’t up there with something like Moby Dick, but the kits tone is beyond supreme and Bill ward has the moves of Muhammad Ali on war pigs.

For the last record I reviewed, I wrote that popular music would not be the same without. Without this record, I would not be the same.

Solid album but not amazing. War Pigs and Iron Man were the best the the rest was fine

The mother fucking prince of darkness! Ozzy comes in hot with a bunch of his time less classics. Those long drawn out riffs and vocals are what make him unique. A few songs on this album fell a bit short for my liking, but the hits out shadow the lows by a mile.

Man all the good Black Sabbath songs are on one album?

Overall a really good album. Has some of the bands heavy hitters, “War Pig” is a great song. Enjoyed the psychedelic mixed with heavier tones. 4/5 Will listen again

Whatever you think of the imagery the riffs speak for themselves

This was really good. No fillers in this album. Really enjoyed listening and will definitely listen again 😏😏😏 I knew some of the songs on it, but never listened to them exclusively. Better late than never I guess 😅

While I didn't appreciate it initially, seeing them as fairly one dimensional compared to their '70s peers, I have come to appreciate Sabbath so much over the years; there is so much more going on that the, admittedly spectacular riffs. Listen to Geezer Butler's bass runs, especially at the end of War Pigs, the way Bill Ward plays, like a jazz drummer, and always to serve the song rather than merely to keep time, and Planet Caravan which holds the listener, at least this listener, spellbound for the duration, despite consisting of two repeated chords - Tony Iommi's deft jazz guitar solo skipping over the top. Black Sabbath would go on to even greater experimentation on later albums, particularly Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage but Paranoid built on the promise of their debut and laid the groundwork for even better things to come.

Some good songs, I enjoyed it

OK, again one of the rare times that I agree with this list. This is an album that stands alone in human history as one that everyone should hear. 5/5

I feel like I never need to hear "Paranoid" or "Iron Man" ever again because they're so overplayed and frankly boring. But the lesser-known tracks on this album are the stand-outs, revealing an intelligent and talented band that is far beyond Ozzy's cartoonish antics.

War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man are absolute classic tracks and on their own make this a 5/5 album. Planet Caravan was a surprise for me and might be my favourite song of the bunch. I love how they could switch gears into this rather delicate song but still carry over some heaviness in the drums and ethereal, psychedelic tone in the vocals and guitar.

Nearly a perfect album. Iommi’s riffs kicked off a new genre but just a sensational group top to bottom. Their run from 68 to 81 was unbelievable!

Had never heard the album all the way thru, but was familiar with a lote of the big songs on this like War Pigs, Iron Man and Paranoid. Very good.

What can you say that hasn’t already been said about this album? Legends.

Like there's really any other score that this album can be given?

Yes great

Never listened to this before all the way through. Every element rocks, but especially the guitar work Contains some classic songs but will give a nod to Planet Caravan. Pacing is an overlooked album quality I think, and this provides a nice moment of calm between the chaos of Paranoid and crunching riff of Iron Man.

"Nothing in life is certain, except the first four Black Sabbath albums." I don't know where I first heard that but it rings true every time I listen to early Sabbath. Paranoid is a great album.

So many great guitar riffs, love the raw feel to this album, hits hard, very iconic

Songs i know: most of em Songs i like: all of em Beast of an album, this should probably be on one of the voyager golden disk tbf other than that instrumental track. Imagine knocking about when this shit dropped, I'd be full of tatts and off my skull constantly eating bats heads. Low 5.

The OG. Anyone who knows me knows I loves me some stoner metal, and this is the progenitor of pretty much all of it. It strikes a great balance between sick riffs and bong rips, and the production on it is perfect. There isn’t really a duff track on it. Even though Rat Salad is an instrumental, it’s a bloody good one which doesn’t outstay its welcome. 5/5 would bong rip again

Mammoth-sounding stoner metal by factory workers from the West Midlands. What's not to like. Pretty much invented the genre and its bluesy sound hasn't aged like a lot of their peers. When the songs are this good they don't age though. Starts with an absolute hammer with War Pigs and doesn't stop. I remember finding my dad's vinyl copy of this as a kid and trying to scratch Paranoid. He was fuming. Absolute Riffageddon from Tony and the lads throughout the album. It never gets stodgy either with some great key changes in songs like Iron Man when he gets shreddy. Highlights: Hard to not pick the whole album but... War Pigs Paranoid Iron Man Rat Salad - Exercising their jazzy chops and I’m here for it. Fairies Wear Boots Lowlights: If I had to pick anything it would be I don’t love Planet Caravan as much as the rest. Think that bong might have been too packed for that one lads.

Best album I’ve had to rate so far. Not a bad song on it. It has the hits on it “War Pigs”, “Paranoid”, “Iron Man” and every other track is well crafted. It’s the original Stoner Rock, you can hear the influence bands like QOTSA get from this album in songs like “Planet Caravan”.

10/10

Mi sto riscoprendo fan dei Black Sabbath. la cosa mi sconvolge.

Iron Man + Paranoid valgono tutto l’album, delirio puro

I never expected to enjoy this. Never. Relistenable. I meant how? It's a good album. I must be losing my marbles. It's the only conclusion. 4 stars.

I don’t know if it was Iron Man or War Pigs that I heard first, but I remember hearing it and somehow realizing that there was more than music than the soft rock pop in the 1950s that my dad had been playing for me on public radio. Black Sabbath was hard, fast, heavy, everything my young brain wanted when I was 12. Matter fact, my brain still wants that. This album was the beginning of heavy metal as we know it. I don’t think there’s any heavy metal aficionado or even just general appreciators who wouldn’t agree that this was the start of the genre. Paranoid is just a banger that every guitar player in bass player needs to add to the repertoire. Most of this album has been covered over, and over, and over again. Planet Caravan had its best cover on Pantera‘s third album Far Beyond Driven, and I had the honor of watching it live at RedRocks with giant pot leaves emblazoned the rocks (it’s was almost as good as watching the Sabbath Reunion in 2001). What I liked about this listen were the deep cuts like Fairies Wear Boots and Rat Salad which don’t get a whole lot of radio play. Overall, this album is a must and a top entry for the 1001 Must Listens albums. Classic.

"War Pigs", Paranoid" and "Iron Man" in the first 4 tracks! I guess they threw "Planet Caravan" in there just so we wouldn't spontaneously combust from all the rocking. Outside of "Planet Caravan" I was surprised by how overall rocking they kept it going on all the songs. I really liked this one! The drumming, the sound of the drumming, and the production on the drumming just sounds so unique and cool on this album. I really like the drumming and it is so distinctive. Rock on Sabbath!

i'm pretty new to sabbath but the two albums i've experienced have been great! this one is obviously no exception. metal in the purest form, just loud guitars, moody riffs and ozzy's iconic vocals. the only song that lacked for me here was 'planet caravan' but other than that, this album is pretty much perfect. and now i'm bummed i never got into black sabbath until now!

What are we talking about. I am a metal fan so this album is like the beginnig of everything for me. I really like the doom vibes, and obviously a lot of legendary songs

A few good ones on there

Well this is great. There's some big big heavy hitting riffs in here, but I also love how melodic the guitar work is as well. They're not just smacking you round the face, it's also really musical.

Amazing

Really top heavy and if we’re being objective about it, Iron Man isn’t that good of a song. Light 3.

Following in the steps of Led Zeppelin, this is more (very) hard rock than metal to me. Some classics like Paranoid, Iron Man and others make this a strong record.

Yeah this rocked. Their three most classic songs are all here and the rest is great too. Really well done arrangements, and awesome guitar parts. Some of it was jammier than I expected which was fun too.

It was quite nice

It's almost impossible to hear most of this as music anymore. It's all so popular and ubiquitous that it feels like it has always existed. Some clearly great songs and skill but the music is so overly consumed it loses some magic. Makes sense to be on the list for sure. A defining heavy metal album.

Some face melting riffs. I like the album cover. There are some older recordings of Black Sabbath in which they are much closer to a straight blues band. I don't know enough about how they made it here, but they took the heavy blues roots and elevated them. Ozzy's voice works so well dancing over the guitar riffs. Planet Caravan a more psychedelic jazz track had me captivated on this listen. The mixing is so good. Electric Funeral. Tony Iommi is so good. Bill Ward killing it on every track. Geezer Butler bass so good I have just realized that this is one of my favorite albums.

At the time of writing this, the album is nearly 55 years old. How on earth does it sound so fresh and relevant after all this time. Great album. Deserves top marks.

-okk i like this. this is good -I honestly think I like it more than Vol 4 which is the only other album I’ve heard by them in full. Felt like there was a bit more variety which gave me a better understanding of their skill… I recognized some of the songs from my dad having played them when I was younger which was fun too -Favorites are Paranoid, Planet Caravan, and Hand Of Doom

Wish I had been guided to listen to this album in my youth. Didn't listen to it until I was 30ish. Pure delight, 4 stars

Not my favourite black sabbath album, but the second side was alright.

Great heavy rock album

Great album,love it

one of the best albums of all time. Some off songs but full of monumental hits.

Class

I would definitely listen again, but didn’t enjoy this as much as Black Sabbath (the album).

Хороший метал альбом. Он как бы короткий и не поэтому плотность крутых песен высокая

Pidän kovasti. Paljon energiaa ja jotenkin vähän teiniä. Black Sabbathilla on niin hyviä kitarariffejä!

Pop-historian viraalein meemi (ja kyllä, koin vivahteen niistä kylmistä väreistä, joita kappale synnytti kun olin 14). Hyvänä lisänä pari vähän vähemmän tunnettua meemiä. Ja kyllä, riffejä.

Bangers from front to back

As good as it gets for Sabbath. Not my jam but a good album.

Brilliant

fuck yeah proto metal