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THE REVIEW
Tony Iommi's hands rest relaxed on the guitar, Ozzy Osbourne approaches the microphone stand, staggering. The attack is lethal, a riff starts that is unmistakable in its simplicity and strength. Bass and drums join in, sharp and decisive. At the second twelfth, the voice, unique and unmistakable, makes its appearance: "Finished with my woman 'cause she couldn't help me with my mind...".
Paranoid, the single that gives the title to the entire second studio work of the Sabs, is all here. Or rather, every seed of what the Heavy scene would become from 1970 to today is here.
Yes indeed, because Ozzy and his bandmates, in that August 33 years ago in Birmingham, were writing the history of Rock music.
Want a crash course in this fascinating subject? Gently place the vinyl on your turntable and move the needle to the first groove. War Pigs, with its incredible intro (Luke's Wall), will cling to your skin, a sadly prophetic text, and vocal and instrumental lines that are nothing short of brilliant.
Now let's skip a couple of tracks and get to Iron Man. A cadenced, at times martial rhythm, powerful, precise. An anthem that has not lost its extraordinary appeal even after three decades of concerts around the globe. War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man: an encyclopedia from which no artist belonging to any fringe of the Heavy-Rock scene can deny having drawn.
It was December of 1997 when I saw the images of the Reunion Tour in which the band members gathered in Birmingham, their hometown.
Tony Iommi looked incredibly like my uncle Vito, Bill Ward reminded me of the old man who every morning goes to place his beautiful football pool slip at the tobacconist under the house. When Ozzy dragged himself to the mic and shouted with that unmistakable southern accent his "Are you ready to go wild for us tonight", followed by a "Let's go fucking crazy", I closed my eyes and enjoyed a couple of tons of immortal rock'n'roll. My stomach is still trembling. "I Love You All".
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Summary by Bot
The review praises Black Sabbath's second album, Paranoid, highlighting its foundational role in heavy metal. Iconic tracks like War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man are celebrated for their enduring impact. The author's vivid memories of the band's Reunion Tour add a personal touch. This album is portrayed as an essential rock classic that shaped generations.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Black Sabbath
English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1968, widely credited as pioneers of heavy metal and led musically by guitarist Tony Iommi.91 Reviews
Other reviews
By luca reed
Black Sabbath infused their music with a probably unconscious revolution that would alter the roots of the hard sound and reflect in all future heavy metal.
The lyrics actually combined the baroque-decadent fascination for English and non-English dark literature with the threatening sense of 'malevolent' everyday life of the present.
By Axlspark
"To highlight the greatness of this band among many successes and masterpieces, there is an album, certainly the greatest of Black Sabbath: 'Paranoid'."
"Giving 5 stars to this album seemed like an insult because the actual score it deserves is 10 with honors."
By kain3325
With 'Paranoid' Black Sabbath are at the peak of their creativity, pioneers of a genre that will see them on altars for many years.
The opening track is War Pigs, an incandescent riff by Iommy that turns into a pounding song punctuated by Ward’s snare drum and Osborne’s increasingly hypnotic voice.
By Battlegods
"Black Sabbath can be defined as the founders of doom, dark, and evil sounds which were later adopted in the metal of the eighties."
"The album is a beautiful lesson of true hard rock, still today!"
By Nesci
"'Paranoid' is the album of fame, the one that definitively consolidated Sabbath’s success."
"'War Pigs' is an immortal classic, with an unforgettable riff and a desperate cry against war shouted in Sabbath’s very particular style."
