#139 Black Sabbath, 'Paranoid' (1970)
Previously #131
Coming only 7 months after their debut record, ‘Paranoid’ is arguably Black Sabbath’s greatest record and one of the greatest Heavy Metal records of all time. Building on the sound that they had pioneered on their debut record, most of the songs on this record were born out on-stage jams. The album opens with the slow sludgy guitar sounds of ‘War Pigs’ accompanied by a siren; a call to arms in the truest sense, before the tempo picks up. “Generals gathered in their masses/Just like witches at black masses.” In 7 months, their sound had progressed so much and the fledgling genre they were pioneering was starting to take flight. ‘War Pigs’ is one of the most iconic metal riffs of all time, coupled with a perfect drum performance from Bill Ward. But no more iconic riff than the next song and title track. In the studio, the band realised that they didn’t have enough songs for the record. Iommi started playing the riff, which inspired Geezer Butler to quickly scrawl down the lyrics. Ozzy Osbourne came up with the melody and soon enough they were recording the song. In total, from inception to final recording, the song took 25 minutes. It went on to #4 on the charts, remaining the band’s only Top 10 single.
Another iconic riff on the record is ‘Iron Man,’ one of the band’s signature songs, a song about man that travels to the future and witnesses the apocalypse. When he returns to present day, he is turned to steel due to a magnetic field. He is mocked and shunned and takes revenge on mankind, ultimately causing the apocalypse that he had witnessed in the future. Wild story. The album and its riffs would go on to inspire outcasts and misfits for years to come. This album gave them a sense of belonging and an identity. From Metallica to Iron Maiden to Nirvana to Soundgarden to Anthrax, and on and on and on; literally every hard rock, metal and alternative rock band has a debt of gratitude to pay to this album. It took 8 songs and 41 minutes to change the course of music history.
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