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Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality



9 | 1494 votes |
Release date: 21 July 1971
Style: Doom metal, Hard rock, Heavy metal

Owners:

1880 have it
111 want it
1 trades it


Disc I
01. Sweet Leaf
02. After Forever
03. Embryo
04. Children Of The Grave
05. Orchid
06. Lord Of This World
07. Solitude
08. Into The Void

Disc II [2009 Deluxe Edition Bonus CD]
01. Weevil Woman '71
02. Sweet Leaf [Studio Outtake - Alternate Lyrics]
03. After Forever [Studio Outtake - Instrumental]
04. Children Of The Grave [Studio Outtake - Alternate Lyrics]
05. Children Of The Grave [Studio Outtake - Instrumental]
06. Orchid [Studio Outtake]
07. Lord of this World [Studio Outtake]
08. Solitude [Studio Outtake - Alternate Version]
09. Spanish Sid [Early Of 'Into The Void' version] [Studio Outtake] [Alternate version]

Top 20 albums of 1971: 2
Featured In "Getting Into: Black Sabbath"

Additional info
Recorded at Record Plant in Los Angeles.
The initial LP edition was released in a box-package with a foldout poster, which is replicated on the Castle remaster packaging.

Some older CD editions mistakenly index "Children Of The Grave" and "Embryo" on track 3 and the outro of "Children..." on track 4.

The initial American pressing of the album divided up songs into different parts, though unlike on the past two albums, they were listed as separate songs instead of two parts of the same song. It was also mistakenly titled "Masters Of Reality". The altered tracklisting is as follows:
1. Sweet Leaf
2. After Forever (Including The Elegy) (The Elegy is possibly the interlude at 1:55)
3. Embryo
4. Children Of The Grave
5. The Haunting (The ambient outro to Children Of The Grave)
6. Orchid
7. Step Up (The intro riff to Lord Of This World)
8. Lord Of This World
9. Solitude
10. Deathmask (Simply the first half of Into The Void)
11. Into The Void

Following the release of the expanded Paranoid set, Universal issue a further two classic Black Sabbath albums in the Deluxe format with an additional CD of goodies.

Guest review by
HS
Rating:
10
Master of Reality is another representative masterpiece of Black Sabbath's golden era. It's their third classic studio album and it was recorded back in 1971, a while after their previous successful release Paranoid.

Master of Reality finds Black Sabbath still at the beginning, experimenting with the same music formula they discovered through their two previous records. However, they display a variety of new ideas and it becomes very clear that the group had a lot more to give and a long way to go. So, using the same ingredients - a catchy main guitar riff followed by noticeable bass parts and powerful drumming - they composed their heaviest record so far (and one of the heaviest records ever). The songs are based on clear and well refined rhythmic patterns and stick to the mind after the first listening. In most of the times the tempos during the main riff are relatively slow but they fasten during the interludes. Personally, I think the main - and the only one - disadvantage has to do with the solo parts. This is because the bluesy solos are not as exciting as someone would like them to be. Of course this doesn't mean that there are not metallers who enjoy them. Soloing is a subjective matter.

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published 02.09.2003 | Comments (13)

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Comments

Comments: 29   Visited by: 1428 users
02.03.2012 - 19:18
Rating: 9
Pelagial
A fucking good album
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01.06.2012 - 16:05
Rating: 10
musicalkaratekid
A monumental metal album. 'Master of Reality' sees the band progressing with their sound and evolving it into something truly special. The doomy numbers that are 'Sweet Leaf', 'Lord of this World', 'Children of the Grave' and epic closer 'Into the Void' all play a part in creating such darkness and dismal sound. 'After Forever' is a bit faster paced than the others, but it still serves as a brilliant song in its own right. Granted, 'Solitude' and 'Orchid' don't justify their existence on the album at all, but listening to the album as a whole makes them seem fitting. This is a personal favourite for me.
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21.06.2012 - 10:49
Rating: 8
Syk
myspace/bonerama
Written by musicalkaratekid on 01.06.2012 at 16:05
... Granted, 'Solitude' and 'Orchid' don't justify their existence on the album at all, but listening to the album as a whole makes them seem fitting. This is a personal favourite for me.

Wait, what? Solitude doesn't KILL for you? Does for me. Maybe one of the most substantial (affecting?) songs the band has done IMO. Leaf and Grave are classics... the others don't stick [in memory] all that well for me, unfortunately the short tracks Embryo and Orchid especially prevent me from considering this album an unstoppable work of perfection
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death ? thrash ? death/doom/prog ? Hail Zoldon!

he's not the kind you have to [url=../bands/album.php?album_id=28982]wind up[/url] on Sundays
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16.11.2012 - 18:57
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Good album, short, but seems they make a point why need put songs what dosnt fit in
After Forever and Children Of The Grave are awesome songs, lyrics fits in todays society to, I dont belive in brighter future I belive in past, we have no future.

Good album, lil changing to, because not such doom how last one, but still doomy
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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17.11.2012 - 15:30
JohnDoe
Account deleted
Written by Bad English on 16.11.2012 at 18:57

Good album, short, but seems they make a point why need put songs what dosnt fit in
After Forever and Children Of The Grave are awesome songs, lyrics fits in todays society to, I dont belive in brighter future I belive in past, we have no future.

Good album, lil changing to, because not such doom how last one, but still doomy

You kinda contradict yourself, you say the album is good and yet your rating is 5?! Shouldn't it be a 7? (7=good album, remember?)
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17.11.2012 - 15:37
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by [user id=17278] on 17.11.2012 at 15:30

Written by Bad English on 16.11.2012 at 18:57

Good album, short, but seems they make a point why need put songs what dosnt fit in
After Forever and Children Of The Grave are awesome songs, lyrics fits in todays society to, I dont belive in brighter future I belive in past, we have no future.

Good album, lil changing to, because not such doom how last one, but still doomy

You kinda contradict yourself, you say the album is good and yet your rating is 5?! Shouldn't it be a 7? (7=good album, remember?)

I havnt rate for it or if I did it wasd 2007 something.... Last 4-5 years I dont rate albums
EDDIT: I see its 5 but hmmmmm I did it lkong time ago so ....
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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24.11.2012 - 13:50
megadeath13
Account deleted
Another masterpiece! Master of reality is their "dommiest" one and even probably their heaviest one. The end of into the void could be speed metal already and the whole album in general is heavy as fuck for 1971.
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02.01.2013 - 16:55
Illog1cal
Account deleted
A masterpiece if only a little short.
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18.01.2013 - 15:00
Rating: 10
Brilliant record , better than Paranoid !!!
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29.01.2013 - 21:26
Rating: 10
John Sandman
Just perfect.
All killer, no filler.
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02.02.2013 - 06:31
Rating: 10
squidrick420
I have this on 180 gram Rhino Vinyl, and holy fuck does it sound amazing. This is THE album that defines everything that is amazing about Sabbath.
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29.04.2013 - 08:55
Lião
Account deleted
Am I the only one who find this album overrated? The whole album is reppetitive and null, compared to the previous albums, and there's no song here to be considered a classic, even children of the grave. Good album, even better for ambient music, and I think that this album is praised mainly because it was carried away by the success driven by Paranoid.
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06.02.2015 - 22:31
3rdWorld
China was a neat
Written by Steffanopolus on 18.01.2013 at 15:00

Brilliant record , better than Paranoid !!!

I agree 100%. This is a fucking brilliant record.

I checked this album out after reading this and it turned out be a huge surprise topping both their previous efforts for me. This is just more varied and even more engaging and flawless.
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06.02.2015 - 23:25
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by [user id=130590] on 02.01.2013 at 16:55

A masterpiece if only a little short.

welcome to 70's man --- there is length what actual vinily can handle
----
I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
06.02.2015 - 23:28
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
Written by Bad English on 06.02.2015 at 23:25

Written by [user id=130590] on 02.01.2013 at 16:55

A masterpiece if only a little short.

welcome to 70's man --- there is length what actual vinily can handle

Vinyl can handle 50 minutes without a problem. Hell I even have single LP's that last 60 minutes.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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06.02.2015 - 23:30
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 06.02.2015 at 23:28

Written by Bad English on 06.02.2015 at 23:25

Written by [user id=130590] on 02.01.2013 at 16:55

A masterpiece if only a little short.

welcome to 70's man --- there is length what actual vinily can handle

Vinyl can handle 50 minutes without a problem. Hell I even have single LP's that last 60 minutes.

I know, I have those still, in my origon country
but records has limit, its not gb , as far I remember longest cassete tape is 90min in each side
----
I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
06.02.2015 - 23:43
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Elite
No. Longest cassette is 60 minutes on each side.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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07.02.2015 - 00:05
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 06.02.2015 at 23:43

No. Longest cassette is 60 minutes on each side.

Now I recall those was 120 total , it was long time
I had most 90 total 45 each side, we and friends argue since we most had 90min total, when CD came more it was max 80min running time, when we were dumbasses we discuse (even we didn't know you can write CD only from PC, since we copy CD to cassette. cassette to cassette (even broke those what deletes and cant re write on) we though we can copy cassette to CD same way ) then we discussed those 10mins ... old times
----
I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
23.05.2018 - 06:04
Rating: 9
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
This album is incredible. Children of The Grave is for sure in my top 10 favourite songs.
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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04.02.2021 - 21:02
Rating: 10
JavierPaper
Probably the best album of Black Sabbath
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04.03.2021 - 17:52
Rating: 9
majormalfunction
Brilliant record.. if it weren't for the fact that I think Sweet Leaf and After Forever are only "good" songs I would have slapped a perfect rating.
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Everything's twice as bright with money in your hands
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04.03.2021 - 18:21
Rating: 8
Redel
Moderator
Written by majormalfunction on 04.03.2021 at 17:52

Brilliant record.. if it weren't for the fact that I think Sweet Leaf and After Forever are only "good" songs I would have slapped a perfect rating.

For me After Forever is a highlight here, together with CotG.
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02.04.2021 - 21:05
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
This must of sounded extremely heavy in the early 70s when it was released, I would say that this is the earliest example of doom metal, as well as sludge, or certainly the most influential, although I would say Paranoid was more of an influence on heavy metal. Both are exceptional albums, and sound great even to this day.

I love the low guitar tone, it has one of the best sounds in metal/rock history, and the heavy doom style riffs are iconic, the bass and drumming is also some of the best I've heard by any band.

I pretty much like every song on the album especially "Children of the grave", with that memorable heavy riff and haunting ending, aswel as "Sweat leaf", and "Into The Void". The only real drawback for me are the songs "orchid" and "embryo", which sound a little bit like fillers imo, but they are certainly not bad songs, I still quite like them as an added bonus to what is already a great album. The only other downside if it is one, is the song "Solitude" could of been longer, as it's such a great song, although too short.
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26.04.2021 - 16:50
Rating: 8
BennyMetGer
Good album, but not perfect.
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07.07.2021 - 14:07
Rating: 10
F3ynman
Nocturnal Bro
Contributor
Master of Reality is Black Sabbath's best album!
There are so many positives:
1. Every song is great with very satisfying bass sound, fantastic singing by Ozzy, perfect drumming, and of course the legendary heavy riffs!
2. There are some very thought-provoking lyrical topics: Christianity (After Forever); revolution (Children of the Grave); the devil and sin (Lord of This World); and even sci-fi (Into the Void).
3. While there is an overarching heavy tone, there is still variety in the different types of songs: a fast, catchy song (Sweet Leaf); a melancholy song (Solitude); and even an instrumental (Orchid)
A timeless masterpiece!
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15.03.2022 - 12:26
Rating: 9
nonZero
Black Sabbath's 2nd best album after Paranoid (9.7/10) IMO.

9.5/10 leaning slightly towards a 9 for me - 'Sweet Leaf', 'Children Of The Grave' and 'Into The Void' are the standout songs. I could listen to those on repeat for days!
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Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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16.05.2022 - 09:15
nikarg
Staff
This is worth watching:

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16.05.2022 - 17:44
gavdann
Written by nikarg on 16.05.2022 at 09:15

This is worth watching:



I watched all of those Sabbath docs over the weekend. Very good.
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07.06.2024 - 07:59
Rating: 9
Majesty1911
Not as brilliant as Paranoid but damn, it's one heavy album for 1971 standards and even the closest competitors, like Fireball, Look At Yourself and Budgie just didn't have the Metal punch in sound that Sabbath got here! My favorite songs are: "Into The Void", "Lord Of This World", "Sweet Leaf" and especially "Children Of The Grave". Every Metal fan should check this one out!
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Glory to the Nation!
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