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.
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.
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.
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
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
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!
Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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?)
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 ....
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!
Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
megadeath13 Account deleted
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.
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.
Loading...
Lião Account deleted
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.
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.
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
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!
Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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.
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!
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!