Band:	Black Sabbath
Album:	Paranoid
Style:	Doom metal, Hard rock, Heavy metal
Release date:	September 18, 1970
Guest review by:	Ozzy

Disc I
01. War Pigs
02. Paranoid
03. Planet Caravan
04. Iron Man
05. Electric Funeral
06. Hand Of Doom
07. Rat Salad
08. Fairies Wear Boots

Disc II [2009 Deluxe Expanded Edition DVD Audio]
01. War Pigs [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
02. Paranoid [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
03. Planet Caravan [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
04. Iron Man [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
05. Electric Funeral [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
06. Hand Of Doom [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
07. Rat Salad [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]
08. Fairies Wear Boots [1974 Quadraphonic Mix]

Disc III [2009 Deluxe Expanded Edition bonus]
01. War Pigs [Instrumental]
02. Paranoid [Alternative Lyrics version]
03. Planet Caravan [Alternative Lyrics version]
04. Iron Man [Instrumental]
05. Electric Funeral [Instrumental]
06. Hand Of Doom [Instrumental]
07. Rat Salad [Alternate mix]
08. Fairies Wear Boots [Instrumental]

1970 was an intense and highly satisfying year for Black Sabbath. February of that year saw the release of their eponymous titled first album and, by the end of that year, they issued their second album, the legendary Paranoid.

The album contains some of the bands most enduring material. "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Fairies wear Boots" and of course the title track [that was a top ten single at the time.] On the cover, a futuristic looking soldier waving what looks like a lightsaber! What can I say, they though it looked good!
The album was initially to be called "War Pigs" but it was changed to "Paranoid" as their US label thought "War Pigs" was distasteful to an America at war with Vietnam! Lyrically, the album does contains absolutely no satanic references, but despite this, the band attracted a following with an unhealthy obsession with the Occult. Some of the most famous guitar riffs in history are on this album. "Paranoid" and "Iron Man" have been heard anywhere and everywhere.
The songs "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral" talk clearly about the war in Vietnam. All members of the band had a hippy-like pacifist attitude! "Planet Caravan" is one of my favourite songs ever written. It is a slow, bluesy, moody song that can make you relax in seconds. "Hand of Doom" talks clearly about hard drug abuse. But not in a good way. The lyrics put the listener of drugs saying things like?
"You know you must be blind to do something like this. To take the sleep that you don't know your giving death a kiss. Oh, little fool now!"
After one particular show, the band got into a fight with some skinheads. This is where "fairies wear boots" comes from! One of my favourite tracks on the record.

The album "Paranoid" saw Black Sabbath moving away from their original bluesy sound that permeated the first album. A lot heavier. A lot louder than before, Black Sabbath come to find themselves as a heavy metal band. They are the pioneers in the journey of metal. They invented metal! "Paranoid" is definitely an album that shouldn't be missing from any metalheads collection!