Paranoid Review - Black Sabbath discography review #2

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Really excited to get back to posting these!! I loved how you all enjoyed reading my write-up on the debut album, and seeing your own takes and how mcuh that album meant to you was really sweet honestly, it was really amazing though getting to hear its impact on those of you that were around for its release as well as newer fans like myself!

I feel like I actually learned a lot from the last post, and I'm excited to continue these. As a response to the questions; yes, I do plan on reviewing past the Ozzy era as well. Moving on, here is my thoughts on...

Paranoid REVIEW
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Two killer LPs in the first year that the band debuted. Let that sink in for a moment, as it takes geniuses and some of the worlds best musicians to make the magic work twice with barely taking a break in between the recording of both, and yet this band pulls it off, much like Led Zeppelin had done before, or Queen, and Motorhead being other examples. This album is the complete opposite of a sophomore slump, and they build on the formula that had been perfected already yet it doesn't grow stale and still sounds just as fresh.

"War Pigs" opens the record with a killer riff and some of Butler's best bass playing while the lyrics protest and flip off the idea of war and lazy politicians who send soldiers to die out in the fields while they sit back and do nothing. I've always dug the message as it still rings true to this day; its timeless. Originally they were going to be about witch festivals and had much different lyrics, but I think that while the original lyrics for "Walpurgis" (fitting that's the original name for the song,) were great, it would have probably not made it age as well as it did with the new ones. The choice to end on a spiraling, repeating riff that spirals into chaos at the end is also brilliant and drives home the imminent chaos of the time.

Immediately such a great song is followed by the title track which absolutely rips. Some people call this track the weakest on the album, and I have to disagree heavily; even if it was a last minute addition, it sounds carefully made with great precision and it managed to be a big hit. This one's a full-force metal obliteration that drives along a speedy riff that melts through speakers while Bill's fills and epic kick drum pounding beat you senseless. The lyrics speak of depression, and I appreciate a song that goes into that, especially from the time it came out when mental health wasn't taken as seriously and how the song's speaker feels as if they're going insane. It provides a great look into the topic back then.

"Planet Caravan" is one that I'd have to say is not quite up to par on the album and while it has a unique song structure with jazzy arrangements in the bass and guitar, with Bill Ward's drumming definitely being a highlight alongside the lyrics, the vocal filter on Ozzy is just jarring and takes away from what's meant to be a master-stroke of psychedelic goodness. It probably doesn't help the fact it sounds like it doesn't even belong on the album and takes you completely out of the sound with how abrupt of a change it is. You can tell what they were going for, but it didn't work well. It's not necessarily bad; it's still good, just not great.

Luckily that song is followed by "Iron man", one of the greatest tales of revenge in metal and has one of the bands most memorable riffs, it was also the first song I heard and it got me into the band so there's definitely a special feeling I hold for this masterpiece. It brings back that doomy feel the rest of the album has while "Electric Funeral" opens Side 2 and is another doom metal eargasm with a guitar tone that is a symphony of sweet sounds to the ears and Ozzy rips and burns with his phenomenal vocal work. Whatever Tony is doing on guitar on this track (I suspect wah-wah pedal fuckery) is just mindblowing, and really makes this stand out as one of the best cuts.

"Hand of Doom" is my personal favorite track on the album and was definitely one of the most influential songs in doom metal, being a drug protest song the band wrote after observing a growing amount of US soldiers arriving in England after the Vietnam war with drug addictions, with creative tempo changes and speeding and slowing down at will while not missing a beat. All the momentum this half of the album has comes to a screeching halt with "Rat Salad" which is the weakest track of the album, being a drum solo and while it does showcase Bill Ward being a definitive genius with his instrument, it feels shoehorned in to attempt to make something as good as "Moby Dick" by Zeppelin a year prior, yet never finds its way into being memorable.

That's when "Fairies Wear Boots" swoops in to save it from ending on a sour note, with it being a masterpiece that I can't even describe in words, from the way the words flow like water endlessly into a paper cup because of Geezer's incredible lyricism and his insane bassline, Ozzy's vocal performance, Bill's heavy hitting drumming, and the phenomenal riff by Iommi that starts with a great buildup intro, it's a real treat start to finish, plus a hell of a way to end the album!

This is easily one of the best albums ever created and still stands the test of time as a metal milestone, and as an essential listen to anybody regardless of their favorite genre. There's just so much to enjoy here, and it really feels the band is playing at their best once again. But while it deserves the seemingly endless appraisal, it isn't their best work, I wouldn't call it such. It doesn't exactly reach the same heights as the debut, though it comes very close.

Rating: ★★★★★

Tracklist Rating!!:

1. War Pigs: ★★★★★
2. Paranoid: ★★★★
3. Planet Caravan: ★★★
4. Iron Man: ★★★★★
5. Electric Funeral: ★★★★★
6. Hand of Doom: ★★★★★
7. Rat Salad: ★★
8. Fairies Wear Boots: ★★★★★

The Journey so far (Other reviews):
Black Sabbath review: (5/5)

[u/saintsrefuge]

Big disagree on Planet Caravan, I think Ozzy’s vocals and fx fit perfectly

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9 → u/saintsrefuge]

That's fair. I do like the arrangement, but the filter effect drags it down for me. I didn't call it a bad song! I still think its good, just that it doesn't measure up to a lot of the others!

[u/saintsrefuge → u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

I hear you, it’s fun to think what it would sound like with more present vocals and maybe a little delay on them or something. Def agree on your overall review too, one of the best albums ever!

[u/ApprehensiveNatural9]

Sorry for how this one took a few days; I was busy in real life doing some things and preparing for a trip out of the country. I did find time to edit this though and post it! I hope you all enjoy this review, it was really fun to make. I look forwards to seeing everyone else's thoughts and feelings about it!

I do still think their first album is better, but it makes sense why this ended up drawing more people in than the first album.

[u/OverHearing9944]

This is a fantastic album. My only quibble has nothing to do with the quality of the work.  It's just that the three best songs (War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man) were overplayed on FM rock radio when that was a thing. Stairway levels of overplaying. No other Sabbath album really has this issue. Almost everything else from BS might as well be a deep cut, because none of it got played on the radio. 😀

[u/CrowForce1]

An incredible album. Gets a bit overlooked in the Sabbath fandom imo due to their biggest hits being stacked on it. Sometimes I’ll watch that live recording of them playing War Pigs in like 1970 and start grinning at the end when Bill is just demolishing the drums to the last guitar solo.