BLACK SABBATH: Master Of Reality (HEAVY METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

When Black Sabbath (Ozzy Osbourne period) invites itself in a musical conversation, inevitably the conversation converges on "Paranoid", an absolute reference that effectively eclipses a part of the band's discography that was undoubtedly one of the most productive of that time. However, only a few months after the tremendous success of the band's second album, this one has the chance to strike a blow.

Indeed, if the previous album drew them a large audience, the latter also has requirements, and the pressure rises for Black Sabbath when the third album of Led Zeppelin was coldly welcomed because of its omnipresent acoustic side. However Tony Iommi reassures everyone by declaring that the album to come would be the heaviest since their beginnings. And with a lot of illicit substances, Black Sabbath starts to work.

And obviously, they keep their promise. The album is quite dark, with Iommi tuning his guitars much lower (followed by the bassist), going from E to C#. This is reflected in the music, and the deep riffs are all over, following one another in the songs to articulate them smartly. The structures are exciting and full of melody. Dynamic passages supported by Bill Ward's frenetic drums are followed by slow and hypnotic breaks that will greatly influence the future Doom metal. The bass is ample and thus gives depth to the songs preventing them from being too linear.

The tracks all follow the same construction mode and the same global tone while having their own personality. However, to avoid a certain listening lassitude, the band smartly integrates two acoustic interludes and a ballad in this surge, proving that Black Sabbath is far from being a one-dimensional band. The tracks are successful, especially "Solitude", a worthy offspring of a certain "Planet Caravan". The voice of the Madman is softer, and the music directly catches the attention, with the creation of a very particular atmosphere, a bit spatial.

The only reproach that can be made to "Master Of Reality" is not very original because it concerns its age. It's hard, in 2009, not to see the marks of time on the music. The drums sound sometimes outdated, and the guitar pieces lack of power. But of course, this kind of remark is only there to warn the neophyte who leans on a legend of the metal, so that it does not mislead on the goods. In reality, this album confirms the immense talent of the phenomenon that this band has now become. - Official website

BLACK SABBATH

MASTER OF REALITY

WARNER

HEAVY METAL