Album · Released 21 July 1971
Master of Reality
Master of Reality feels heavy before it feels fast or loud. The lowered guitar and bass tones give Black Sabbath's riffs an unusually dense body, but the playing never becomes static. Bill Ward keeps pushing against the weight, helping the music move in ways that its blunt surface can hide. Sweet Leaf establishes that physical character immediately after its opening cough. The central riff is simple and immensely effective, while the faster…
On GrooveGauge
Master of RealityOur album review · 14 June 2026
9.5 