Customer Reviews

Paranoid

5 star:		(314)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

The span between their debut album and Paranoid was not very long (a little less than a year) but the difference was huge. All the grinding, powerful riffs from their 1st album had been refined and tightened and the legend that was Blak Sabbath became solidified here on their classic sophomore effort. Paranoid has so many truly great Sabbath classics that even the lesser tunes here are overshadowed by their greatness, erasing the few spots of mediocrity. Originally to be titled War Pigs (hence the pink guy on the cover wth the sword and shield)this is the epoch of hard, dark, killer rock. Moving forward from here Sabbath would never fully capture the greatness of Paranoid. If there ever was a must-have heavy metal album, this is it! I grew up listening to this as a kid in the early 70s and I gotta tel ya, these songs are imprinted in my soul!

War Pigs/Luke's Wall - Orginally titled Walpurgis(The Witches Sabbath) with completely different lyrics (hear the original on Ozzy's The Ozzman Cometh) Sabbath felt the whole Satanic thing was getting too out of hand. New lyrics and new title. This is one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time! Absolutely perfect. I can never get tired of hearing it. Tight, cohesive, astounding! A true classic!

Paranoid - This is Black Sabbath's signature song. Straight-forward rocker. Actually only made it on the album because they needed another song to round out the playing time. Ended up being the title of the album, even though the cover is geared to War Pigs, which was going to be the original title. Wow. A filler tune that became great. Who would have guessed? Ozzy to this day stil ends his shows with this Sabbath clssic.

Planet Caravan - This weird little tune actually grows on you to the point where you wind up liking it. Stange effects on Ozzy's voice make him unrecongnizable. Eerie. Haunting. Not their best, but cool enough to garner a Pantera cover years later. Iommi's playing here is mature and melodic. Experimental Sabbath.

Iron Man - Another Sabbath classic! There are so many here! This became a car comercial jingle last year. Pounding. Metal. In-your-face riff. Another truly great tune. I AM IRON MAN!

Electric Funeral - Often overlooked, Electric Funeral is a great song. The riff makes your head swim and the lyrics are kinda cheesy, but this song rocks. Dark, politically-angry, sci-fi metal goodness!

Hand Of Doom - Starts off mellow and moves along into a rocker. About addiction and anti-Vietnam sentiments and, well.... Death & Destruction! One of my personal favorites and another often overlooked song.

Rat Salad - If Paranoid were said to have a weak point, Rat Salad would be it. Nothing more than an instrumental to showcase Sabbath's jamming skills and Bill Ward's drumming prowess. But...it still "Rocks out loud!" as my younger daughter would say. And it showed us something as well: that Bill Ward was a highly-underrated drummer. At a time were everyone was hailing John Bonham and Keith Moon and such as the essential rock drummers, Ward was strangely absent from the list of greats.

Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots - Yet another Sabbath classic! The lyrics are funny! I'm sorry, but they are. Still, this is a great song where most last songs on albums weren't. 'Cause smokin' & trippin' are all that you do.... Yeah! Hilarious. Classic.

Overall, this is Sabath's most coherent, cohesive effort Their perfect album. With so many staple songs on one recording, how can one not realize that this is the Bible of heavy Metal Albums! Ozzy, Tony, Geezer & Bill became the Godfathers of Metal with Paranoid. And rightly so!

DIG IT!

Black Sabbath's Paranoid album is not only the band's finest hour but also one of the best heavy metal albums ever produced. Although there were many great moments on their first five albums, Paranoid is their only release that is fantastic from beginning to end. Also worth noting is that Paranoid, with the exception of AC/DC's Back In Black, is the best album ever recorded where the songs are based on heavy memorable riffs.

How great are the tracks here? Three of the greatest heavy metal songs ever, "War Pigs", "Iron Man", and the title track are all present here with the latter two being the band's only Top 100 hits. Lead singer Ozzy Osbourne still performs all of these songs regularly whether it's with his solo band or with Black Sabbath on the Ozzfest tours. "War Pigs" is arguably one of the greatest anti-war tracks recorded, which is astounding since these issues were typically touched on more by singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan and Neil Young than bands of their genre. "Iron Man" is still one of the coolest guitar riffs ever recorded and along with the title track still receives generous airplay on classic rock radio. Amazingly, the rest of the album is very strong as well. The tracks "Electric Funeral" and "Hand Of Doom" both feature slow memorable riffs in the chorus and verses and then go into killer jams during the middle of the track. The instrumental "Rat Salad" is also excellent, carried by Bill Ward's underrated energetic drumming. The heavy shuffle of "Fairies Wear Boots" and the moody "Planet Caravan" are also great tracks. This is also their most influential album as Paranoid encouraged literally thousands of teenagers to pick up a guitar and later form heavy metal bands. You can still hear this influence in many of today's heavy bands like Staind and Disturbed. An essential album for all heavy metal fans. Highly recommended.

Fans will debate my title for ages. But, their is no doubt that Black Sabbath is certainly one of the most influential & yet oddly underappreciated bands of the twentieth century. I'll focus only on the half of the album I prefer. "Planet Caravan is an often underappreciated soft tune that lingers in your mind. Tony Iommi & Geezer hit it right with "Iron Man." The formers riffs were unique when this album came out in 1970 & they still are. Geezer drums in time with Ozzy's Monotone delivery. Many say this song gets overplayed. But, why? Someone must be requesting it as they do LED Zeppelin's "Kashmir." In "Hand Of Doom," the thumping drums & Tony's piercing riffs give it true juice. "Rat Salad," is unlike any instrumental I have ever heard. It holds the mystery around the band well. "Electric Funeral." is a unique twist for a protest song against nuclear war. It may be the best track on the album? "Paranoid," their most popular & bizarre of songs even though it makes little sense.

"Paranoid" is not only Black Sabbath's most popular and breakthrough album, it is also arguably the best heavy metal album of all time. Saying that it's the best metal of all time should be enough to persuade you to buy it, but if you're still not convinced, read the rest of this review.

Black Sabbath debuted in 1970, so they're probably one of the only bands you listen to that you're parents/teachers have heard of, can tolerate, and maybe even grew up listening to. Black Sabbath also saw the beginning of a guy named Ozzy Osbourne. Ozzy would be fired from the band later in the 1970's, but he formed his own band, which was equally as successful. Plus, the work he did with BS earned him the title of "heavy metal's godfather."

Black Sabbath are, to me, the epitome of heavy metal, since (probably) at least 90% of modern metal bands were somehow influenced by them. Granted, Led Zeppelin were probably the band to give birth to heavy metal, but Sabbath are just as responsible for most bands (from Pantera to Slipknot to Eyehategod). And "Paranoid," an album which featured five very famous songs, was pretty much as heavy as heavy music got in the 1970's, and was also the beginning of a type of metal known as "doom metal." Doom metal is slow and melancholy and has dark and sludgy riffs. Bands like My Dying Bride and Crowbar wouldn't exist if it weren't for Ozzy and the gang. Tony isn't as good as Randy Rhodes, the guitarist in Ozzy's solo band, but he still is pretty great. Plus, he is even more of a legend when you consider Randy Rhodes probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for Tony.

"Paranoid" is plenty old (now), so it's sound quality has definitely taken a dip. Other than that, however, it has aged very well. It is still getting radio play and bands are still being influenced by it. Even if Black Sabbath broke up, their legend lives on through other bands. Thus, if I've ever heard an album that has withstood the test of time, this is it.

"War Pigs" follows the classic Black Sabbath song structure (soft-loud-soft-loud). It begins with a few guitar riffs and a drum beat, before turning to "dun dun" riffs, with a high hat crashing in between them. Ozzy then starts to sing about witchcraft and war, Bob does some good hand drum work and Tony plays slowly cascading riffs. A wailing guitar solo is included, and the tempo speeds up, but the song ends soon thereafter.
"Paranoid" might be the catchiest song the album. It's very fast paced with groovy guitars (which chug in the verses), has good vocal hooks and a short but sweet solo is tossed in at the end.
"Planet Caravan" is very spacey and mellow, due to the almost aquatic guitar chords, dreary vocals, and soft hand percussion (which almost sound like tribal drums). This song is partially famous because Pantera covered it, and even though they did a pretty good job, there's nothing like the original version.
"Iron Man" opens with a few thumping drums, then a world famous and very catchy guitar riff. The first four words are spoken with a robotic voice, and then the music changes to echo the vocals and lyrics. There's some more good, driving drumming here, but I think this guitar solo is the best on the album.
"Rat Salad" is an instrumental, and Bill's drum work makes it famous. It begins with almost machine gun snare drumming and fast pounding floor toms, and there's a great drum solo around the 1:15 mark. This everything but the kitchen sink solo lasts for about 50 seconds.

"Paranoid" is nothing short of a classic. It is absolutely essential listening, and a cornerstone of any heavy metal collection. Buy this album or forever be un-metal Plus, since heavy metal is an important part of rock's history, "Paranoid" is a must own for any complete rock collection.. And even if metal isn't your thing, at least give Ozzy, Tony, Terence, and Bob credit for being the influential godfathers of metal, and for making one of the most important albums of all time.

The title says it all. Normally, when a band releases their second album, it is utter [edit] compared to their debut. That's not the case with Sabbath. You get killer guitar solos from THE Tony Iommi, great basslines from Geezer Butler, great drumming from Bill Ward, and of course the signature vocals from Ozzy Obbourne. Here's what I think of the songs...

1. War Pigs(5/5)Classic song. If you haven't heard this song, I luagh at you!
2. Paranoid(5/5)See #1
3. Planet Caravan(5/5)Great ballad
4. Iron Man(5/5)See #1
5. Electric Funeral(5/5)
6. Hand of Doom(5/5)
7. Rat Salad(5/5)Nice drum solo.
8. Fairies Wear Boots(5/5)Funny lyrics.

You SHOULD buy this if....
1. You like music.
2. Are living.
3. Are anti-mainstream, as I am.
4. A fan of metal.
5. A fan of hard rock.

You SHOULDN'T buy this if:
1. You already have it.
2. Can't find it.
3. If you don't have enough money.

I, for one, tend to feel that Black Sabbath's debut is rather underappreciated, but there's no denying that "Paranoid" is the album that really got thing going, both for Black Sabbath and for metal in general. Probably the most impressive thing about "Paranoid" is just how well it holds up. Lotsa historically significant albums like this don't hold up that well after thirty+ years, being surpassed by bigger and better things. Now, "Paranoid" isn't the greatest metal album of all time, but it's still up there, and that ain't a little thing, since it's pretty much the second metal album ever. (I enjoy Zep, but they don't sound like metal to me, and they ain't as good as Sab anyway.)

The debut was a metal album, for sure, but Black Sabbath really begins to fully define the sound with this album, cutting down on the blues-rock elements and going for more straight up, pounding, metal riffs. Iommi has never sounded better than he does here, though the rhythm section is still the secret weapon of the band, as Butler and Ward allow for a bit more groove than lotsa later rhythm sections. Ozzy's not much of a singer from a technical standpoint, but he suits the sound well, and his flat, eerie delivery forces us to take the sometimes silly lyrics more seriously than they have any right to be taken.

"Paranoid" is wall to wall classics, all laying the base for what would come. "War Pigs" is a big classic rock radio song now, and not w/o reason. It's one of the most flatly ominous things they've ever done, where Ozzy's limited vox are used to their best possible effect, and Iommi tosses out some of his best, most bruising riffs. The title track is a driving, energetic number presaging both punk and speed metal, and it's followed by the gentle, underappreciated "Planet Caravan". It's a good thing Sabbath didn't make too many songs like this one, but it's an interesting change of pace for one track. Then we come to "Iron Man", perhaps the definitive metal song, even after all these years. It rules, no doubt.

The second half of "Paranoid" isn't as well remembered as the first, but it presents no substantiative drop in quality. "Hand of Doom" and "Electric Funeral" are two fine, slow moving pieces with tons of atmosphere, both pointing towards the doom metal movement. We close with the dual closers "Rat Salad" and "Fairies Wear Boots", both of which kick up the energy level a bit, with brisk, cracking snare fills and some of Ozzie's best, funnest vocals in the latter. Not the strongest tracks on the album, but still good and far from filler.

Yeah, I'm done. No need for a review, really. Any and all metal fans need this album, obviously. (Actually, you need the Black Box box set, but it comes to the same thing.)

Of all the Black Sabbath albums I like, Paranoid is my #1 favorite, it has all the immortal classic anthems and I'm going to rate it by one song at a time.
War Pigs (7:55)
A real badass song about the Vietnam and the intro part is startling. A+
Paranoid (2:50)
Black Sabbath's hard rock/metal anthem and it became the band's only U.K. Top 20 single hitting #4 on the U.K. Billboard Singles Chart and it was originally intended as the filler track. A+
Planet Caravan (4:30)
A slow moving song which doesn't sound like Ozzy at all, if you first heard of this song and didn't know who it was, don't be fooled, not a bad track and alot better than their 1980's/90's stuff) B+
Iron Man (6:00)
My all time favorite Black Sabbath song and their other hard rock/metal anthem, it's got wicked guitar solos and drum beats, I've been a huge fan of this song since I was 12 years old. A+
Electric Funeral (4:50)
One of Sabbath's most underrated anthems of the early 70's, and it has the vein of 'Iron Man'. A+
Hand of Doom (7:10)
At first, I didn't really care for this song but it'll grow on you after a while, it's a tale about drug abuse. A+
Rat Salad (2:30)
Not a bad instrumental, which really sounds like the intro to 'Fairies Wear Boots'. B
Fairies Wear Boots (6:15)
Another tale about drug abuse and one of Black Sabbath's well known anthems, too bad that it couldn't be on the box set 'Under Wheels of Confusion'. A

If you're a rock/metal fan and want just one album, get this album cause it really kicks [behind], as a matter of fact, this album is worth it for 'Paranoid'/'Iron Man' alone.

This album may be from 1970 but don't its age fool you. It is very hard hitting. Ozzy provides some of the greatest lyrics and Tony Iommi proves why he is one of the best guitar players ever to live. This is real metal, unlike that mainstream stuff, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, KoRn.

Paranoid is their 2nd album. If you need good reviews here they are:
War Pigs:I am a drummer so you have no idea what this song brings to me. Killer riffs and drums, I am amazed how Bill kept up with this song, listen to it, it may sound easy but try it.A+

Paranoid:Their title track, kinda slow if listened to on low volume. Try others that are faster.A+

Planet Caravan: Dont ask, I'm Metal not bongo drums and acoustic. C

Iron Man: Listen to it and decide yourself, There is alot to say about their best song on earth. You might recognize main riff! AAAAAA+++++++++

Electric Funeral:Killer riffs and the eeriest vocals you have ever heard. A+

Hand of Doom: Has the coolest Bass guitar on Earth. Plus some loud choruses. A+

Rat Salad:The only good Part:Drum solo. D

Faries wear Boots: Ok this one is just plain weird. You need to listen to it twice. A
All in all it couldn't be better!! Bye and BUY!!

If every single C.D. in the world was to be wiped off the earth, but I was allowed to keep just one album, "Paranoid" would be that album. That's how strongly I feel about this album, and that's how utterly vital I believe this band is and how much I respect Black Sabbath. Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill were (and still are) four hard-working, blue-collar gentlemen, who appreciated a good tune and a stiff drink as much as you or I. They respected the `peace and happiness' thing that all the other bands were singing about, but they wanted the other side of life (the dark and depressing side) to make an appearance as well. Their environment and lives were shown through the music that they created (which was very misunderstood), and it definitely worked for A LOT of people. Say what you want about the band, whether you praise and exalt them or ridicule their guts out, because not one solitary person can deny Sabbath's contributions to the metal genre and their influence on every single metal band in the business...PERIOD! Since their inception, Sabbath have been creating historical and monumental work, significantly making their mark on the music industry in more ways than one could ever imagine. And what makes me sick is the so-called metal fans saying stuff like "oh yeah, Paranoid's an okay album, but it's just so overrated" or "sure the songs on there are {hip} enough, but they get overplayed so much it's repulsive". Hell, if anything, Paranoid doesn't get ENOUGH credit in our society, and about the songs being overplayed, chew on this thought. Those of you who agree with this reviewer, remember the very first time you heard Paranoid. Whether that golden year was in 1970, '80, '90, 2007, or whatever, just close your eyes and think back to the feelings you felt when this inexplicable album was spinning. The throbbing your neck endured after head banging to the title track, the raspy and sore feeling in your throat after singing along to "War Pigs", the chills and goose bumps you got when the main riff for "Electric Funeral" was underway, or how about the disappointment of having to buy new speakers after "Iron Man" blew out your old ones. Yes, all of those feelings (and many more) are why you immediately adored this album and in turn treasured it in your hearts forever. I'm here, not to urge everyone to buy this album (because if you truly love metal, then you already own this), but to restore the admiration that one should feel about this incredible album, and to reinstate the motto that Sabbath started so long ago: "We sold our souls for rock n roll"!