Black Sabbath – Paranoid

Review

"Paranoid" by Black Sabbath really threw the doors wide open for what heavy metal could be back in 1970. This beast of an album, their second studio release, really crystalized that raw Sabbath sound—doom-laden guitar riffs, the thunderous boom of the drums, and of course, Ozzy Osbourne’s one-of-a-kind wail cutting through the din. The way they meld gritty instrumentation with chilling lyrics, you just know they were onto something big, something that would shape the tunes of so many bands that listened in awe.

The tracks on this album are nothing short of legendary. From the intense rush of the title track "Paranoid," to the sinister might of "War Pigs," and the iconic, unyielding hooks of "Iron Man," these songs are the cornerstones of what we now think of as the classic heavy metal sound. They’re not just amazing because they rock hard, but because they’ve stood the test of time, becoming anthems that every rock enthusiast has banged their head to at some point. Bottom line, if you're into any kind of rock—especially the kind that gets your heart pumping and your fists pounding the air—"Paranoid" is a cornerstone album that you just can't skip. - Preston