Happy 45th: Black Sabbath, Master of Reality

45 years ago today, Black Sabbath released their third studio album, setting into motion a genre of music described variously as doom metal, sludge metal, and stoner rock, but try to move past that and just enjoy Master of Reality for what it is: a true heavy metal classic.

Recorded in the early months of 1971, Master of Reality was produced by Rodger Bain, completing his trifecta of albums for the band, but it would prove to be the last time he worked with them. Still, what a way to go out, right? Songs like “After Forever,” “Children of the Grave,” and “Into the Void” may be dark, but they’re some of the best darkness that the band ever delivered on an album.

Ozzy Osbourne may not recall much about recording the album – he wrote as much in his autobiography, I Am Ozzy – but three things still stand strong in his memory:

“Tony [Iommi] detuned his guitar to make it easier to play.”
“Geezer [Butler] wrote ‘Sweet Leaf’ about all the dope we’d been smoking.”
“‘Children of the Grave’ was the most kick-ass song we’d ever recorded.”

Hey, you have to admit, those are three pretty great things to remember.