Ep. 120 Black Sabbath - Master of Reality - Review & Reaction! Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality, released in 1971, is a landmark album in heavy metal history. It took the band’s signature doom-laden sound to a new level, emphasizing slower, heavier, and more menacing riffs. This album was crucial in shaping the doom, sludge, and stoner metal subgenres, influencing countless bands like Sleep, Kyuss, and Electric Wizard. Tony Iommi’s down-tuned guitar (due to a factory accident that damaged his fingertips) contributed to an even darker and thicker sound, making Master of Reality one of the heaviest records of its time. Master of Reality laid the groundwork for multiple metal subgenres, particularly doom metal, sludge metal, and stoner rock. Its raw, down tuned heaviness, combined with themes of war, religion, drugs, and despair, resonated with generations of metalheads. The album is frequently cited as one of the greatest metal records of all time, and its influence can be heard in the works of bands like Metallica, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. This album solidified Black Sabbath’s role as the forefathers of heavy metal, proving that music could be both devastatingly heavy and deeply introspective. Over 50 years later, Master of Reality remains essential listening for any rock or metal fan.