History Music / MasterOfReality

''Master of Reality'' is the third album by British HeavyMetal pioneers Music/BlackSabbath, released by Creator/VertigoRecords in England and Creator/WarnerBrosRecords in America on 21 July 1971. It was the first album in which guitarist Tony Iommi had downtuned his guitar one and a half steps to reduce string tension and reduce the pain on his middle and ring fingers on his right hand[[note]]while working in a factory as a teenager, he lost the tips of said fingers in an accident[[/note]]. Said downtuning had led to a heavier sound that was put into good use for songs such as "Children of the Grave" and "Sweet Leaf", forming foundations for DoomMetal and stoner rock respectively.

The album was a commercial success on release, having gone double platinum in the United States. Bands such as Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/{{Soundgarden}} and Music/SmashingPumpkins were influenced by this album's sound.

* EpicRocking: While subdued compared to Black Sabbath's first two albums, there is a track that exceeds six minutes: [[LongestSongGoesLast the last track]], "Into the Void"

* GodIsLoveSongs: "After Forever" stated that "God is the only way to love".

* NotChristianRock: "After Forever" was made because the band was sick of being called Satanist, with Ozzy being a regular Anglican and the rest devout Catholics.

''Master of Reality'' is the third album by British HeavyMetal pioneers Music/BlackSabbath, released by Creator/VertigoRecords in England and Creator/WarnerBrosRecords in America on 21 July, 1971. It was the first album in which guitarist Tony Iommi had downtuned his guitar one and a half steps to reduce string tension and reduce the pain on his middle and ring fingers on his right hand[[note]]while working in a factory as a teenager, he lost the tips of said fingers in an accident[[/note]]. Said downtuning had led to a heavier sound that was put into good use for songs such as "Children of the Grave" and "Sweet Leaf", forming foundations for DoomMetal and stoner rock respectively.

The album was a commercial success on release, having gone two times platinum in the United States. Bands such as Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/{{Soundgarden}} and Music/SmashingPumpkins were influenced by this album's sound.

''Master of Reality'' is the third album by British HeavyMetal pioneers Music/BlackSabbath, released by Creator/VertigoRecords on 21 July, 1971. It was the first album in which guitarist Tony Iommi had downtuned his guitar one and a half steps to reduce string tension and reduce the pain on his middle and ring fingers on his right hand[[note]]while working in a factory as a teenager, he lost the tips of said fingers in an accident[[/note]]. Said downtuning had led to a heavier sound that was put into good use for songs such as "Children of the Grave" and "Sweet Leaf", forming foundations for doom metal and stoner rock respectively.

* EpicRocking: While subdued compared to Black Sabbath's first two albums, there is a track that exceeds six minutes:[[LongestSongGoesLast the last track]], "Into the Void"

* EpicRocking: The sole song that exceeds six minutes was the last track

* GodIsGood: Quoth "After Forever": "God is the only way to love"

The album was a commercial success on release, having gone two times platinum in the United States, but critics at the time looked at it with disdain, including from Robert Christgau and Magazine/RollingStone. Retrospective views of the album however have been much better, since reviews tend to regard it as a fine work, and bands such as Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/{{Soundgarden}} and Music/SmashingPumpkins were influenced by this album's sound. The accolades also go as far as to put it in top albums lists through UsefulNotes/{{Rolling Stone|500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime}} and UsefulNotes/{{Acclaimed Music|AllTimeTopAlbums}}.

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Lord of this world / Evil possessor / Lord of this world / He's your confessor now."'']]

-->--"'''Children of the Grave'''"

* {{Instrumentals}}: "Embryo" and "Orchid"
* LongestSongGoesLast: "Into the Void", which was just above six minutes.

* MinisculeRocking: "Embryo" lasts just under a half minute.

* NonAppearingTitle: "After Forever" and "Into the Void"

[[caption-width-right:350:''"Lord of this world\Evil possessor\Lord of this world\He's your confessor now."'']]

''Master of Reality'' is the third album by British HeavyMetal pioneers Music/BlackSabbath, released by Creator/VertigoRecords on 21 July, 1971. It was the first album in which guitarist Tommy Iommi had downtuned his guitar one and a half steps to reduce string tension and reduce the pain on his middle and ring fingers on his right hand[[note]]while working in a factory as a teenager, he lost the tips of said fingers in an accident[[/note]]. Said downtuning had led to a heavier sound that was put into good use for songs such as "Children of the Grave" and "Sweet Leaf", forming foundations for doom metal and stoner rock respectively.

* Tommy Iommi - guitars, synthesizer, flute, piano

* NewSoundAlbum: Tommy Iommi's guitar being downtuned out of necessity has led to a heavier sound that sets it apart from the first two albums.

The album was a commercial success on release, having gone two times platinum in the United States, but critics at the time looked at it with disdain, including from Robert Christgau and Music/RollingStone. Retrospective views of the album however have been much better, since reviews tend to regard it as a fine work, and bands such as Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/{{Soundgarden}} and Music/SmashingPumpkins were influenced by this album's sound. The accolades also go as far as to put it in top albums lists through UsefulNotes/{{Rolling Stone|500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime}} and UsefulNotes/{{Acclaimed Music|AllTimeTopAlbums}}.