Black Sabbath

Master of Reality

First released1971

Master of Reality was recorded at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles between May and July 1971, following the massive commercial success of Paranoid. Producer Rick Rubin did not work on this album; instead, the band worked with engineer/producer Roy Thomas Baker, who would become known for his later work with Queen. The album featured the band experimenting with tuning their guitars down to lower registers, particularly on tracks like "Sweet Leaf," which contributed to the heavier, more sludgy sound compared to their previous work. Recording took place during a relatively brief period and the band maintained much of their live energy in the studio, with minimal overdubs on several tracks. This album marked a significant point in heavy metal's development, influencing the sludge and doom metal genres that would emerge in subsequent decades.