Genre: Traditional/Stoner Doom
Origin: United Kingdom
Release Date: 1971
Label: Warner
Ok, so this isn't underground in the least. But, hey, fuck you. This is the very first metal album I ever owned.
People get "into" metal through the more popular, mainstream bands. We didn't just start out liking Entombed. All of us at one point liked some embarrassing albums, too, whether they be Korn, Slipknot, or Poison. But anyway, some go through Metallica, some Megadeth, but my entry into metal was Black Sabbath, with Master of Reality, still one of the heaviest albums ever created. To think that this was recorded in fucking 1971 blows my mind. If I listened to this at that time I would've shat concrete blocks (made of weed)
There is a ton of psychedelic goodness here, with doomy, stonerific riffs. The riffs are just fantastic. If you thought that Dave Mustaine or Chuck Schuldiner were the best metal guitarists, then you are greatly mistaken, as proven by these monstrous riffs that roll over you with the force of a wave and the power of a fucking howitzer.
Among the sludge and doom riffage, though, are some slower tracks. "Solitude" is the only real soft song (the others are and intro and an interlude) but it is very neat. Arguably the first of a bajillion doom songs with the same name, the title fits the song perfectly. It's relaxing bass line and emotional lead playing really show the charisma that the band members share with each other.
The soft song leads into the heaviest song on the album, the epic and classic closer "Into the Void." Almost 30 years later, it still has some of the heaviest riffs known to man. Every instruments here ups the heavy factor by "1."
Bonus points for Geezer (fitting name, nowadays) here, the bass is very, very audible and the bass lines are excellent. He really paved the way for his instrument in heavy metal.
Sorry if this short review is a bit incoherent, because there is so much to say about this album. Listen for yourself, and take a trip - INTO THE VOID! (lame...)
| 1. | Sweet Leaf | 05:05 | |
| 2. | After Forever | 05:26 | |
| 3. | Embryo | 00:28 | |
| 4. | Children of the Grave | 05:17 | |
| 5. | Orchid | 01:31 | |
| 6. | Lord of This World | 05:26 | |
| 7. | Solitude | 05:02 | |
| 8. | Into the Void | 06:12 | |
| Total playing time | 34:27 | ||
Metal-Archives
*link removed because of DMCA complaint. However, I now strongly suggest that you download the album, and then give all of your friends the mp3 files.*
