Master of Reality

Not to be confused with Masters of Reality or Masters of Reality (album).

Master of Reality
Studio album by
Black Sabbath
Released6 August 1971[1]
Recorded7–15 February 1971
6–13 April 1971[2]
StudioIsland (London)
GenreHeavy metal
Length34:29
LabelVertigo
ProducerRodger Bain
Black Sabbath chronology
Paranoid
(1970) 		Master of Reality
(1971) 		Vol. 4
(1972)
Singles from Master of Reality
  1. "Children of the Grave"
    Released: August 1971[3]

Master of Reality is the third studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in the United Kingdom on 6 August 1971[4] by Vertigo Records.[5] It is regarded by some critics as the foundation of doom metal, stoner rock, and sludge metal.[6] Produced by Rodger Bain, who also produced the band's prior two albums, Master of Reality was recorded at Island Studios in London from February to April 1971. Guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler downtuned their instruments during the production, achieving what Iommi called a "bigger, heavier sound".[7]

Master of Reality peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and number eight on the US Billboard 200.[8] Though negatively received by critics on release, the album is now considered one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) after having sold over two million copies in the US.[9]

  1. ^ "NME advert".
  2. ^ Popoff, Martin (2020). Sabotage (2nd ed.). Wymer Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-912782-31-4.
  3. ^ "Children of the Grave single". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ^ "NME advert".
  5. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (18 January 1995). Great Rock discography. Canongate Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-86241-541-9.
  6. ^ Taylor 2006, pg. 199, "Some say that Master of Reality was the first stoner metal album. The album as a whole is more late 1960s Heavy Psych in the vain of May Blitz, Grand Funk Railroad, and Leaf Hound."
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference VH1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Black Sabbath – Master of Reality U.S. LP with poster".
  9. ^ Schaffner, Lauryn. "Black Sabbath's 'Master of Reality': 8 Facts Only Superfans Would Know". Loudwire. Archived from the original on 14 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.