Black Sabbath
Master of Reality (Vertigo)
Jade Devitt of L.A. heavy rockers Gale Forces told us about his love for a Black Sabbath classic...
Jade Devitt: Master of Reality by Black Sabbath keeps hitting over and over. An album responsible for creating more genres that you can count on your right hand. The messages and hard hitting riffs go straight to my brain. It’s gooey, sticky and dry all at the same time -a sonic behemoth where at any given moment the listener can choose which instrument is exactly leading the charge. While Iommi’s guitar creates a wandering landscape journey, it’s the combination of Geezer Butler’s heart felt, poignant lyrics with Ozzy’s ability to carry off the menace behind it all, that perfects here.
"Sweet Leaf" I admit is often skipped over, in favor of launching into "After Forever" which feels like an immediate escape into the ether, the expansive descending line takes me to space, pummeling while evoking thoughts of the afterlife. From here Sabbath paint beautifully with light and shade, quiet and contemplative with "Embryo" and "Orchid" framing "Children of the Grave." Bill Ward’s relentless swing and timpani overdub drive-home the anthemic quality of this track. “Revolution in their minds, the children start to march” putting Summer of Love flower children to task “Will the sunrise of tomorrow bring peace in any way?”
It’s here that Sabbath set themselves apart by creating a timeless reflection of mankind that resonates through the decades. Like a life guide it creates space for your most vulnerable feelings on tracks like "Solitude." Then exhilarates with bangers like "Lord of This World." Climaxing with the stone moving "Into the Void"--“Back on Earth the flame of life burns low, everywhere is misery and woe”. Heavy yet still relevant against the backdrop of modern times. This album is an old friend that keeps giving.
Gale Forces' single "Exits" is out now.
Band photo by Sean Sakamoto
