Paranoid

album by Black Sabbath

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July 22, 2026

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"Paranoid" is a seminal album by the British band Black Sabbath, released in 1970. It is widely considered one of the most influential heavy metal albums of all time. The album is characterized by its dark and foreboding image, featuring ominous guitar riffs, slow tempos, and the distinctive sullen vocals of Ozzy Osbourne.12

Key tracks from "Paranoid" include the title song, "War Pigs," and "Iron Man," which have become enduring classics of the heavy metal genre. The album's success, despite initial critical disdain, propelled Black Sabbath to stardom and established them as pioneers of heavy metal music.13

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heavy metal
Power-chord pioneers
…Deep Purple in Rock, and Paranoid, respectively, which featured heavy riffs, distorted “power chords,” mystical lyrics, guitar and drum solos, and vocal styles that ranged from the wails of Zeppelin’s Robert Plant to the whines of Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne.
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…Deep Purple in Rock, and Paranoid, respectively, which featured heavy riffs, distorted “power chords,” mystical lyrics, guitar and drum solos, and vocal styles that ranged from the wails of Zeppelin’s Robert Plant to the whines of Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne.
Read More