Master Of Reality - Song By Song breakdown.

[Charger]

So now it is time for the best Ozzy-era Sabbath album (atleast in terms of overall song quality, eventhough it doesn't feature any of their ABSOLUTE best tracks)

The album opens up with the worst track SWEET LEAF but I think that's a great thing. You know right away things are gonna just get better!

Tony Iommi's coughing intro has always been one of the most unique things I've ever heard and it does fit the songs theme which is the glorification of the drug marijuana. Honestly the message of the song is what brings it down the most. Never liked these drug songs...

However the riff is bit erratic as well. It's like the power of the riff goes in and out. It doesn't flow like all other Iommi riffs do. The vocal melody copies that style and doesn't flow very well either. The solo is where the song's good properties lie but honestly I prefer to start this album straight from the following track.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

As people know this is not one of my favourite Sabbath albums, but there's not actually a bad song on it (well, instrumentals aside! )

I think Sweet Leaf is a solid opener, not much else to say about it really!

[Typhon]

I find Sweet Leaf to be one of the best tracks on this flawless album.  Iommi and Butler set this's album's tone right off the bat with this song.  The cough idea was great.  Ward really shines during the instrumental break.  But the best thing about this song, for me, was Ozzy's performance.  He absolutely kills it with the necessary energy and effort it takes to express his love for the sweet leaf.  A terrific song!   

[Zzzptm]

Hate the lyrics, love everything else about the song. It's the birth of stoner rock, right there in that tune.

[Jack the Stripper]

I’ve always liked Sweet Leaf and the songs pretty dam good as well 

Strong riffage, classic Iommi tone with a great instrumental breakdown and solo which is the best part of the song and the lyrics are an unashamed loving tribute to the Sweet Leaf 

[Charger]

After Forever is a very interesting track. It's probably the most commercial sounding track of all on the album but eventhough the riffing isn't quite as heavy as with the other tracks it still has a very nice drive and groove to it.

Lyrically this is quite different that what people probably would have expected from Sabbath. In fact I think Geezer wrote the lyrics to kind of stick it to all the press and reviewers at the time calling them satanic and what not and went on to write a song about god and religion from a believer's point of view. The irony works extremely well and this is actually one of Geezer's most underrated lyrics I think.

Ozzy's vocal melody follows the riff quite well again and for a riff of this type it works too. Geezer plays bass almost like a rythm guitar here which is great and Bill's drumming is as solid as ever.

It was quite surprising to see this song outed during the Reunion tour as it was something of a forgotten classic.

Great and a very unique track in Sabbath's history.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

After Forever is another really solid song, love the bass on it, and lyrically interesting (so I guess it's a Geezer special!).

[Typhon]

After Forever is a hymn.  It is the heaviest hymn I ever heard, making it my favorite of all hymns.    Besides, who wouldn't "like to see the pope on the end of a rope"?     Great tune.

[Zzzptm]

After Forever has a good measure of complexity to it and I remember the lyrics taking me completely by surprise when I first heard them.

For the track mix, though, it's in an odd place in between a MJ song and then one about global catastrophe, specifically one that impacts children. Don't see where it would really fit in on side 2, either.

[Charger]

I've always kind of felt that with that little fade in intro bit After Forever would have worked well as an opener.

[Zzzptm]

I've always kind of felt that with that little fade in intro bit After Forever would have worked well as an opener.

True, but I'm thinking still for a different album. It would definitely fit better in the mix on SBS.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'll move onto Embryo. Yuk! It's only 30 seconds but outlives its welcome way before it's finished! Seriously if they had spent more time developing it into a proper tune it could have worked. As it is I think Tony may have have just doodled in the studio for a couple of minutes and decided to put it on the album. It is a short album so maybe it's understandable!

[Charger]

Embryo has to be my all time favourite Sabbath instrumental. It just flows perfectly and it's nice and short and works as an amazing intro.

[Typhon]

Embryo is a nice Lead In to Children of the Grave.  Honestly, I can't listen to Children of the Grave without it.  To me, the 2 just go together.

[Charger]

^^^
Same to me. Live versions without have always felt bit lacking because it's not included.