The documentary includes interviews with vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward. Other industry insiders and journalists also discuss the general history of Black Sabbath, then specifically the Paranoid album. A track by track discussion and performance clips illustrate the creation and recording of this classic album.
“War Pigs,” “Iron Man” and the title track are some of the greatest songs in metal history, and the inside scoop of how they (and the rest of the songs on the album) came to be is really interesting. In addition to talking about the songs, Iommi, Butler and Ward also demonstrate some of the riffs, both in the main documentary and in the bonus footage. Engineer Tom Allom also breaks down some of the individual musical parts.
It's been over 40 years since the release of Paranoid, and it has held up incredibly well. A big percentage of today's metal fans weren't even born when it came out, and Classic Albums: Black Sabbath – Paranoid is an important history lesson, not to mention an entertaining chronicle of a record that should be in every metal aficionado's collection.
(released June 29, 2010 on Eagle Rock Entertainment)
