This two CD version of Master Of Reality is a must have for Black Sabbath fans mainly for the second disc, which contains previously unreleased versions of all but one song from M.O.R. and the rarest of creatures, a previously unreleased song, yes, a bona-fide song!! As far as I know, this is the first official release on CD of any previously unreleased Black Sabbath song. The name of the song is 'Weevil Woman 71', supposedly (at least that's what they say in the liner notes) in reference to 'Evil Woman', which it also kind of borrows the riff from. I agree with what they say in the liner notes...it's a shame the Black Sabbath didn't work on this song more and try to include it on one of their albums, for even in this slightly unfinished and rough state, it is a killer of a song!! The main riff is very heavy and I like the way the tempo picks up in places. I think this tune would have sounded more at home on Volume 4 than on Master Of Reality. It is not the greatest song Black Sabbath have ever done, but hey, it's 'previously unreleased', man, and is definitely going to be played on the my next radio show on the 25th of July.

Also on the second disc, we are treated to instrumental studio outtakes of After Forever, Solitude, Orchid and Children Of The Grave, along with alternate lyric versions of Sweet Leaf, Into The Void and Children Of The Grave and an alternate mix of Lord Of This World. Aside from Weevil Woman 71,the version of Lord Of This World is the most interesting thing here, as it has Ozzy's vocal double tracked and most importantly, piano and...in a few places...SLIDE GUITAR! While I can see why they ultimately didn't include this mix on the original album, in some ways I actually prefer it! As for the alternate lyrical versions, I am happy that these lyrics didn't eventually get used and am even more grateful for the lyrics that Geezer would later write for them. Still, it is very cool and interesting to hear.

As for the original album, it is actually my least favorite of the first three Black Sabbath albums, though I still absolutely love it and consider a classic album and easily give it five stars. After Forever is in my top ten of favorite Black Sabbath songs. I have always loved Solitude, which showed off a more mellow and laid back side of the group. Production-wise, it is the heaviest and loudest Black Sabbath album ever, with Iommi getting his best guitar sound. A classic album. This two CD version is another reason to buy it again.

Its clear listening to bands like Cathedral or Electric Wizard that they were heavily influenced by Black Sabbath.From beginning to end Master Of Reality has a heaviness that's missing from any other Sabbath album ever recorded.The low distortion,the trudging,plodding pace,all that's missing is the depressing lyrical content and we'd have a Candlemass album.All of the songs truly shine with a life of their own.From the opener Sweet Leaf to the closing and heaviest Sabbath song ever written Into the Void,this is a stellar album that in my opinion is arguably one of the best and most underrated heavy metal albums in existence.My personal favorites here are Children of the Grave,Into the Void and the perfectly melancholy Solitude which one could view as the precursor to Volume 4's ballad Changes.Also check the album's second song for further proof that the members of Sabbath weren't satanists.This is by far my favorite Sabbath album and after a few dozen listens,it'll be yours too.

This 1971 hard-rock/metal classic contains great remastered sound quality of the original album(by Andy Pearce)and contains an extra disc of previously unreleased tracks(Weevil Woman '71),alternate takes("Sweet Leaf" and "Children Of The Grave" with different lyrics,"Lord Of This World" with piano & slide guitar overdubs and an embryoic-stage "Into The Void" called "Spanish Sid") and instrumental versions,which is likely to delight hard-core Sabbath fans.Also contains a booklet with an entertaining essay by David Wells,plus photos,memorabilia and printed lyrics.Spendid!

With two albums under their belts, Black Sabbath evolved from a good local act to stunning band and was staring to get some recognition after Paranoid. Their third album Master of Reality was to be released in 1971, and to this day it's still one of my favorite albums of all time and one of Sabbath's greatest. The first self-titled album was a strong bluesy, really dark and heavier than anything else out there, then they got known with Paranoid which is considered one of the best and most influential album of all-time. But in my opinion if there's one album that you can get tired of hearing of all that Sabbath has done, it has to be Paranoid. I like Master of Reality better, the songs are just better to me and it's something you don't always hear on classic rock radio like Paranoid or Iron Man. Besides I think the album represents the band at best, as lords of doom. In 2009 Master of Reality was remastered and now has a better sound along with a second disc of extra tracks which should be enough to make any Black Sabbath fan happy.

Master starts out with the epic opening of Sweet Leaf, with Tony Iommi choking on a joint(it's truly how it begins) and the songs just kicks in with the nice slow riff, it truly is one of Sabbath's best songs. I will also mention it was written about Ozzy's leaf of choice(I guess you know which one). After Forever is one of the best things the band did, if you read the lyrics more closely you'll see that its Sabbath saying they believe in god! It might sound weird with Sabbath's reputation at the time, but they wanted to get the satanic thing behind them at the time. "Would you like to see the pope on the end of the rope? Do you think he's a fool? Well I've seen the truth and I've changed my ways" just great lyrical stuff. Then Embryo follows which is a nice and different, 28 seconds acoustic song, it's a great introduction to another classic, Children of the Grave. Another personal fav, Tony's chug-a-chug riff, Ozzy's vocals, Geezer's bass playing and Bill's drumming altogether make this song [pretty fast considering the time and make the song special.

Orchid is a more complete instrumental; it lasts longer than Embryo and sounds better with gentle acoustic guitar. Lord of this World is a slow rocker like Sweet Leaf, just another great song, and much like the rest of the album really dark. The ending is fantastic with the song getting faster with a great drum beat and another amazing solo. Solitude follows; it's a slower more emotional song. I feel the song is beautiful, it seems weird but I think it's truly a unique song and something very different and well done for Black Sabbath, plus the guitar work is amazing, not much of a riff, just melody. It's not a song they played live often (if they ever did), but I appreciate it and like to hear this from one of my favorite band. The name fits the song really well as it pretty much describes the whole song in one word. Into The Void is the epic here, at 6:11 it's the longest song on the album.Another excellent song not much to say except it's highpoint.

The second disc is like a holy grail of unreleased and alternate versions.I mean, Lord Of This World with Piano, slide guitar and double voice tracked? Sounds terrific let me tell you! Weevil Woman '71 is best described as a reworking of the original Evil Woman track found on Sabbath's debut, it's different and it's quite simply a shame they couldn't make more out of it for the song to be included on Master of Reality.For any hardcore Sabbath fans this second disc justifies the purchase of this remaster, and rightfully so! Plus this remaster's sound sounds very close to vinyl therefore making it the best version of the album available on CD.

Master is definitely one of my favorite Sabbath albums simply because it's just everything the band is; it's dark, heavy, and it's edgy. It's really a masterpiece and a classic album. The fact that it's got so many classic and that all the songs are great and unique combined with the musical abilities of the individuals who perform it just make that good, that timeless. Black Sabbath left their mark in music and this is one of their best albums, a must have for any rock n'roll(heavy metal or whatever you call it) fan or Sabbath fan.This remaster with improved sound and a fantastic second disc makes this 5 stars all the way.

The dynamics, variation, musicianship, and continuity of this album are far above the curve. Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) said this is his favorite album. There's nothing by any other heavy band that can compete with this album. The song "Solitude" is a slow sorrowful bluesy chant, "Orchid" is a beautiful instrumental with cellos, "Children of the Grave" is a head-banging metal masterpiece, "Sweet Leaf" is a powerful jubilation-alleluiah chorus to our favorite green sweet leaf, and there's so much more on this album. My personal favorite is "Into The Void". A heavy, doomy piece in an odd-time signature that tells a story of mankind's exodus from a polluted earth, Soundgarden "attempted" to cover the song, but gave up!

The arrangement and sequence of songs on the album is perfect! Forget Tool, forget Limp Biskit, forget Stone Temple Pilots, forget Soundgarden, and forget Alice In Chains, Sabbath were truly the Original Masters of heavy rock-n-roll. Cranium-expanding production for 1972!