As the Vietnam War dragged on in the 1960s, Americans began to lose the hope that had come with a post-WWII culture. The Hippie movement had previously been the center of attention as the counter-culture lifestyle mesmerized the public. In 1969, the last drops of 'peace and love' were consumed by the Manson Family Murders.
Because of their minimalistic, boho appearance, the Manson Family members were mistaken for leaders of the Hippie movement. The murders in August of 1969 left a bitter taste in the mouths of progressive Americans, who were becoming less optimistic about a peaceful country. After the Manson rampage, the country moved into a state of paranoia and conservatism.
1969 and 1970 serve as distinct cultural markers between the attitudes of the 1960s and 1970s. Rock music began to grow into a monster as artists like The Beatles declined and heavier bands like Led Zeppelin were born; this was just in time for Black Sabbath to stake their ground.
Fresh on the scene, Black Sabbath was America's pound puppy of the early '70s. The band, which consisted of a few long-haired "satanic" freaks, wasn't exactly a crowd pleaser. However, the release of their sophomore album would launch Black Sabbath into stardom and ultimately smack the hippie out of America.
"Paranoid" is foreboding, and it emphasizes the strange spiritual aspects of the band. The music sounds dark and sometimes evil, reflecting the communal dread and mourning throughout the country at the time.
The album struts in with "War Pigs/Luke's Wall," a brave choice for the debut, given its political theme. After a long instrumental, lead singer Ozzy Osbourne screeches in, criticizing the role of politics in war, comparing war generals to witches and questioning the morals of politicians who act as puppet masters in "mass destruction."
The best last-minute decision ever made, "Paranoid," was written strictly because they didn't have enough songs for the record. Fate-driven, this song became the album's single and the band's first song to reach the U.S. Billboard Top 100 chart.
The instrumentals sound like those of a song that has been thrown together, but it showcases the reckless image of the band. This was appreciated by members of the counterculture who were not interested in some of the formality the ‘60s had to offer.
One of the most interesting effects in the album lies in "Iron Man." Osbourne’s vocals are both doubling and harmonizing, meaning the different vocal tracks match in pitch and harmonize at the same time. This adds to the evil, demonic feeling of the album, bringing the listener into the story of this wronged man and his fate of doom.
Yet another criticism of the Vietnam War is "Hand of Doom." There are many moments in the song where the bassline is alone; it's ominous, like something is creeping up behind you. Black Sabbath is commenting on the unexpected side effect of the war in which soldiers came home and quickly developed desolate heroin addictions. This song expresses impending, inescapable doom, mimicking the perils of addiction.
No matter how your online music library is organized, the next album that comes on is certain to disappoint you after "Paranoid." The subtle political messages give the middle finger to the U.S. government while still being marketable.
The album aided in birthing heavy metal, even sometimes being credited as the founder of the genre. After the mid-'70s, bands like Kiss, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses rose to the top, all being influenced, at some point, by Black Sabbath and "Paranoid."
This album was a brave endeavor. Among the lack of radio 'candy' songs, controversial political themes and experimental audio effects, it was really a toss-up whether the album would be a hit. Extraordinarily, the world was ready for "Paranoid," and the album cemented Black Sabbath as rock legends forever.
Kenzie Shuman is a sophomore studying Journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kenzie know by emailing her at ms667222@ohio.edu or messaging her on Instagram @zieshuman.
