Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality" isn't a heavy metal release

As with Black Sabbath's first two classic albums, the age-old consensus that 1971's "Master of Reality" is a "heavy metal" record doesn't stack up to closer scrutiny, at least not when you take into account the modern metal genre tree. If the album was released today by as the debut release from a new band then I feel confident that it'd be tagged as a stoner metal record which is in line with my long-term feeling that it doesn't sit all that comfortably alongside your Judas Priests & Iron Maidens.

For the record, this is how I've tagged the album:

1. Sweet Leaf - Stoner metal

2. After Forever - Hard rock

3. Embryo - English folk music

4. Children of the Grave - Heavy metal

5. Orchid - Contemporary folk

6. Lord of This World - Stoner metal

7. Solitude - Psychedelic folk

8. Into The Void - Stoner metal

The folk interludes are pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things but it is worth noting that the only one of any length (i.e. 'Solitude') has a psychedelic feel which again plays closer to stoner than it does heavy metal. There's only really the one heavy metal tune included in "Children of the Grave". Therefore, I'd like to see 'Master of Reality' removed from The Guardians & the Heavy Metal genre while maintaining its position in The Fallen under Stoner Metal.

This nomination has been posted in the Hall of Judgement.

https://metal.academy/hall/515