Classic Albums: Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Paranoid is the second studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was released on 18 September 1970 in the United Kingdom by Vertigo Records, and on 7 January 1971 in the United States by Warner Bros. Records. The album contains several of the band's signature songs, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track, which was the band's only top 20 hit, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart. The title track reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs for the first time 55 years after its release in July 2025. After the success of their self titled debut album, the band returned to the studio quickly to record their follow-up. Like their first album, Paranoid was completed quickly, only needing two days in June to be recorded. Paranoid is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time, often cited as a key influence for the development of the genre, as well as one of its earliest albums. It was ranked number one on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time" in 2017 and number 139 on its list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" in 2020. Paranoid was the band's only album to top the UK Albums Chart until the release of 13 in 2013.