Because the Syracuse, New York-based Masters of Reality took their name from the title of a scorching Black Sabbath album, some assumed they were a heavy metal band. But in fact, their forte is a bluesy approach with a late-1960s/early-'70s type of appeal. Though subtle traces of Sabbath can occasionally be heard on a few of their songs, their sound owes a lot more to Ten Years After and the Doors. First released by Def American in 1989 and reissued by Delicious Vinyl in 1990, this impressive offering was produced by Rick Rubin and has the markings of a Rubin production. The thing that makes Rubin so great a producer is his willingness to follow his gut instincts, an approach has served him well whether producing Slayer, Johnny Cash, or L.L. Cool J, and one that clearly works to the Masters' advantage on such pearls as "Domino," "Gettin' High," and "The Eyes of Texas." Rubin is the type of producer who knows how to step aside when appropriate and let artists be themselves. Under his direction, the material sounds well produced, but never over-produced.
01 The Candy Song 02 Doraldina's Prophecies 03 John Brown 04 Gettin' High 05 Magical Spell 06 Theme For The Scientist Of The Invisible 07 Domino 08 The Blue Garden 09 The Eyes Of Texas 10 Lookin' To Get Rite 11 Kill The King 12 Sleep Walkin'
Disc 2
01 How High The Moon 02 The Blue Garden 03 Alder Smoke Blues 04 Doraldinas Prophecies 05 She Got Me 06 Jindalee Jindalie 07 John Brown 08 Tilt-A-Whirl 09 Ants In The Kitchen 10 100 Years