BLACK SABBATH's second album, "Paranoid", was the subject of the "Trailblazer" column in the August 2005 issue of the U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine, which is devoted to albums that changed the face of guitar music. The following quotes from the article illustrate just how important the album is to many of rock and metal's major guitarists:

Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, ex-GUNS N' ROSES): "There's just something about that whole record that, when you're a kid and you're turned onto it, it's like a whole different world. It just opens up your mind to another dimension… 'Paranoid' is the whole SABBATH experience; very indicative of what SABBATH meant at the time. Tony's [Iommi] playing style — doesn’t matter whether it's off 'Paranoid' or if it's off 'Heaven and Hell' — it's very distinctive."

James Hetfield (METALLICA): "SABBATH got me started on all that evil-sounding shit, and it's stuck with me. Tony Iommi is the king of the heavy riff."

Scott Ian (ANTHRAX): "'Paranoid' is an amazing album. I always get the question in every interview I do, 'What are your top five metal albums?' I make it easy for myself and always say the first five SABBATH albums, especially 'Paranoid'."

Dave Grohl (FOO FIGHTERS, ex-NIRVANA): "I love BLACK SABBATH. They made an amazing contribution to music today. Almost every band that made it big in the 1990s owes a debt to them."

Mark Tremonti (ALTER BRIDGE, ex-CREED): "It's pretty much the trademark album of the originators of heavy metal. Tony Iommi is very different to a lot of guitar players, his phrasing is very different…his riffs and his rhythm playing is the shit on that album."

The article also outlines the history of the album and the stories behind some of the tracks as well as a few words from Tony himself. "Iron Man" is also featured in the magazine's "Learn to Play" section.