Kicking off 2023 with the approaching-51 years-old Volume IV, the cocaine-dusted fourth record by Black Sabbath. While not as good as Master of Reality to me, this one really solidifies Sabbath as landmark doom and stoner pioneers - just listen to Under the Sun. Not all songs are great - Changes is a cheesy ballad, FX is just a stupid throwaway track, the main riff to St. Vitus Dance sounds like some weird hippy song - though I kinda like the nice acoustic interlude of Laguna Sunrise. Anything but subtle, Black Sabbath literally thanks cocaine in the liner notes.
My copy is in rough shape, and was obviously was water damaged at one point (complete with mildew). The muddy production of the recording isn’t helped by the condition of my wax.