Kilravock covers Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”

Hailing from Omaha, Kilravock is the daring solo project of seasoned multi-instrumentalist and producer Steven Wayne Smith. After years of shaping his sound across an impressive lineup of bands including The Alliterates, Lucid Fugue, Megaton and Valley of Shadows, he now strides into his own creative vision. With Kilravock, he blends stoner rock, doom, post metal and industrial styles into an uncompromising sonic output that’s equally impactful and reflective.

Kilravock presents a creative rebirth, offering the chance to distill years of experience into a sound that explores themes of identity, society and the turbulence of modern life. He embraces profound contexts head-on with a dark, gripping lens, using the Kilravock name to deliver a sound unlike any other. The first display of that sound came last year with the release of two singles; “Incompatibility” and a haunting reimagining of John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero.” The latter in particular showcased his ability to take a song so brushed with cultural weight and reshape it into something that fit into his own sonic universe.

It was an arresting debut that confirmed Kilravock as a project to watch, hinting at the music and ambition of what was to come. Building on that momentum, Kilravock released a six-track EP earlier this year, creating a bridge between his initial releases and his upcoming full-length album Just Another Wonderful Day. Now, he returns with his latest release, a cover of Black Sabbath’s legendary song “Paranoid.”

The choice to cover this song carries personal subtext and as he reflects, the second riff he ever learned on guitar at 16 was “Paranoid” which over the years became a staple in nearly every band he’s played in. With his deep connection to the track and inspired by the passing of Ozzy Osbourne, Kilravock delivers a version that pays homage while bearing the unmistakable stamp of Kilravock’s identity. Set up by the enduring crunch of the famous riff, crashing drums enter to inject the charging pace as Kilravock’s dark vocals carry the familiar lines of Geezer Butler’s lyrics.

Reframing the song in his own brooding gloom rock sound while retaining all the energy and appeal of the original, it’s an epic cover that once again sees Kilravock reimagine beloved music in his own way. Alongside “Paranoid,” he also offers “General Malaise,” a more downtempo and atmospheric, organ-focused original track that tackles themes of depression. With lyrics that cut into the struggles of mental health, the song stands in stark yet fitting contrast to the ferocity of his Sabbath cover.

Pairing these two tracks highlights Kilravock’s ability to balance homage with originality, threading his influences into his own work. This approach also feeds into the broader vision for his debut full-length Just Another Wonderful Day. As part of its rollout, Kilravock has been recording cover songs to serve as b-sides to his singles, with “Paranoid” sliding naturally into the cycle thanks to its lyrical themes of alienation and despair, sentiments that align with the tone of his upcoming original material.

Listen to Paranoid / General Malaise below

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