Ozzy Osbourne - Scream

It has been three years since the Oz man released his last studio album, Black Rain. Reviews were mixed on that one, but many thought the reign of Ozzy was over. Enter 2010 and the 61 year-old Ozzman cometh back with a new slab of metal.

I will admit right up front, as many of you out there, I am an early era Ozzy fan. I was there when Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman hit the racks. I was there in the glory days of Bark at the Moon. I never got to see Randy Rhoads live in concert, but I was there shortly after to see the short-lived Brad Gillis tour, as well as seeing and meeting Jake E. Lee during the Bark tour.

I say all of this to give a little background on my history with Ozzy. Unfortunately, the nineties and up until recently, I have not followed or purchased many Ozzy albums (actually, there weren't many during this time anyway). The tracks I would hear often on radio, video or online, didn't have much appeal to me, so I passed over many a release. However, when I first heard samples of the song "Scream" before the release of the album, I perked up. I liked what I was hearing; enough to quickly pre-order the album.

Overall, I am glad I did. Back in the producer chair is Kevin Churko, who had a heavy hand in the previous Black Rain release, and was criticized for it's over industrial/computerized sound that wasn't really the Ozzy style. A bit of fear that he might do the same this time around was in order, but gladly that is dismissed by this series of songs that go with a more traditional metal sound thankfully.

The songs have a freshness to them, most likely due to the new line-up. Nothing against Zakk, I love his guitar tone and riffs, but he has become a familiar sound in both his attributing to the Oz sound, as well as his own BLS band. But his absence this time around, and the playing of former Firewind guitarist Gus G, makes everything feel ever so slightly different enough to feel fresh. The current line up gives us some good shredding, great chunky riffs, and blazing little leads throughout. Musically feeling a bit more like the 80's days, without sounding dated in a bad way, and without straying too much was the Wylde years. I miss Zakk's style, but I think the absence breathes a breath of fresh air into the Ozzy sound this time around that is much needed to revitalize what many have seen as a dark season for him.

After hearing the fast paced sound of the track "Scream" before getting this album in hand, I was a little taken back at the opening track "Let it Die." It is slow and plodding track, with the electronic processed sounding vocals that appeared heavily on the Black Rain album. It made me initially think that the track I first heard was going to be a fluke, and the album would sound more like Black Rain and Churko's influence than I hoped for. Honestly though, after a few listens, I have grown to enjoy this track. It is slow, heavy, and the vocals gallop with a rhyming rhythm pattern that is catchy.

Then I got hit in the face by the single I had heard, as "Let me Hear You Scream" came screaming through my speakers with speed, power and hooks. The musicianship is intricate and top notch on this track, and it is a fitting first single to show the energy is still there. Though I must admit, the first time I saw the announcement for this album, the video clip showed Ozzy in front of a mic as if in the studio singing this track. His face and body was stiff and emotionless, and the words just came out. It was almost robotic - a shell of a man just letting his voice out. Viewing a recent live video of him performing the song added to that perception, making me wonder if his shoes were actually glued to the floor, and if he let go of the mic stand for more than about ten seconds, he might fall over. Fortunately, it does not come across that way on the final product.




"Soul Sucker" is up next, and it returns to a similar style as track one, being slow and heavy. This tracks feels very reminiscent of the Zakk Wylde sound, so fans will feel right at home. The more I listen, the more it appeals and will end up probably one of the better tracks overall in my mind.

"Life Won't Wait" starts with a mellow acoustic guitar fell before blazing in bursts throughout. This is one of the better energetic power ballads for Ozzy.

"Diggin Me Down" is Ozzy attacking Christianity again, though in this case going to the source and directly attacking Jesus, calling out "why don't you save us" and "So c'mon Jesus, we're all here waiting just for you" almost sounding like the men at the foot of the cross who mocked Jesus. Ozzy brings up the pain and problems in the world, as if that is evidence against a God or Jesus, and warning to "beware the dark side of the son" and saying "you're just a self-made messiah, selling brimstone and fire" and asking if he is "the son of man or obsolete facade." Typical, trite, silly ignorant mockery - as expected - and as way over played by rockers. All I can say is give it a rest already guys.

While I expected a one-two punch on religion with the next song being titled "Crucify," it seems to be discussing more of the hypocrisy of politicians who swear on the Bible, and turn around and cut your throat. A mid-tempo crunchy tune, it comes across more as a filler track than a stand-out one.

"Fearless" is an attention grabber from the start, with a more simple upbeat tempo to throw your hand up in the air to. Dealing with war, soldiers, and death, it is a catchy tune with a slightly cliche feeling chorus, but it works for me.

"Time" starts out with a mellow feel, with strings and ooooo ooooooo singing, because kicking in for another power ballad telling you to slow down, live for today, time waits for no one, stop wasting time, and start living.

Next up is "I Want it More" that kicks in like a bull, with a thrash guitar feel, similar to a riff you might hear from Pantera. A definite highlight musically for the latter part of this album.

Next up is "Latimer's Mercy" which discusses what I understand to be a true-story of a father who performs a mercy killing of his child who suffered from an extremely painful form of cerebral palsy. Another mid-tempo musical venture, the lyrics are haunting and somewhat sad, but not so catchy that you'll be singing it when you wake up.

The album closes with with a short, barely over a minute simple song entitled "I Love You All" which simply states:

We all must stand together now
or one by one we fall
For all these years you've stood by me
God bless, I love you all

While this album may not appeal to all; while it may not make up for some of the past few releases he has released, it definitely seems Ozzy is getting back to a formula that will hopefully make more of his fans stand up and clap. It was enough to grab my attention and cause me to buy another Ozzy album after more than a decade.