Ozzy Osbourne
Black Rain

THE REVIEW

I couldn't miss the appointment—the return of the great madman couldn't leave anyone indifferent, especially after the letdown of "Down to Earth", and I'm sure I wasn't the only one eager for it. I have to honestly say that the wait was satisfactorily rewarded (at least, better than the aforementioned predecessor), even if it stands on more than normal levels, and if we want to be honest, somewhat predictable.

The good craftsmanship of the album is undeniable; after all, Ozzy is a professional, and the musicians surrounding him are no less. Zakk Wylde, above all, is, in my opinion, the true and undisputed protagonist of the album, confirming once again that he's an excellent guitarist (if you don't want to call him a guitar hero, that's fine, but to me, in his own way, he undoubtedly is).

Musically speaking, it starts well with the first two tracks, "Not Going Away" and "I Don't Wanna Stop", the energy is explosive, especially with the latter with its explosive chorus (not coincidentally chosen as a single). The tone slightly drops with the title track, which nonetheless sums up the album's concept and, more generally, the themes tackled by Ozzy on this occasion, current and modern, including the Iraq war and the almighty dollar ("The Almighty Dollar"). It picks up again with the next track "Lay Your World On Me", one of those indispensable ballads where Ozzy has always known how to excel, despite his croaky voice, and even this time he hits the mark, and twice in the album at that, although "Here for you" sounds slightly more predictable, perhaps because of its position in the tracklist, perhaps because it's highly indebted to "Goodbye to Romance".

There are many influences, from the "No More Tears" sound to a more eighties vibe, and even to Black Sabbath if you will, all revisited with a modern twist, and at times ("Civilize The Universe" and "The Almighty Dollar") with some light nu-metal nuances, as already happened with "Down to Earth". However, defining this album as the ideal continuation of "No More Tears", or as Ozzy's rebirth in this new millennium where we have mostly known him as a showman rather than a singer, seems a bit exaggerated to me.
It's evident that things were done calmly (a good six years) and that each detail was painstakingly curated, including some small (and inevitable) tweaks to the voice in the recording phase. This latest effort certainly serves as proof that our Ozzy (now approaching 60) is still capable of surprising us with his moves (whether they be reality shows or albums) that make him more and more prominent in the world of music, and beyond.

A good album, musically well-crafted and with current and mature lyrics, but still (perhaps I'm repeating myself, but it's true) the kind of album you'd expect today from a past hero: great craftsmanship, good but nothing more, especially when compared to the glorious past. Perhaps this comparison is unnecessary, but alas, it's inevitable to measure up to what's been done before when the name you carry holds a certain weight, because we're still talking about a legend, and an album like this, produced by an emerging band today, wouldn't stand the slightest chance.