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Rating: "I don't wanna stop, fuck! I'm Ozzy Osbourne and fuck reality, money, and everything else!"
Fundamentally, Ozzy Osbourne's latest album could be summed up with this simple phrase, as it truly embodies the essence of his 2007 composition, six years after "Down To Earth," with "Black Rain" (and especially the driving and catchy single "I Don't Wanna Stop"). A while ago, when you turned on the TV and saw this old man acting foolishly in front of MTV cameras with his worthy family of misfits, you'd say: "Look at this guy! He crafted genius with the Sabbath and his solo career, composing rock classics like 'War Pigs' or 'No More Tears,' and now here he is, a slave to his wife and money, screw him!" Perhaps, even Ozzy, looking back, would say the same about himself, considering how serious what he was doing was. But better late than never, as the saying goes, and this "late" comes in the form of "Black Rain"! An album I really appreciated for the approach and attitude with which Ozzy, Zakk Wylde, Mike Bordin (former drummer of the unforgettable Faith No More), and Blasko (a lesser-known bassist) dedicated themselves to crafting these 10 tracks, which for the first time are not aimed at continually seeking the Sabbath-sound or rehashes of "Iron Man" or "NIB." Here, Ozzy seeks to reinvent himself and make his offering modern, captivating, and exquisitely "rock"—a direct, warm, powerful, complex, and well-structured rock that permeates every track of "Black Rain", starting with the title track, strongly political in flavor (many even saw it as the heir to "War Pigs") and provocative, which musically stands out as one of the most fitting songs, featuring the Madman's harmonica for the first time in years. It's a track straddling modern times and the 70s, especially due to Zakk's riffing style, sharper than ever in this tenth studio album from the Prince of Darkness.
Definitely heavy and impactful songs include the aforementioned big single "I Don't Wanna Stop", a heavy rock piece with special attention to Bordin's hammering drumming; "11 Silver", one of the fastest compositions with truly tasty guitar parts and a solo; the same applies to "Countdown's Begun", the penultimate track bearing the unmistakable mark of Black Label Society, Zakk Wylde's personal band, and great protagonists especially for the album's solos.
Another song worthy of Ozzy is certainly the opener "Not Going Away", a rhythmic piece with a good main riff, featuring a hint of electronics and vocal effects at the end that distort the Madman's singing without tarnishing the piece, making it catchy with a chorus that sticks in your head. There's room for melody too with the piano ballad "Here For You", a highlight of "Black Rain", showcasing various Beatles influences that Mr. Osbourne has never abandoned. The remaining tracks maintain a good level and decent compositional quality, but it's worth mentioning "The Almighty Dollar", undoubtedly among the most interesting offerings of "Black Rain". It's a modern song, daring to be called "nu," with slapped bass introductions, syncopated movements, and fluctuating vocals, a strange and therefore enchanting song!
You might accuse these 10 songs of being the same old rehashed stuff Ozzy's been offering for years, but it would be too trivial and foolish to say so because musically speaking, "Black Rain" gives Ozzy and his solo career a jolt, which was evidently stagnating, and for the moment, avoids further slander and humiliation for the former Black Sabbath singer—a well-crafted product with a strong moral significance of hope and revival for one of the most important figures in the heavy metal scene.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 I Don't Wanna Stop (03:59)
I don't know what they're talking about
I'm making my own decisions
This thing that I found
Ain't gonna bring me down
I'm like a junkie without an addiction
Mama don't cry
I just wanna say I
Like playing with danger or fear
Everybody's walking but nobody's talking
It looks a lot better from here
All my life I've been over the top
I don't know what I'm doing,
All I know is I don't wanna stop
All my life, I'm gonna go till I drop
You're either in or in the way, don't make me
I don't wanna stop
Why don't they ever listen to me?
Is this a one-way conversation?
Nothing they say is gonna set me free
Don't need no mental masturbation
Too many religions, but only one god
I don't need another saviour
Don't try to change my mind
You know I'm one of a kind
Ain't gonna change my bad behavior
All my life I've been over the top
I don't know what I'm doing,
All I know is I don't wanna stop
All my life, I'm gonna go till I drop
You're either in or in the way, don't make me
I don't wanna stop
(x2)
I don't wanna stop
(x4)
All my life I've been over the top
I don't know what I'm doing,
All I know is I don't wanna stop
All my life, I'm gonna go till I drop
You're either in or in the way, don't make me
I don't wanna stop
(x2)
06 11 Silver (03:42)
Your words they go like no mare.
they sale the world high headed, yeah
I can't believe I'm still here,
I know I should be dead, yeah.
This desperation makes me feel so filthy.
But I know if I don't stop I won't feel guilty.
Take me higher,
Pray me faster,
Help me get her,
Who I'm after.
One time to take away all pain!
One more to turn myself insane!
One time to keep me high all day!
Makes my reality fade away!
There is no future waiting.
There is no morning ever.
I can't stop the place is spinning.
My anti drugs get trashed, yeah.
This paranoia stops my mind from sinking.
I don't know if I'm awake or if I'm dreaming.
Take me in you, won't be nice.
Spit me out or wait and shine me...
One time to take away all pain!
One more to turn myself insane!
One time to keep me high all day!
Makes my reality fade away!
One time to take away all pain!
One more to turn myself insane!
One time to keep me high all day!
Makes my reality fade away!
[Is that the last song (Ozzy Osbourne in background)]
09 Countdown's Begun (04:53)
Watching blood-stained windows.
He must just love the blame.
See the children crying,
his mother's died again.
Dig her grave much deeper,
the fatal price you pay.
I hope I'm there to hold her,
when she comes back again.
I see the death and the disaster.
There is no happy ever after.
The time has come,
countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun.
Is the Armageddon,
finally here at last?
You may see the mushroom,
but you won't hear the blast.
Don't need a self made prophet,
don't need a holy war.
Don't need another leader,
to even up the score.
I'm cursed with living on a fault line.
The doomsday clock was made by mankind.
No place to run,
countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun.
(Guitar)
I see the death and the disaster.
There is no happy ever after.
The time has come,
countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun.
Countdown's begun!
Countdown's begun.
10 Trap Door (04:03)
Can you see your reflection
False strength, hollow protection
Run from pain and rejection
The truth stabs again
Till the skin is broken
And the cut is open
And the words once spoken
Just fade away
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Big head leads to confusion
Strong heart pumps up delusion
Tough talk, one voice communion
Medicate the pain
Justify your ego
Living with denial
And the thoughts so vile
Won't fade away
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
It's coming
You're falling
You're on your own with no one left to blame
Can't sleep? 'cause you've made your own bed
The sentence of the helpless
Sink deep to the trial in your head
The court of the selfish
Why? Tell me why? Can't evade or escape the reality
A true lie and a broken promise
A Judas and a doubting Thomas
A tragedy just to keep you honest
Guilty always fall
Through the trap door
Fear the trap door
Through the trap door
The trap door, the trap door
No fear, too scared to look up
Can't win, nothing but bad luck
Clock ticks, your time to face up
You can't run for long
When your world is broken
Your trap door is open
The very words you choke on
Just fade away
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
Too late, standing on the trap door
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Other reviews
By aniel
The good craftsmanship of the album is undeniable; after all, Ozzy is a professional, and the musicians surrounding him are no less.
Our Ozzy (now approaching 60) is still capable of surprising us with his moves that make him more and more prominent in the world of music, and beyond.
By polkatulk88
"The lyrics deserve a special mention, featuring an Ozzy more engaged than ever on social issues: the drama remains, but the enemy is no longer witches and Satan, but today's demons, now in the form of war, greed, and corruption."
"Black Rain, conceived as a natural follow-up to No More Tears, is ultimately an album characterized by rock writing but with metal sounds, which ranks undoubtedly among Ozzy’s most positive and valuable releases."
