A decade passed between metal icon
Ozzy Osbourne's 2010 album Scream and its follow-up,
Ordinary Man. His 12th solo studio effort is charged with an unexpected crackle of life that hasn't graced an
Ozzy album in a long time. In the time since his last solo endeavor,
Osbourne reunited with
Black Sabbath for touring and the recording of
13, the first
Sabbath studio album he'd sung on since 1978. Possibly rejuvenated by his time back at the helm with one of the most foundational metal bands ever, there's a new level of heaviness throughout
Ordinary Man. There have been
Sabbath-isms scattered throughout much of
Ozzy's solo output, but rarely as blatantly as the sinister riffing and cosmic metallic breakdown of songs like "Under the Graveyard" and the demented "Straight to Hell."
Ozzy even goes so far as to reprise the "Alright now!" first heard on
Sabbath's 1971 pro-pot anthem "Sweet Leaf" to open "Straight to Hell."
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer
Chad Smith,
Guns N' Roses alum
Duff McKagan, and guitarist Andrew Watt (who produced the album after first working with
Osbourne during his cameo on a
Post Malone song in 2019) serve as the backing band, and turn in powerful performances that move from full-force metal attacks to quickly shifting grooves. The album recalls the raw power of
Black Sabbath, but also channels Black Album-era
Metallica on the creeping, oozy "Today Is the End" and the unhinged punk thrash on the
Post Malone-assisted "It's a Raid." While
Ordinary Man is surprisingly strong, it's not a grand slam. The by-the-numbers piano ballad title track is largely without character, wasting an odd duet of
Ozzy and
Elton John on a song that takes no risks and attempts nothing new. Less-inspired tracks like "Eat Me" and "Scary Little Green Men" would fit as filler anywhere in the
Ozzy discography between 1986 and 2020, with stock riffs and
Osbourne's patented maniacal laughter both feeling a little phoned in. Despite a few weaker spots,
Ordinary Man contains some of
Ozzy's best solo work in years. The production is huge but the energy is spontaneous, sounding like it was as fun to make as it is to listen to. 71 years old at the time
Ordinary Man was released,
Osbourne's voice in in great shape, sounding more or less like he always has. How he's making music this strong after riding the crazy train for more than half-a-century is anyone's guess, but the better songs here rank among his best. ~ Fred Thomas