No Rest for the Wicked

We all know I love Black Sabbath with an unconditional love. They are after all, the band that got me into the "real" stuff as some might say. With all this in mind, you'd think I'd love his solo career with as much love and affection right? Not so much. Ozzy's solo career isn't bad by any means at all, it's just very hit or miss for me. In fact, I didn't like it at all at first. Dismissing it as an overproduced affair with far too many ballads for my personal liking. It wasn't until No Rest For The Wicked that my opinion began to change.

Like I said before, I feel that a lot of Ozzy's post Sabbath work has way too many ballads in them and not enough of the goods. Well, No Rest For The Wicked thankfully for the most part has very little ballads, only 2 out of the 9 tracks on here are ballads, which is good. The best way to describe the music found on No Rest For The Wicked is driving, tight, and heavy. I'm sorry, but I like Zakk Wylde more then I do Randy Rhodes. No disrespect to Randy when saying this, but seriously. Compare Miracle Man to Mr. Crowley, Zakk can write some meaty riffs. Check out a song like Breakin' All The Rules for example. Yes, it is a very simple song and the riff may be a little boneheaded at times yes, but damn does it work. The rhythm section becomes locked with the main riff, creating a driving groove that helps carry the song, and also elevate it at the right times such as when the solo kicks in, and the rhythm begins to pick up while Zakk shreds away. My point being, Zakk makes Ozzy's solo material much more interesting in my honest opinion. I know I'm gonna get crucified for saying this, but sorry. If you still doubt my point being made, compare this song to something like No Bone Movies. I know that production probably played a hand in making both Blizzard Of Ozz and No Rest For The Wicked having a different sound, but even then you'll see what I'm talking about. If not, then oh well.

That's one of the most positive things about this album, is that the energy and passion is here. You can literally feel it oozing off of the speakers. How can you not get hyped up when you hear the opening riff for Miracle Man? Everyone on this album really delivers the best performances that they possibly can, and it's a shame that the follow up No More Tears would have more ballads in the songs again, because if the guys kept going in this direction, who knows what would've happened. Which brings me to the only real negative I have with this album, well Ozzy's solo career in general now that I think about it.

While these songs are great yes, a lot of the time I find myself getting burnt out by the end of these songs because of how repetitive they can become. After all, following his departure from Sabbath, Ozzy began to do this with a lot of his songs. This only hinders his entire discography if you ask me. Whatever happened to the thought out, and emotionally moving compositions that Sabbath came up with? I realize Ozzy never wrote anything while in Sabbath except The Writ off of Sabotage, but come on now. You are the father of heavy fucking metal, get some diversity in there for fuck's sake! Not all his songs are like this, but songs like Fire In The Sky fall victim to this. Seriously, I don't remember anything from that song except the corny chorus. I hate throwing this word around, but when Ozzy decides to make a focused effort like this album, it fucking destroys. So why is it that I find only 1 album in his entire discography able to do this? Maybe Zakk briefly got Ozzy's head out of his coke filled ass? I have no clue, and I know my point won't really make much difference. For Ozzy is a millionaire, and I'm not. So he must be doing something right.

In conclusion, No Rest For The Wicked despite all my bitching near the end, is Ozzy's best work post Sabbath, and I'll fight anyone who disagrees with me. It's got fucking balls for days, and some killer heavy metal to be found for all to enjoy. Pick it up if you see it at your local record store, but don't expect to find another album like it in Ozzy's solo discography.