Having loved Ozzy's work for nearly 30 years now and having been a fan of Zakk Wylde, I approached this album with trepidation, not least because I had seen Rob Halford desperately agreeing with Ozzy to camera that this was a 'heavy album'. To give you a context against which to place this review, my favourite Sabbath albums are Volume Four and Never Say Die, but love them all. Loved Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman but thought Ozzy had lost his way with nothing really standing out until No More Tears.
With the departure of Wylde I had even borrowed a couple of Firewind albums from a friend to see what was coming. Their work is great musically but I wasn't struck by the vocals or lyrics.
Now I come to Scream...what a record. First track starts with enhanced vocal delivery and fragmented verses. The guitar is heavy. Right through the album you have crashing thumping riffs, reminiscent of Master of Reality. Then there are melodic soaring fills, recalling the first outings of Randy Rhodes. The band, too, are tight.
Ozzy's new opus has grabbed me from listen one. After the title track and the next two offerings, dare I suggest that the music takes an ever-so-slight back seat, as Ozzy pours scorn on religious hypocracy. His lyrical imagery is crushing in its damnation.
Gus G has done an excellent job here. The guitar work is fresh and inventive. Whilst you can trace sounds from Iommi, through Rhodes to Wylde, there is a clear individualism here that should please fans old and, hopefully, new.
This is definitely an Ozzy album. His sound is there. There are echoes of previous Sabbath and Ozzy offerings. However, there is much more. This is an Ozzy who has listened to other contemporary bands and doft his cap with a mischievous grin at them. In places we have the Maidenesque gallop, or mosh section beloved of the thrash scene. Ozzy's voice takes on a real undercurrent of anger in places. There is real passion and total commitment here.
As with Changes and other 'more melodic' and less thumping offerings of yesteryear, there are the quiet tracks but they seem less sugary and more about Ozzy undertaking public therapy.
Neverthe less, the whole is a triumphant blend of its individual parts.
Driving to work this morning, the window was down and the volume was up. Welcome back, Ozzy and thanks! I only hope that 'I Love You All' isn't Ozzy saying goodbye.
Buy this album, you will not regret it.