For some strange I feel Ozzy is going soft. I don’t know if its me only. But when you listen to the song ‘Here for you’, its just a old rocker singing a love ballad. He’s always had a gift for writing memorable ballads like “Mama I’m Coming Home,” and “Here For You” is a great song that would have been a monster hit back in the day.

“i don’t wanna live in yesterday
cross my heart until i die
don’t wanna know just what tomorrow may bring
because today has just begun no matter whatever else i’ve done
i’m here for you
i’m here for you”

But then he breaks into ‘Not going away’, totally nothing like a love ballad.

“Don’t tell me I’m wrong
Don’t tell me that you knew all along
I won’t roll over dead
Only I know what goes on in my head
I’ve got nothing to hide
I’m not guilty inside
I won’t give up
After all I’m still crazy”

I remember watching the video of ‘I Don’t wanna stop’ at WWE smack down. Boy! Was it the mother of all comebacks. It’s been six years since Ozzy’s last studio album Down To Earth. He also released a covers record a couple years that received lukewarm response (although I thought it was pretty good). Black Rain is the first album Ozzy has ever recorded sober (yeah! The first one!), and it is an excellent piece. The Prince Of Darkness is nearly 60 years old, but he proves he still has some gas left in the tank. Perhaps a lot of it.

Black Rain does a lot of justice as the title track. Ozzy also shows some anger and edge with lyrics that are politically charged, especially the title track that espouses his views on the Iraq war and ‘The almighty dollar’ on America’s foreign policies.

“burn into the air and atmosphere
watching the rain come down
turn your head away ignore the fear
watching the ice crash down
our father’s justice gets closer
how could you fuck us all over
rape, steal and murder
god bless the almighty dollar
death, doom and disaster
the point of no return
no earthly life ever after
is it too late to learn?”

The songs on Black Rain are very catchy and melodic with the usual outstanding guitar work by longtime band member Zakk Wylde.

The songs on Black Rain are very catchy and melodic with the usual outstanding guitar work by longtime band member Zakk Wylde.

Songs to watch out for:

Here for you
Black Rain
I don’t wanna stop
Lay your world on mine
The almighty dollar

What am I doing? Just buy the album, its worth it. An ozzy collection would be incomplete without it. Go go go!

My rating of the album would be 4.5/5. Must buy!