reviewer: Claudia A.
Ozzy and Kevin Churko produced this latest offering; with everyone’s favourite mock-satanic rocker having a hand in writing duties. Scream has eleven tracks that are as much a mixed blessing as is the cover artwork: a black-clad Ozzy with white angel wings standing on top of a mountain and victoriously holding a black flag. Does light win over darkness? If some of the album’s tracks are anything to go by, then yes!
Let’s start with 'Let It Die’ - shuffling metal, heavy rock and classic rock together and performed with a choppy pace. The result is perfect for an Ozzy album opener. The second track 'Let Me Hear You Scream’ equally kicks butt and actually premiered during an episode of CSI:NY. Fast and furious, it’s easy to hear why it has been chosen for the episode’s prison riot scene, as well as for a single release.
On to 'Soul Sucker’ – the first step down from the very mountaintop Ozzy fancies himself to stand on. Rather run-of-the-mill, it doesn’t suck your soul as much as your patience. The same goes for 'Crucify’, which is little more than mainstream melodic rock, though some hardcore riffs save this from complete rock n’ roll mediocrity.
Luckily, other tracks like 'Fearless’ and 'I Want More’ offer redemption. While the former has got to be the most hardcore number, the latter has an eerie intro (think a foggy graveyard scene in a horror flick); then really spits fire with complex riffs and a great rhythm you can dance to. Our man in top form for sure.
'Diggin Me Down’ is interesting for two reasons. Firstly, the track’s musical arrangement - it starts mellow and acoustic, only to crash-land somewhere in Black Sabbath territory. Secondly, the song is Ozzy’s musical conversation with Christ: 'Do you live in the light or in the dead of the night? Sanctimonious promises broken. Hypocritical sin dying slowly within. Is the sacred truth forever unspoken? So come on Jesus, don’t keep us waiting just for you.' Right on, you tell him!
A little religious controversy never hurts, but sacrilege does, and that’s committed with 'Time’. Oh dear oh dear, has wife Sharon’s commercial factor rubbed off at last? All the oomph is out on this one and replaced with some zzzzz,. Skip.
Things turn truly scary on the last track - albeit for the wrong reason. 'I Love You All’ is actually not a track as such but more of a one-minute saccharine drenched 'thank you’ to Osbourne fans the world over. 'For all these years you stood by me – God bless, I love you all.' No doubt touching and sweet, but 'sweet’ is not quite what we associate with the rockin’ Prince Of Darkness. Just throw one hell of a party for us, Ozzy!
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