5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!
Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!
OZZY OSBOURNE – The 4th studio album, The Ultimate Sin, from the iconic Ozzy Osbourne was released back in 1986, via CBS Records. If there ever was a Heavy Metal album that I shared countless good Metal times with, it’s without a doubt this Ozzy release! Man, those old school Metal memories of lazy, hazy and beer soaked Summer nights (and afternoons) with Metal buddies just buzz about in my brain, each time I listen to The Ultimate Sin.
For me, it was all about Metal, beer and babes back in 1986; and not necessarily in that order, depending on the night. Whoa! Ring that who-gives-a-shit bell! Life was easy for me back in ’86. Hell, yes it was! I saw Ozzy on his “The Ultimate Sin Tour” twice in ’86; Queensrÿche opened for Ozzy at The Springfield Civic Center, in Springfield, Massachusetts and Metallica opened for Ozzy at The New Haven Coliseum, in New Haven Connecticut. Both were whiz-bang shows! I remember telling my Metal buddies back then, that on this ’86 tour, Ozzy reminded me of a “Heavy Metal Liberace” due to his dress attire and on stage persona. Go figure. Maybe I inhaled, after all. Whoa.
Above: The Ultimate Sin (4 panel) liner notes from the CD I own. It opens up to reveal a band photo, from L to R: Jake E. Lee, Ozzy, Phil Soussan and (the late) Randy Castillo.
Ozzy Osbourne has released 11 studio albums, counting the covers album, Under Cover, from 2005. With Black Sabbath, Ozzy is vocalist on 9 studio albums. An incredible Heavy Metal legacy, Ozzy has forged. When I look upon the successful, highly influential and multi-million unit selling career of Ozzy as a solo artist, I’m aghast that he hasn’t been inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as such! Of course, Ozzy is in the Rock Hall with Black Sabbath, however, give me a Metal break! Ozzy DESERVES to be in the Rock Hall as a solo artist, right at this moment! Ugh.
Sorry for the detour. Back to The Ultimate Sin album. I refuse to compare this album to the unparalleled Randy Roads era. This was an entirely new era for Ozzy; it would be like comparing Yeungling Lager to Yeungling Lite. I love ’em both! My favorite songs from this super-fabulous album are: The Ultimate Sin, Never Know Why, Lightning Strikes, Fool Like You and Shot In The Dark. I dig the other songs, of course; only these songs I pointed out still make me feel so damn good! The brilliant Jake E. Lee’s guitar wizardry on The Ultimate Sin is forever out-of-this-world! Whoa.
If you’ve never owned The Ultimate Sin, you are a Metal sinner. This is a Heavy Metal classic, to me. An underrated gem within the discography of Ozzy Osbourne. From the album artwork to ALL 9 songs, The Ultimate Sin I shall easily declare, on any given Metal day, as timeless. Metal be thy name. – Stone
The Ultimate Sin – Track Listing: The Ultimate Sin, Secret Loser, Never Know Why, Thank God For The Bomb, Never, Lightning Strikes, Killer Of Giants, Fool Like You, Shot In The Dark
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LONG LIVE OZZY OSBOURNE.
LONG LIVE JAKE E. LEE.
LONG LIVE PHIL SOUSSAN.
REST IN PEACE, RANDY CASTILLO.
Stone.
The Heavy Metal genre and all of it’s mind bending sub genres can be quite the vast musical Universe to explore. There are countless bands that make these Heavy Music genres quake and explode with excitement at every turn. For me to say I have listened to every band out there would be an outright Metal lie… I have stated this before. Come forward please, Loudness and their 1986 album Shadows of War. Whoa. Whoa again. Why on Metal Earth, did it take me 23 years to finally listen to Loudness and Shadows of War? (See previous explanation within this paragraph for the Metal answer). Man, the outright powerful, Heavy Metal thunder of Loudness, is overwhelmingly great on Shadows of War. This album is the Japanese version with a different album/CD cover of it’s twin – American release Lightning Strikes. The only differences between Shadows of War and Lightning Strikes are: the order of the track listing, slight differences in the vocal melodies and Ashes In The Sky (from Lightning Strikes) and Shadows of War (from Shadows of War) are the same song. Buying one version over the other is basically an identical listen of Loudness Heavy Metal here. In this Metal situation, recommending either version is the way to go.
Yes Virginia, there is a Metal Santa Claus and his name is my best buddy Scott. You see, Scott gets quite giddy about sending CD’s of Metal through the mail to me… especially CD’s of Metal Bands that I have never delved into with unrestrained Metal abandon. Loudness Shadows of War came in the mail last week, courtesy of my buddy. This album is so damn cool, the songs on Shadows of War is yet another reminder to me, that 1986 was an incredible year, from an amazing decade for Heavy Metal album releases. Loudness could have easily named this album – psyche you out of your Heavy Metal mind – for all nine songs encompass a continuous and momentous listen in electrifying Heavy Metal power. Believe me, the last thing I want to come across as doing here is being rah, rah, rah, about Loudness and this album. I could never be more Metal serious by stating… Loudness and their 1986 album, Shadows of War, is one fine Heavy Metal blast from the past.
This is the Shadows of War cover! (Japanese version)
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