This being Ozzy's last decent album, although even that's debatable, although this album does rock despite its faults. For me, 'No Rest', has a glossy feel to its production, and for me this takes away any kind of true metal edge that may have existed originally. In Zack Wylde Ozzy had finally found someone akin to Randy Rhoades, and that shows on this album with the crisp riffing which was missing from 'The Ultimate Sin'. However, 'Miracle Man' is no 'Crazy Train', and Ozzy seems a little strained vocally, whilst 'Devils Daughter' seems a little dated, and that's where this album suffers mostly. As the '80s were drawing to a close there were certainly enough bands emerging which, when compared to your average metal act, such as Alice Cooper, Kiss and the likes, made the so-called metal legends a little cringe-worthy. Don't get me wrong, I've always loved Ozzy, but here he shows his limits, especially when you consider Faith No More, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, et al, were lurking around the corner.
'Crazy Babies' is pretty awful, 'Breaking All The Rules' breaks no boundaries and sounds like a leftover from 'The Ultimate Sin', but album saviour is most certainly 'Fire In The Sky', with its atmospheric opening and slow build into the roof-raising chorus.
The musicianship on the record is sharp but it's more of the same from a man who has made his name from this style of rock music, and that's not something he should be persecuted for, but like all good things, they must come to an end, but for the sake of rock 'n' roll Ozzy will just keep on going, like so many others.
7/10
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