Ozzy Osbourne - Scream (2010)

Okay, so Ozzy finally reaches his tenth studio record. His life is pretty much a soap opera, but then again most famous rock stars lives are. 'Scream' is his first album for ten years, and at the time of writing he is putting on an Ozzfest...but oh no, what is happening, Korn, and Murderdolls are slapped on the support list which gets me wondering. Is Ozzy simply existing as a manufactured start, all too eager to please the Kerrang! readership who have pretty much never heard of metal, but instead follow these sadly, watered down bands ?

I don't know if Ozzy's even capable of writing songs anymore, let alone singing them, although we all know that the guy is far different on stage than he is on his sofa. The trouble is, Ozzy is a household name for all the wrong reasons nowadays. I remember the days when parents were terrified of the alleged bat-biting Satanist, but now it's just cute ol' Ozzy, managed by his wife. The last Ozzy album I really liked was 'No Rest For The Wicked', since then it's been patchy, nu-metal influenced, manufactured rock. 'Scream' is no different. It begins with a chug-fest, courtesy of Gus G, but when you listen back to the glory days of 'Blizzard...' and 'Bark...', you wonder why Ozzy would go down this more cleaner, bereft path, instead of getting in a brilliant guitarist for one more jaunt.

'Fearless', 'Let It Die', and 'Soul Sucker' try oh so hard to be heavy, and in a way they are, but the dynamics reek of a coldness, and lack the smoking fire's of Ozzy evil we once became accustomed too. Like so many tired bands, Ozzy has failed to re-invent himself, and whilst W.A.S.P., Motley Crue, continue to rock, without sounding tired, Ozzy continues in his attempts at keeping the nu-metal kids happy. There are no metal anthems here, and token lighter-waver, 'Time' just bores. For God's, or Satan's sake Ozzy, get back to what you know best because one day it'll be too late. To be honest, I'd rather Ozzy just tour the old hits to death, because let's face it, anything he's released in the last ten years just doesn't stand up to the classics.

We love Ozzy dearly, but the guy probably has everything written for him, gets in the studio, and vomits a few vocals, which are clearly layered and full of effects, and we get a similar sounding records to the last one. 'Down To Earth', 'Black Rain', 'Scream'...it's one long Ozzfest but one which plods along for the sake of it. 'Let Me Hear You Scream' is the token first single, and it's dire.

So, 'Scream' is as I expected, but as usual, I had to hear it for my self. We know Ozzy is over the hill, but he's a genuine guy who changed our lives. However, he's being paraded like a puppet. It's enough to make you want to scream...

5/10