JUSTIN’S ROCK REVIEWS W/C 21/5/07

 

OZZY OSBOURNE / BLACK RAIN

 

Its been a long 6 years since the OO released a new studio album but I’m glad to say the wait is over and what’s more it’s a damn good one as well, probably even better than Ozzmosis, its more focused.

 

There are only 2 ballads on here, I know a lot of Ozzy fans (like me) who are not keen, lets face it, its better when Ozzy Rocks and thanks to the usual excellent performance of Zakk Wylde the guitars are top notch and the riffs as good as ever.  One listen to “I Don’t Wanna Stop” and the title track and you will know that Ozzy can still rock with the best of them, “I Don’t Wanna Stop” is one of the best Ozzy songs for a decade with a catchy chorus, really cool relevant lyrics and one of Sack’s best killer riffs while “Black Rain” is a look at the madness of the Iraq war.  “The Almighty Dollar” has a slower, grinding riff but just as good and “Countdown’s Begun” has a similar feel, also listen out for “Civilize The Universe”, “Silver” and “Not Going Away” all of which are great songs.

 

All in all this is a damn fine album form Ozzy, in fact I would say its his best since “No More Tears”, you cant call yourself a Rock fan and not buy this, essential listening and you can bet I will be playing this to death on my show on HFM and Pipeline, KILLER CD.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.ozzyosbourne.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIEM = 51 mins + 10 TRACKS

 

KATATONIA / LIVE CONSTERNATION

 

This live CD and DVD was recorded at the Summer Breeze festival last year (2006) and is as good a representation of how good the band are live as you can get, there are no frills here on the CD or DVD, just the band doing their thing live with a really good selection of mostly new tunes with a few classics thrown in for good measure.

 

This set is well recorded, well played and the audience seems to like it, no overdubs or messing about but what you get is the full spirit of the gig and it starts off with a cracking version of “Wealth”, the lions share come from the “Great Cold Distance” with “Cold Ways” and “Ghosts Of The Sun” being the best of the older songs, though all are flawless in performance and execution.  I’m not usually taken with live albums but this one is one of the best and with a free DVD to go with the CD its VFM as well as entreating and lets it there’s nothing on TV worth watching, go get it.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.katatonia.com/ & http://www.peacevillerecords.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME CD + DVD = 52 mins + 11 TRACKS