OZZY OSBOURNE — Diary Of A Madman (review)

OZZY OSBOURNE — Diary Of A Madman album cover Album · 1981 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Diary of a Madman" is the 2nd full-length studio album by UK heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne. The album was released in November 1981 by Jet Records.

In the liner notes in the booklet for the 2002 remaster of "Diary of a Madman", Ozzy tells that the album was recorded in a rush. The band were constantly touring in those years and Ozzy had to say accept the final mix to producer Max Norman over the phone from a phone booth somewhere on the road. That´s certainly not audible though. Compared to "Blizzard of Ozz (1980)" which is a bit inconsistent in quality, "Diary of a Madman" is a much more artistically succesful release. The only track, out of the eight tracks on the album, that I don´t think is better than average is the power ballad "Tonight" ( and it ain´t bad). The remaining seven tracks are simply among the best tracks Ozzy Osbourne has yet put out. Take a listen to the powerful opening track "Over the Mountain" for starters or the equally powerful "S.A.T.O". Now that´s what I call kick ass heavy metal. The power ballad "You Can't Kill Rock & Roll" is also pretty great but it´s with the delightfully dark "Believer", the Beatlesque "Little Dolls" ( well very dark and heavy Beatlesque) and the epic closing title track that I´m completely won over. The latter features maybe the best vocal performance ever by Ozzy. It´s quite the intriguing and dare I say progressive heavy metal track too. Absolutely breathtaking that one.

Despite Ozzy saying that the album was rushed the sound production is excellent and powerful and if you ever had any doubts the musicianship is of course also of high quality. Ozzy´s wailing vocal delivery never sounded better and the late Randy Rhoads is simply on fire on some of these tracks. His guitar playing was great on the debut album but here the playing is outstanding. The rest of the guys in the band are also very competent and do a great job here too. I´d like to mention the playing by drummer Lee Kerslake as one of the instrumental highlights too.

"Diary of a Madman" comes highly recommended from me as the best starting point if you are new to Ozzy Osbourne. It doesn´t get much better than this when we´re talking Ozzy. A 4 - 4.5 star rating is deserved.
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