Customer Reviews

No Rest For The Wicked

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No Rest For The Wicked was the album Ozzy released in 1988, after the glam-influenced Ultimate Sin, and the commercial highpoint No More Tears. The album is heavy, with lots of screaming and crunching noises. I feel that it is Ozzy's best work. It was also his heaviest at the time. The album kicks off with Miracle Man, a great song with interesting lyrics. I like the way Ozzy's voice sounds in that one. Then come one of Ozzy's most underrated songs ever, Devil's Daughter. It is one of my favorites and nobody seems to like it. Then comes Crazy Babies, which is the famous song off this album, but I feel that it simply cannot match up to the other songs on the album. The song afterward is Breakin All The Rules, which is one of Ozzy's best ever songs. The chorus is simply awesome.The next song, Bloodbath In Paradise is good, too. Then comes the album's masterpiece: Fire In The Sky. The song begins with a chorus singing "bum bum bum bum bum" with gongs going off in the background. The song is an epic about a man who never had answers to his questions. I really feel this is Ozzy Osbourne's best. Then comes Tatooed Dancer, which is okay, I guess, but doesn't match up to the song that came before it. The last real song on the album is Demon Alcohol, a good song with great guitar playing. Then there is a bonus track: An unnnamed song that everyone just calls 'Hero'. I think it's very good. This album is one of metal's best.

After the mental-fart that was 1986's The Ultimate Sin, Ozzy said goodbye to Jake E. Lee and came up with a replacement by the name of Zakk Wylde. (By the way, who the f*ck in the Ozzy camp comes up with these terrible monikers? A monkey on peyote?) Anyway, Zakk is young and wylde and you can totally hear that he is a Randy Rhoads freak and a Black Sabbath nut to boot. Well....he absolutely shreds and Ozzy seems supremely happy with himself. Perhaps he has found Randy Rhoads reincarnated here. Maybe. Anything would have sounded good after the tripe that was The Ultimate Sin, but No Rest is more than that. It is a ressurrection in a way. Ozzy soundz more sure of himself again and Zakk is the guitarist that Ozzy didn't have with Brad Gillis or Jake. The songs wail all over the place and Zakk's riffs and licks are electrifying. Miracle Man is sorta annoying but still catchy. Devil's Daughter rox as does Demon Alcohol and Fire In The Sky. The true gem is Bloodbath In Paradise, an ode to Charlie Manson and California murder. One untitle track at the end of the CD. All in all a very solid effort. The one lame track would have to be tattoed dancer (Dance for me, bitch?) just doesn't seem like Ozzy being honest with himself or his fans. Otherwise, pretty flawless. Bob Daisley returns to write the lyrics and the melodies with the Ozzman. Geezer Butler will take his place on the road. The late Randy Castillo's second studio recording with Ozzy on drums.

Dig it!