Album Review: U.D.O.'s We Are One

Strap in fellow Otaku & Metalheads. This one’s going to be long.

2020. A year that we all want to forget, but a year that we’ll sadly never forgot. A horrific plague swept the Earth, derailing all sorts of giant social gatherings, killing swathes of people, and injuring many more. Here in the United States, I believe the death total is over seven hundred thousand at this point (Please correct me if this is not the case). Not only that, but there’s so much false information about not only the plague, but the vaccinations, masks, and so many other things that can nip all of this in the bud. Coupled with increasing racial tensions & political corruption/incompetency due to the actions of the thankfully ousted Donald J. Trump (Vomited in my mouth a little after typing that), it seems that just about everything in my home country is up in flames, but if you want to see someone describe how everything looked in the world back in mid-July of 2020 (And still right now, if I’m being honest), take a gander at this behemoth of a letter.

“Dear Udo Friends,

I’m writing these lines at the end of April 2020. Corona is ruiling the headlines and all of our day to day activities. I am currently in the Cologne area after I was able to “Rescue” myself by driving to Germany from Ibiza two weeks ago after several weeks of total isolation.

I am currently in the studio with Sven almost every day and we are working together on the upcoming U.D.O. album, which should be released in the coming year (2021). The guys behind the band are all at home and only connected to our studio via Skype. Actually, we all wanted to come together in the studio because this type of work has proven itself on our last album “Steelfactory”. No chance, since this virus has a firm grip on the world...

THE WORLD! OUR WORLD! OUR ONLY WORLD!

Our world is dying! A little more every day! And we are all responsible for it. We are heading towards enormous problems and those “Doing Nothing” are responsible for the consequences. To make matters worse, there are ever increasing tendencies toward nationalist and right wing structures that lead to more isolation and selfishness. This is happening right now at a time when the whole world should be acting in a unified and collaborative manner. Unfortunately, lost for power, lobbying, selfishness and a giant dose of stupidity are preventing a better world for everyone.

- The rainforest in Brazil is burning. Billions of animals are dying in the flames and the world is watching as a “President” allows this to happen.
- The oceans are full of plastic and the world is watching millions of animals cruelly die from the plastic. Nevertheless, we continue to produce tons of plastic waste every day.
- Dictator, tyrants and the right-wing people are gaining more and more power and the world is watching.
- A corporation is obviously poisoning entire insect cultures worldwide, not to mention the bees and humans themselves with its pesticide. The world is watching.
- Car companies are massively damaging our environment with fake emissions data and the world is watching.
- In Australia (And Worldwide), we had true flame infernos in forest fires last year and again, billions of animals painfully burned to death, proven effects of climate change and the world is watching. Many a president denies climate change and yet, they still have chances of being re-elected. Our forests. The lungs of the world are burning while most people are not really worried and continue to live their lives the same way!
- Refugee camps in Europe are full of suffering people and the world is watching. There are thousands of traveling children who are alone in refugee camps in Europe, living in the worst of circumstance and being exposed to many dangers every day, and we can’t even bring these children to us and give them a new future? For months now, our politicians have been discussing whether we can get the children out of these! It is shameful!

There are currently many trillions in corona funding under discussion worldwide. Part of these funding is for prehistoric companies that will continue to pollute our environment in the extreme. Wouldn’t it be better to invest the money in new technologies such as fuel cells to help save our only and unique world instead of spending the money on polluting companies just because they have more power through their expensive lobbyists? Should we not take advantage of the unique opportunity for a better world just so a few people can keep stuffing their pockets at our own expense? Should we save jobs that, by design, exterminate our insects and bees worldwide? I think no! The free world must stand together and ensure that this ball does not continue to roll while many thousands of people are kept as slaves for years just to build new (football) stadiums! Unfortunately our politicians all too frequently play in the many-sided concert of injustices!

One could get the impression that this world is doomed and that humans are the biggest scum in global history. There is considerable evidence of this! I am not a scientist, but I have the hope that we will still be able to change this current course. Of course, there are a lot of stupid, selfish and bad people (Even several leaders of the largest countries cannot deny the accusation), but there are also a great deal of wonderful, good people and I am encouraged by this.

Check out the fantastic people within the Fridays For Future movement, or those from Greenpeace, Medicines Sans Frontiers and learn their names. This is my hope.

At FFF, young people are getting straight to the point of what we should be doing: “Save the world. It’s the only one we have and there is no planet b” and I feel really terrible when I hear the accusations against FFF from the ranks of some politicians. How can you make Greta Thunberg to appear negative and even hostile? This young lady is remarkable and deserves all the respect in the world. She has my deepest personal respect!

Rebel Town handled the demonstrations in Lepzig as well as in many other cities in East Germany that finally brought down the wall in Germany in 1989. We “The Little People can also achieve something like this. We only have to stick together and stand up for our goals. Be brave out there and be uncomfortable for the offenders! Fight!”

Nothing will change if we accept everything as is and do not tackle these abuses. And we ourselves also need to change. Starting with little things like dealing with plastic waste and avoiding waste and also in our mutual human interaction. Luckily, metal fans are mainly very open and tolerant people. One could almost conclude that we need more metal in everyday life. A cool idea! In any case, I’m thankful to be part of this scene!

We need more understanding and love in our interaction with each other. And right-wing thinking must not be tolerated. It isn’t self-explanatory that most of the right or at least “Right-Leaning” politicians deny global warming and don’t give a shit about looking after the environment, people and animals?

We need to break out of our paralyzing comfort and finally act ourselves. Set an example! Write to your politicians and demand that they opt for humanity and not for money and everything behind it! Support the actions of organizations like FFF, Greenpeace, the WWF, etc. Help people and help yourself. Become active! Small steps eventually rest in a very big step.

Our current album is frighteningly more relevant today and we could have ever imagined. The Coronavirus has shut down the world. Was it created in an incredibly cruel animal market in China or did it escape from a laboratory? I don’t know, but I don’t tend toward conspiracy theories and certainly not doomsday scenarios (I guess it was the transmission from the unspeakable animal market). Regardless, we must take this virus and it’s effects extremely seriously. A new virus could go around the world tomorrow: One that is even worse and more cruel than Covid 19.

But please note that Corona is just a tiny little fucker. The big thing to come and we have to prevent whatever it takes is global warming with all negative impacts for us (Billions of death cases, famine, crop failures, floods, extreme climate changes, etc) worldwide. And there is no vaccination against global warming! We have to do everything possible and impossible in order to avoid global warming since once it is out of control, there is no going back to normal life.....

We changed the world through our actions, both positively and negatively. Where the journey goes is in our hands. I am afraid that the last decisive journey is imminent and I hope that we will be able to act sensibly and cautiously and look toward a great future for people, animals and our environment. WE ONLY HAVE ONE PLANET AND WE ARE ALL UNITED. WE ARE PEOPLE!

WE ARE ONE”

Those of you who are in the know may recognize this rather lengthy letter, but those that don’t, these are the first words when you look within the CD packet for U.D.O.’s 16th studio album, We Are One. That’s right everybody, I’m going with my “Loose” approach to my no. 1 record of the year before. Well, technically one of three no. 1 releases from 2020. I certainly considered reviewing the more lighter releases like Skycrest from Iron Savior or A Christmas Carol from Majestica, but I felt that this outing from one of Germany’s most iconic bands was most appropriate, given how things still suck, despite being better than the year before.

Udo Dirkschneider, despite being near 70, is still a master metal general. The power he commands, along with the rest of his band, is nothing short of incredible. Like any smart military leader however, they know that going into battle with a partner sometimes creates greater chances of success than going in alone, and that’s exactly what Udo did. Enlisting the help of another equally power German music group to help him with this album.....Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr. Who are the Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, you may be asking? Well, these guys just so happen to be the official orchestra of the German military! Don’t believe me? Give the sample below a try, and see what I mean!

Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr - Summon The Heroes

See!? Take U.D.O.’s metallic might, and have it right alongside Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s majesty, and the end result is nothing short of incredible! Somehow, the Heavy Metal guitars, bass, drumming, and vocal work, meshes with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s orchestral playing seemingly flawlessly. This also ties in with the message that Udo is going for with We Are One: the world is going to potentially go to irreparable hell in a hand basket, and we gotta do what we can to make sure that it doesn’t happen. Dirkschneider would always dabble with politics/social issues on a song or two, but for the first time in his entire career he dedicated an entire record to political & social issues. There’s one issue I have with this (More on that later), but I will say that he holds his ground on what he believes within this release, and he doesn’t let anyone push him back. With such a big release, you could see why he needed the help from one of the most premier orchestras in the world!

This all culminates in what is one of my absolute favorite albums of this new decade. The raw heaviness of the guitars & bass, the Thor-like thunder of the drums, Udo’s voice that still sounds like it did all the way back in 1979 on the very first Accept record, and Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s equal level of mastery of orchestral playing all get together and produce some of the most genuine metal magic my ears have ever heard. Not since the days of Apocalyptica have I ever heard metal with an orchestra done so well, and while a few other bands have come close in prior years, I’m not sure they were able to obtain quite as much as U.D.O. have with We Are One.
    
Picking what the best track from this album was easy for me, and that has to go to the juggernaut that is Neon Diamond! The saxophone that shows up a few seconds in is a little jarring at first, but that immediately goes away when said saxophone playing is both really good, and gives the song a huge 1980s vibe whenever it plays. Hell, the whole song sounds like a lost Accept/U.D.O. track from the 80s. From the guitar & bass, to the drumming, and to Dirkschnider’s & guest vocalist Manuela Markewitz’s singing. Coupled with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr’s orchestral playing, Neon Diamond feels like a tune that could fit perfectly in any 1980s action movie, and nobody would say anything bad about that.

Neon Diamond

So with all of the praise I gave this album, you’re probably thinking that there are no criticisms with We Are One.....and I almost didn’t want to find any. However, I do happen to have one small nitpick, and that’s with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr themselves. Not that they don’t perform well, because they do so with incredible talent & skill! Across all 15 tracks they mesh with U.D.O.’s classic Heavy Metal style seamlessly, and both sides become incredible partners. That being said, I do find that they are used better on some songs than other. For every track like Neon Diamond, you got a song like Pandemonium where it still sounds good, but the orchestra accompanying the metal instrumentation & singing could have matched up better. But taking that nitpick aside, Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr still deliver quality orchestral music alongside Udo Dirkschneider’s squad of metal troops, and it’s a sound that’s some of the best of the beginning of this decade.

Outside of that nitpick, my only fault with the album has to be the message & goals behind the music. Make no mistake: the sentiment behind every word sung is heartfelt. The idea of getting together and making the world a better place, as hokey & cheesy as it sounds, is something that I bet many people believe in and do their best to actually partake in throughout their lives. However, I feel that Udo may be too optimistic on We Are One. I feel like he’s maybe looking at things through glasses that are too clean, and not ones that maybe have a scratch or two on the lens. I still stand by and say that people throughout the world need to listen to this album, not to mention listen to what Udo’s trying to say, but at the same time maybe look at things a little more realistically when trying to change things for the better.
            
We Are One gets a 10 out of 10. Even with that one tiny (And I mean absolutely tiny) nitpick and my only criticism, U.D.O have crafted an album that perfectly reflects what’s going on, and will hopefully become an absolute classic a decade or two from now. I know that it’s a classic right now with me at least.

And this was my review for We Are One. One of my 3 number one albums of 2020, and maybe even my absolute favorite. Like I said probably a bunch of times throughout this review, the world needed this album & the messages within. 2021 was certainly better, but we can definitely work on it some more. With that fellow Otaku & Metalheads, December is near, and the last few posts of the year are incoming. So join me in a few days, when I’ll show off the games that made this year great. See you soon!



***
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

We Are One

Also, if you’d like to see my no. 1 album of 2019, click on the link below:

Album Review: Rammstein’s Rammstein

My Top 10 Youtubers

Hi there fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Before we get to one of my number 1 albums of 2020, I wanted to take a brief detour into the Top 10 neighborhood. Not since March (September if you want to be really picky) have I done one of these, and today’s list is one I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. I think it’s a safe bet to say that there’s a Youtuber for every single color of the rainbow. Some are old, some are young. Some have a legacy that’s still around to this day, while others are beginning to establish a legacy of their own. Suffice it to say, I’ve watched a ton of Youtube since 2005, and I’ve come to love a variety of content creators.....so why not show who I love off to you? Here are my top 10 Youtubers! Let’s begin!

10) Super Huuman (Video)
If there was a Youtuber that embodied “Pleasure From Suffering”, it would be Super Huuman. I discovered this guy back in 2019 if I recall correctly, and he’s become an internet guilty pleasure for me. He’s not really that complex of a creator: he just does dumb wrestling move stunts, often with painful & hilarious results. Not much else I can say.

9) Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time (Video)
I sort of feel bad for these guys. A parody/tribute to one of the most iconic/infamous channels out there, Regular Ordinary Swedish Meal Time (ROSMT for short) are absolute dorks. When they’re not peeling potatoes with their own skin, cutting onions or carving meat with an axe, or causing mass destruction in the kitchen, they’re also performing some incredibly goofy skits. Whether it’s assembling an IKEA chair, or having to deal with the demonic entity that is Mr. Fox, you’re bound to see something ridiculous. After one of the cast had a child, and another saying that ROSMT was more of a hobby than anything else (Despite having a nice business on the side), the signs were put up for all to see. It’s a shame, as their old content is still entertaining, and I suspect that they would still be going strong today. Still, there’s a moment here and there where I swear I hear the faint sound of Swenglish echo in the wind, and the smell of Swedish food wafts in front of my nose.

8) Commander’s Quarters (Video) & Game Knights (Video) & Quest For The Janklord (Video)
For anyone who knows me personally, you’ll know that I’m a huge Magic The Gathering dork. I’ve been playing for almost 20 years, and I confess there’s been years where I wasn’t always the greatest player. Hell, even now I know I’m not always the best, but after discovering these three channels, I like to say that I’ve gained a little more knowledge. Each of these channels provided something unique to me: Commander’s Quarters gave me great ideas for inexpensive decks to make, Game Knights showed me that force sometimes is a good thing, and Quest For The Janklord told me to relax & make something weird once in a while (While also providing some entertaining skits & a weirdly intriguing story). There’s definitely something for any magic player on each of these channels, so give them all a go, and see what you think!

7) The Proper People (Video)
Urban Exploration has always fascinated me. Whether in this country or abroad, I always thought it would be cool to wander through various decrepit hotels, factories, and other locals. Thankfully, I can do that in the safety of my own home through The Proper People channel! Having produced content for the past 7 years, they’ve taken a look through a lot of places. The Glass Bank in Florida, numerous mental hospitals, and two abandoned nuclear reactors are just some of the places that these fine chaps have examined. What’s also cool is how much they respect the places they go to, as they make sure not to cause damage, and they never take anything. Good on you Proper People.....good on you!

6) Binging With Babish (Video) & HowToDrink (Video)
Some more cooking!

Okay, I gotta take a slight step back. Only one of these channels is cooking related. At over 9 million subscribers, and having made cooking videos since February of 2016, Binging With Babish has been simultaneously entertaining & informative. He’s taken on all kinds of real-life recipes, as well as numerous dishes from pop culture. From Bubble Bass’s orders from the Krusty Krab, to Squid Ink Pasta from Jojo, and just fairly recently Apple Cider Donuts, Babish has taken on a wide variety of foods with various degrees of success. HowToDrink is fundamentally in the same camp, but with an obvious focus of cocktails. He’s worked on real life Tiki cocktails, the Blue Milk from Galaxy’s Edge, and the flaming behemoth that is Café Brulot (That video was particularly entertaining on account of how scared the host was). Both of these channels are incredibly informative, and give out great recipes to try. If you’re interested in cooking or cocktail making, you’ll want to check these two out!

5) Sabaton History (Video)
I’m somewhat surprised that I didn’t put this channel higher. I recall being incredibly excited for this channel when the glorious Swedes began hyping it back in late 2018, and in early February of the next year the first episode premiered to a great amount of fanfare from the Sabaton faithful. For over 2 years, Joakim & Par talked about the background of the song in each episode, while the host of the series, Indy Neidell, talked about the history behind the track. They’ve covered practically everything in their entire discography, as well as a few side subjects (Heavy Metal history, for example). If they were a little slower with putting out each episode, and by extent making the show last a little longer, I may have put this channel a little higher on the list. Still, Sabaton History is a damn good channel, and whether you’re a fan of the music or the historical content, there is something for everybody here.

4) AVGN (Video)
The pioneer of the angry content reviewer, James Rolfe still manages to be relevant to this very day. It’s pretty remarkable that he can still be entertaining not just with his original character, but with many of the others that have come out over the ages. Though he’s looked at games from console & old computer’s past, in recent years he’s come over to the PC Master Race with some select reviews that really struck a chord with me. If he covered more PC games I may have considered putting the nerd a little higher on this list, but even if he didn’t I still find him not only to be nearly infinitely enjoyable to watch, but also an internet cornerstone that’s still standing strong today.

3) Civvie 11 (Video)
If you are an AVGN fan, or at the very least a fan of AVGN’s style of reviews, then you may like the maximum security prisoner CV-11. Take James Rolfe’s formula, focus on PC titles, and make an absolutely ridiculous backstory for one’s character, and you have Civvie. In a weird way I kinda feel a little more sympathy for Civvie, as he actually looks at a variety of games in terms of quality. Good, bad, mediocre, it doesn’t matter. Civvie has played games that would break lesser men.....as long as he wasn’t getting tazed for making too many Gordon Ramsey references, or being sent into the cold room for not wanting to finish Island Peril. If you wanted AVGN that covered a wider base of games, then this sad prisoner will be someone to watch!

2) LGR (Video)
By a nose hair or two did this channel miss the number one spot. For 14 years, LGR (Real name Clint) has been releasing all sorts of videos. Game reviews, PC parts review & analysis, thrift store adventures, unboxings, and even making sandwiches. LGR is a jack-of-all-trades kind of channel, yet there’s a consistent level of quality across everything he does. Not only that, but he’s also incredibly warming & welcoming, and manages to be pretty funny at just the right moment. Again, LGR just managed to miss being no. 1......but as usual on some recent years, you’re not going to be surprised at who did make it to the number one spot.

Before we get to my number 1, I wanted to talk about some honorable mentions. These two creators are the ultimate example of “Fallen From Grace” to me. Their content is good, no question asked, but maybe I don’t seek them out for.....personal reasons. Anyways, here are my Youtuber honorable mentions.

HM1) Razorfist (Video)
I find myself so conflicted with putting this.....guy, on this list anyway. Before a certain cheeto became president, he was more of an elitist gamer/metalhead youtuber that would delve into other geeky things once in a while. Once said cheeto became president, he became insufferably political, and it only got worse with each passing year. Nowadays, almost every video he puts out is some form of political video where he gets almost every fact wrong, and is just a far-right grifter that pours fuel on the fire in order to keep viewers glued to his hipster ass. 9 times out of 10 I stay far away from his channel on account of not wanting a brain aneurysm, but on rare occasions I come over to watch his older content, and the exceedingly rare modern video that even remotely interests me.

HM2) Vegan Black Metal Chef (Video)
I recall all the way back in 2011 when I first watched this bloodthirsty warlock set out to craft some of the most surprisingly great vegan food. Taking one part Julia Child, mixing in a little Darkthrone, and add a dash of humor, and you have a recipe for a surprisingly entertaining channel. He fell out of favor for me when I discovered an interview with him on ABC Nightline, and he came across like one of the self-righteous vegans that think they’re morally superior to anyone who even gets close to animals. He wasn’t necessarily smug, but you could sort of see a subtle “I’m Judging You” face when he was talking to the reporting. Still, his recipes are good (The ones I like at least), and I think the concept of a Black Metal musician cooking vegan food is kind of funny.

1) Silvervale (Video A/Video B) & Doug The Pug (Video)

Of course the most charming Sakura Wolf girl is going to be at number 1! No one.....especially people that know me personally.....should not be surprised by this! I’m not even sure what else I can say at this point about her: Silvervale is one of the sweetest, bighearted, warmest, and most hardworking Vtuber that’s out there. Maybe even the most, if I’m being honest. She puts so much work into even the littlest videos, and there’s also her real-life Mother & Brother that come in and join the fun as well (Their interactions are cute & fuzzy). Every single cent she gets from donations or when people buy her merch......she earns.

And then there’s Doug The Pug. For 6 to 7 years, this heartwarming little pooch, along with his kind owners, have crafted some of the cutest dog videos the internet has seen. Not only that, but Doug has gone to numerous children’s charities, and the attention that’s given to the kids is nothing short of warm & fuzzy amped up to 10. It might be silly to love a dog like Doug & his adorable antics so much, but when you’ve had dogs throughout your entire life, you’ll understand. 3 cheers for Doug!

And those were my top 10 Youtubers. All of the content creators here have made some fine material, and they all have earned their spot in the reaches of the internet. Well, I’m taking a break, but come back towards the end of the month, when I’ll show off one of my number 1 albums of the plague ridden year that was 2020. See you then!

Album Review: Ozzy Osbourne's Ordinary Man

Happy November fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

It’s time for a little bit of self reflection once again everybody. Last year I began a tradition of taking a look at some of the albums from a year prior, and seeing if I still liked them as much as I did when I first sat down & listened to them. 2021 is no different, as I got some behemoths to look at from the plague-ridden year that was 2020. As awful as that year was, some of the best Heavy Metal of the beginning of this decade (Maybe even of this decade period by the end of it) came out. Today is the honorable mention review, and it’s one that I wish wasn’t one. The musician in question has been around for 50 years at this point, and he’s certainly made a legacy for himself. So, get a glass of wine, toast to all the good times you’ve had, and take a look at my review of Ozzy Osburne’s 12th studio album, Ordinary Man. Let’s begin.

Background
Taken from Wikipedia:

“Ordinary Man is Osbourne's first studio album as a solo artist in ten years following Scream (2010). It is also his first album overall since he reunited with Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler for their final album 13 (2013), with him as lead singer. After the release of 13, they went on a farewell tour titled The End Tour, which ended in Birmingham, England on 4 February 2017. After Black Sabbath concluded their farewell tour, Osbourne kept working on new material. In September 2019, he was featured alongside American rapper Travis Scott on American rapper Post Malone's "Take What You Want", from Malone's third studio album Hollywood's Bleeding, which went on to become Osbourne's first Billboard Hot 100 top 10 in over 30 years, thus making it the longest gap between top 10 appearances in the chart's history. On 8 November 2019, it was revealed that Osbourne had worked with Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan, and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on the album. Speaking about the recording, he commented that the entire album process is done "in just a short time", adding "Duff and Chad came in and we would go in and jam during the day and I would go work out the songs in the evenings. I previously had said to Sharon I should be doing an album, but in the back of my mind I was going, 'I haven't got the fucking strength.' But Andrew pulled it out of me. I really hope people listen to it and enjoy it, because I put my heart and soul into this album."”

Ordinary Man would be met with mostly high praise upon it’s release. AllMusic critic Fred Thomas gave the record an almost positive review, writing “The production is huge but the energy is spontaneous, sounding like it was as fun to make as it is to listen to. 71 years old at the time Ordinary Man was released, Osbourne's voice is in great shape, sounding more or less like he always has. How he's making music this strong after riding the crazy train for more than half-a-century is anyone's guess, but the better songs here rank among his best.” Josh Gray of Clash magazine said that “Ordinary Man is far from perfect, but all Ozzy Osbourne's solo releases tend to reflect their creator's flaws to one degree or another. It does, however, absolutely succeed on its own terms, serving its purpose by reminding the world just what we'll miss when this titan among titans finally departs us for good.”

Ordinary Man would debut at number 3 on the Billboard 200 with 77,000 equivalent units, including 65,000 pure album sales. The release is Ozzy’s eighth top ten album on the chart as a solo artist, and would also debut at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart.

Basic Description
Ozzmosis’s spiritual successor.

That might sound like a bad thing for some, given the reputation of that release. However, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Sure, Ozzmosis was a album composed entirely of ballads, but it also was perhaps Ozzy’s most self-reflective at the time. Ordinary Man is much the same way: an album devoted to looking at one’s past, sprinkled with little bits of fantasy to give the record a dream-like feel at times. Perhaps the biggest difference from Ozzmosis however, is that there’s more variety on here. You got fast-paced tracks, you got middle-of-the-road tracks, and you’ve got some slower-paced songs also. This variety in song speeds gives Ordinary Man more of a unique personality than it’s 1995 counterpart, and because of that endears me to the album.

Best Track
The title track is definitely the juggernaut of the album. Looking into his past once again, Ozzy really pours his heart out, and offers another introspective look into his life. The piano that plays throughout a giant portion of the track adds a big melancholy vibe, and the instrumentation reflects this as well. Even Elton John, despite being a guest singer for just a portion of the song (He’s also the guy playing the piano), adds some of his own self-reflection to the tune. It’s hard not to feel the age of these two musical legends, as they’ve certainly gone through some pretty big trials & tribulations throughout their exceptionally long lives. Again, the juggernaut of the album.

Ordinary Man

However, I do want to briefly talk about his collab with Post Malone. It’s A Raid is the exact opposite of the album’s title track: fast, energetic, and is a hell of a lot of fun. Post in particular provides a youthful energy with his voice, and on the surface you’d think his presence wouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Ozzy’s gruff voice, combined with Posty’s surprisingly clean vocal delivery, makes for an entertaining Yin/Yang kind of feel. This is a track you shouldn’t skip.....period.

It’s A Raid

Worst Track
There isn’t a bad song on Ordinary Man per se, but it’s more of a collection of things that hurt what otherwise could have been something incredible. For starters, there’s Ozzy’s voice. To play a little bit of devil’s advocate, he was having some health issues at the time (He found out about his Parkinson’s during the recording or after the album came out. I can’t remember.), and as such it would be understandable if his singing wasn’t up to snuff. Still, there’s a lot of auto-tune on this album, and it shows up in odd places across the entire record. The second, and perhaps the most shocking, is that there are a horde of people on Ordinary Man. Despite being a solo record, there are 54 additional musicians brought on to help, some of which are pretty damn notable. Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slash from Guns & Roses, Tom Morello from Rage Against The Machine, and Post Malone (Perhaps the most important guest musician weirdly enough) on vocals for two songs and composition. Those are just some of the big names that came onto this record. Finally, and to bounce off of the big amount of additional musicians, there were 26 additional people that worked on the engineering, mixing, production, and recording. That’s a lot of people to work on a record, and you can sometimes gets some hiccups because of said amount of individuals. There’s a few more issues, but these 3 are the ones that are the most notable to me.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:

Ordinary Man

Overall Impression & Rating
Ordinary Man is certainly Ozzy. There’s absolutely no question about it. From beginning to end, you’re treated to a kind of rollercoaster that only the Blizzard of Ozz could provide, and it’s a hell of a ride. However, it’s got some dents in it’s armor, and it obvious that Ozzy sort of needed the help on this record. Still, there’s definitely some material on here that’s absolutely fantastic, and many of the tracks are absolute bangers. I can understand why some people might not like this release, but if you put that dislike aside, you can definitely find something great.....with being ordinary.

Ordinary Man is a 6 to 6.5 out of 10, but I enjoyed it as if it was an 8 out of 10.

And that was Ordinary Man. Certainly not a dumpster fire like some of the negative critics have said it was (Go over to Metal Archives, and you’ll see what I mean), but it definitely isn’t top tear either. Still, for whatever reason I dig the hell out of this album whenever I play it, as there’s definitely something badass here. Still, Ozzy could have done better, but at the same time this definitely isn’t an awful way to end a career on if it’s the case. Well, before we take a look at one of my number 1 albums of last year (I had 3 no. 1 albums in 2020 if you recall), it’s time for a 10 top list that I’ve been thinking about for quite some time. See you next week!

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If you're curious about what honorable mention I looked at last year, then click on the link below:

Album Review: A Pale Horse Named Death's When The World Becomes Undone