Today’s review is pretty significant in the career of the Blizzard Of Ozz. I’ll be repeating this fact a little later, but on the 23rd of October in the year of our lord 2025, Ozzy’s 2nd release in the 90s turns exactly 3 decades. Ozzmosis is an.....interesting release. Coming out at an interesting time in Ozzy’s career, the album came to a crossroads. The road to the left would have seen him continue down his old-school path, while the road to the right would be more along commercial lines & see him embrace a more mainstream mentality. In the end, Ozzy would somehow pursue both paths at once, and the end result is unique to say the least. So, without further delay, here is my review for 1995's Ozzmosis. Let’s begin.
Background
Taken from part 2 of my Ozzy overview:
“Ozzmosis. If there was ever an album from the Blizzard of Ozz that certainly divided fans to an extent, it is this one. Released on October the 23rd, 1995, the album came during interesting times. After the release of No More Tears & the subsequent touring, Ozzy had checked into rehab on account of the drugs maybe taking too much of a hold on his life at that point. Coupled with the failed retirement still somewhat fresh in his brain come close to 1995, Osbourne was definitely feeling the strain of his career & life in general. Come 1995 itself, and things began to turn around. For starters, his entire back catalogue was re-released, and once Ozzmosis itself came out, him & the gang would go on what would be dubbed "The Retirement Sucks Tour".
Ozzmosis would go on to achieve a nice amount of commercial success. It would reach number 22 on the UK Albums Chart, five spots lower than No More Tears, and three spots lower than the album that would come after it. It achieved it’s greatest success in the United States, reaching no. 4 on the Billboard 200, which would be Ozzy’s highest charting album at time. Ozzmosis also reached the top ten in Finland and Sweden, top 30 in Germany, New Zealand and Norway, top 40 in Switzerland, and the top 50 in Australia. By the end of 95, the album would be certified Platinum, and Double Platinum by April of 1999. According to Billboard magazine, Ozzmosis sold in excess of 3 million copies in total, and as of the 2010 release of Scream, it’s the latest Ozzy album to be certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.
However, the view of Ozzmosis from the opinion of critics would be more mixed. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic criticized it, with a focus on what he said was it’s lack of evolution from Ozzy’s previous 2 releases. Despite praising guitarist Zakk Wylde, Erlewine condemned the "modern-rock conscious" production style of producer Michael Beinhorn, which he claimed was the cause of Ozzmosis's main problem – that "on the surface, the music is hard and loud, but it actually sounds smooth and processed." Entertainment Weekly critic Chuck Eddy claimed that because of the length of the tracks on the album, it "feels like a parody of the most overinflated opera".”
Basic Description
Ozzy’s Still Not Black Enough.
While Ozzmosis isn’t as dark & tragic as that record, it is by far in a way Ozzy’s most emotional album at that time. Considering he was trying to retire a few years prior to it’s release, not to mention going through rehab & other things, meant that the Prince Of Darkness poured his heart out once he was out of getting clean. Most of the songs on this release deal with something he was going through or feeling in 1995 & before, and even the ones that don’t still feel emotionally heavy. There are faults to be sure (I’ll definitely be talking about them later), and the reception of this release was mixed among people, it still manages to tug at the heartstrings almost 30 years later since it’s original release (Turns exactly 3 decades old next month on the 23rd).
Best Track
Like I said back in 2022, I Just Want You & My Little Man were the best tracks of the album, and I still stand by that. The former I originally discovered on The Ozzman Cometh compilation long before I listened to it here, and it hits me just as hard way back in 2002 as it does now. On top of that, I said almost 3 years ago, that I think this track was dedicated to Sharon, as Ozzy is pouring his heart out along with the rest of the band, as the instrumentation just affects your mind in a way I can’t completely describe. Meanwhile, the latter track was dedicated to his son Jack, and the best way I can describe it as singing about a dream in a way that only the Prince Of Darkness could. It’s captivating & mesmerizing along it’s entire playtime, with the instrumentation feeling like it was plucked from the dream, and Ozzy’s singing just beyond your range of sight, yet he still feels close to you. It might be a tiny bit hokey with some of the lyrics, but the song on the whole is quite sincere.
I Just Want You
My Little Man
However, I gotta give some honorable mentions to Ozzmosis’s closer, Old L.A. Tonight. A giant nostalgia blast, the song is a soulful, almost blusey like track. There’s wonderful piano playing through the whole tune, and it’s coupled with great guitarwork from Zakk Wylde & basswork from Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler (who came back for this album), and drums from Deen Castronovo. Ozzy’s vocalwork adds to the soulful nature of the song, as it’s equal parts nostalgic for a time that’s been gone for a decade, and pines for I believe his wife (I could be wrong on that). It really tugs at the heartstrings quite a bit, and it’s emotional power definitely earns it’s spot as the final track of this album.
Old L.A. Tonight
Worst Track
There isn’t a bad track on Ozzmosis per se. Fundamentally, the whole album from top to bottom is fantastic, but there are certain aspects that do add a dent or two. Also like I said in October of 2022, the record’s biggest fault was that it was nothing but ballads, and while one or two (maybe 3) is a-okay, to have an entire release nothing but ballads is absurd. Outside of that, there is a song or two where Ozzy’s voice sounds weird, and the instrumentation sounds like it’s just following popular trends at the time in certain tracks as well.
While this isn’t a problem in my view, I did see some comments somewhere (Might have been on Youtube) saying that Ozzmosis was Grunge-like. At first I thought that was a funny thing to say, but after doing a little research, there actually was some truth to it. The producer, Michael Beinhorn, was also the producer for Soundgarden & Hole, and thus some of those Grunge vibes leaked over to this album. Again, I don’t see this as a problem since I’m a Grunge fan, but metal elitists back in the day (And some still now sadly) probably had a absolute brain aneurysm over this.
Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:
Ozzmosis (w Bonus Tracks)
Overall Impression & Rating
Ozzmosis was certainly divisive back in 1995, and still has some divisiveness nearly 30 years later. Completely composed of ballads, weird sounding vocals in certain tracks, and trend-following instrumentation certainly pushed some people away, not to mention the Grunge vibes that only metal elitests would have fits over. Yet, for anyone willing to move past those issues, you will find some of the best & most personable music that Ozzy has ever made. Was the album made for everybody? No, but for some Ozzy fans it is the most unique album in his career. I can understand if some pass on this record, but for anyone that does go for it, it is certainly a special experience.
Ozzmosis gets an 8 out of 10.
And that was Ozzmosis. Certainly one of the more mixed albums of Ozzy’s career, but one that still has it’s fans to this very day. Again, with the album turning 30 years old next month, it felt only right to give it is’ due. So, it’s October tomorrow, and as usual it’s time for some spooks & screams to appear here. So, join me on the first, when I’ll take a revised look at a doctor.....and the monsters he helps. See you then!
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