This was sadly the very last Ozzy Osbourne solo album to feature the legendary Randy Rhoads on electric guitar. It was a massive loss to not just Ozzy and his crew but to the wider world of music in general. Randy is often cited but rarely listened to as a brilliant guitarist and musician extraordinaire. He built himself up as a dedicated guitarist and musician up until his unfortunate death. Ozzy got a bit of flack when in 2002, drums and bass parts were re-recorded and put on an album reissue, likely due to a poor error of judgement by both Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. This was later fixed on future releases after legal action but seems criminal to the original recording process. In any case, this album is a must to listen to in retrospect, and it is worth covering here. Personnel on this recording were: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Randy Rhoads (guitars); Bob Daisley (bass guitars) and Lee Kerslake (drums). It was originally produced by Max Norman, Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and Bob Daisley, and released on Jet Records on 7 November 1981. Let’s listen to this album, and we shall hear if it is as good as it promises.

1. Over the Mountain begins with some fantastic drumming, and launches into excellent action with some great guitar riffing. Ozzy Osbourne sounds absolutely wonderful and brilliant throughout, with some really great singing throughout. Randy Rhoads plays some sweet and mean guitars throughout, and the rhythm section sounds absolutely wonderful as well. A very cool tune, this is a fantastic listen from start to finish. It was fairly clear and obvious that these guys had a creative and wonderful music spark inside themselves. A really great listen, this sounds like post-Black Sabbath glory that sounds really fantastic throughout. In the midsection are some weird keyboard sounds, followed by a fantastic Randy Rhoads guitar solo that kicks rear. An absolutely phenomenally good listening experience, this is a real winner. If you have never heard of Metal or Heavy Metal Music, this is a great starting point to get into it. Very sweet, magical and awesome, Ozzy Osbourne obviously was on a great musical mission. A great start to this album. Randy’s playing is insanely good.

2. Flying High Again begins with massive riffs and some awesome vocals by Ozzy. This sounds absolutely awesome, heavy and fantastic throughout. This is already one of the best albums ever recorded, alongside Blizzard Of Ozz, its predecessor. This is a really cool listening experience with excellent musicianship, dynamics and performances by all. The raunchy and driven guitar licks are absolutely fantastic throughout, and the music is both uplifting and powerful throughout. A sweet, melodic and fantastic tune with a large wow factor to it all, Ozzy Osbourne made his career stand out by this point. A great shredded guitar solo is present here, which sounds insanely good. Fresh, fast and fun, Randy Rhoads was a beast on guitar. A really very cool tune to listen to, time and time again, this is a solid gold winner. Really excellent to hear, and a fantastic song to listen to. Very very cool to listen to, Ozzy Osbourne does very well on this song. All in all, a winner. It fades out nicely.

3. You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll is a seven-minute-long epic. It begins with some sweet and pristine acoustic guitars, alongside some atmospheric sounds and production. Ozzy sounds great as he enters, and this tune comes nicely alive. This is likely an autobiographical tune about the state of things in the world, if you pay attention to the lyrics of this song. Randy Rhoads kicks in the next section with some Heavy Rock guitars and superb playing. These guys obviously were all fantastic musicians throughout. Understandably, life is full of ups and downs, and this song nicely articulates that fact. A really great and grand listen, with some super powerful and awesome guitars throughout. In the midsection is a screaming and fantastic guitar solo that sounds absolutely mindblowing. A sensationally wonderful listening experience that sounds absolutely joyous and full of emotional energy and passion throughout, this never gets dull or boring throughout. Another solid gold winner of a fantastic song, it seems that Eddie Van Halen had some serious competition in this era. Ozzy Osbourne indicates that like many before and since, Rock and Roll Music will never wane nor die. Seriously good a song, this still sounds mind-blowingly great. Towards the end is some awesome guitar work, just before this gradually fades out. Sweet. Very, very good.

4. Believer begins with some heavily distorted bass guitar, and drums and launches into a rather doom and gloom tune that is likely a touch satanic. This follows with some absolutely phenomenal guitar riffing that sounds sweet and great. Ozzy Osbourne sings nicely here, as per usual, and this song sounds like a real winner. A good and dark boogie groove of a song that sounds really cool, mixed with Heavy Metal overtones, this sounds dark and warped. A really cool song that is non-religious and interesting, one could easily bang their head along to this monster of a tune. A really fantastic and powerful listen, this blows away anything on the radio today with its quality and musicality. Randy Rhoads shreds like a maniac in the second half of this tune, and he sounds like nobody else out there. Very very cool to listen to. A winner if you are a sinner. A very cool and amazing tune that sounds absolutely wonderful throughout. This has a great collection of both melody and rhythm throughout. A great tune, with some screaming guitars and other dark sounds to conclude with.

5. Little Dolls begins with some loud drums with a touch of punchy distortion, before launching into a sensationally good song that has some great singing and melodicism to it all. This is about voodoo dolls, by the way. A cool and awesome song that is gloriously dark and fun listening throughout, this has some awesome and undeniably powerful singing and musicianship throughout. Randy Rhoads makes his guitars absolutely scream on this tune, and he is most definitely one of the guitar greats in Heavy Metal. In any case, this song is a strange listen, but a welcome one. Ozzy has a great, multi-octave singing voice that is powerful. The rhythm section is bang on as well. This launches into a surreal and dark guitar solo in the second half that will make you smile. A really great listening experience throughout, this is followed by some solo drum beats. A cool and interesting tune, this is a mindblowing listen. Even for a lesser track on this album, this continues to sound absolutely awesome. Totally worth listening to. It wraps up with delayed and wailing guitars. Sweet.

6. Tonight begins with a mixture of acoustic guitars, bass guitars and piano. It sounds absolutely pretty on this tune. Ozzy sings nicely about a cold, dark night out in the city and hearing thunder and lightning as well. A fantastically moving and lovely tune, complete with Metal guitars, this is another winner of a tune. A really awesome and lovely tune, with some layered keyboards and other intricate sounds throughout. Ozzy is an absolute legend throughout, and he could make some great music come alive with his band. Randy Rhoads plays some sweet guitar licks on this song, and the whole tune sounds absolutely wonderful. A sensationally cool listening experience, this music is very enjoyable and sweet to listen to throughout. A tremendous tune of seismic proportions, Ozzy sounds great with his vocal delivery. A very good song which is a real winner. In the second half is a blistering and wailing guitar solo that must be heard by Hard Rock fans out there. A very cool listen, through to the extended faded outro. Randy Rhoads sounds absolutely insane here. Great work.

7. S.A.T.O. launches straight into it with keyboards and acoustic guitars. This sounds bizarre and odd, but very, very good. Soon enough, Randy Rhoads gets us rocking with his loud and fantastic guitars. Ozzy sings and the rhythm section also sounds great. This is the closest that this album gets to Black Sabbath here, and it all sounds absolutely awesome throughout. A cool and powerful listen, Randy Rhoads’s guitars sound absolutely fantastic on this release. He shreds throughout, being a star that should have been on this planet for far longer. Nonetheless, this sounds really awesome and fantastic throughout. The guitars are front and centre here and sound very impressive. A fantastic song that has a great deal of insane musicianship and performances throughout. It wraps up with some intricate sounds and melodies, followed by crashing guitars. Nice job.

8. Diary of a Madman is the final track and begins with dual electric and acoustic guitar parts synchronised. It sounds very dark and dramatic. It quickly launches into a fantastically heavy piece of music with some dark and menacing sounds. This is a strange listen, bordering on satanic vibes, without being outright satanic. This is a really cool tune to hear and has some articulate and iconic vocal lyricism throughout. Ozzy was at his solo career peak with Randy Rhoads, and this music effectively articulates this. A really fantastic listen, it gets into heavy instrumental territory towards the middle of it all, with a gorgeous array of pseudo-Classical Music instrumentation to match this glorious tune. Pointing out possible alternate realities, Ozzy Osbourne is a master of theatrics on this album. A winner of a tune, this gradually builds up with intensity and performances throughout the second half, before launching into some absolutely mind-blowing guitar solos and string sections towards the end of it all. A great finish to a very great album, this is an extremely wonderful listening experience. Some harmony vocals and screaming guitars finish this off. A fantastic job, what an album.

This is a fantastic album that has melody, rhythm and quality about it on a basic level but is a musical treasure in itself. Ozzy Osbourne and his band had effortlessly managed to create yet another classic album after Blizzard Of Ozz was released the year before. Randy Rhoads very sadly was killed at age 25 in the most stupid of plane crashes in the history of aviation. That is another story for another time. Should you listen to this album? If you love Black Sabbath and/or Heavy Metal, this is a must to listen to. Fans of lighter music will not enjoy this, however.

A sensationally great album to listen to.

9/10