Legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne has announced the release of a a free Ozzy iPhone app. Get songs, videos, tour dates and leave a personal note to the Prince of Darkness on the fan wall. Click here to check it out and to download.
As OZZY OSBOURNE gears up for the August 14th launch of the 2010 OZZFest, the multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has released ‘Life Won’t Wait’, the second single from his worldwide smash Epic Records album Scream, which entered the charts in June in the Top Ten in more than 10 countries. The video for the hard-hitting and melodic life-affirming song is being directed by Ozzy’s son, Jack Osbourne, and it was shot last week at various locations in Los Angeles.
At the same time, Ozzy’s first-ever official free iTunes app – simply called Ozzy – is available now and allows fans to enter the world of The Prince of Darkness. Users can experience music from Ozzy’s 30-year solo career with access to a full discography featuring direct links to his iTunes page for a one-stop link to purchase any song or album from his catalog. In addition, once downloaded, users can view music videos and photo galleries, access Ozzy’s current concert dates and buy tickets for upcoming shows, or can instantly post comments and photos from shows they’ve just attended. A built-in fan wall also allows users to communicate with each other and search (by location) to find fellow Ozzy fans in their town. The OZZY app is fully integrated with his official Twitter feed and has direct links to all of his other social networking sites as well as Ozzy’s official online store.
Scream is Ozzy’s first album in three years and 10th studio album overall. He recorded most of it at his Los Angeles home studio, The Bunker. It was produced by Ozzy and Kevin Churko, both of whom did the same honors for Ozzy’s 2007 worldwide million-seller Black Rain. Ozzy co-wrote all the songs on Scream, primarily with Churko. First single ‘Let Me Hear You Scream’ hit #1 on both Active Rock charts (for two weeks) and #1 at Mainstream Rock (for 11 weeks).
For Scream, Ozzy will embark on an 18-month world tour with his band: new guitar player Gus G., bassist Blasko, drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman. His US dates will kick off with an August 12th performance at the 70th anniversary of the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota before he launches this year’s OZZFest on August 14. The six OZZFest dates will feature the main stage line-up with full sets from Ozzy, MÖTLEY CRÜE, ROB HALFORD, DEVILDRIVER and NONPOINT. Second stage headliners and six-time OZZFest veterans BLACK LABEL SOCIETY will be joined by DROWNING POOL, KINGDOM OF SORROW, and GOATWHORE, SKELETONWITCH, SAVIOURS and KATAKLYSM. Each OZZFest date will include 13 bands on two stages with music beginning at 1pm. In addition, concert-goers can once again visit the OZZFest “Village of the Damned” featuring a mix of interactive activities, shopping and entertainment throughout the venue concourses.
The 2010 OZZFest dates are as follows:
August
14 – San Bernardino, CA – San Manuel Amphitheater
17 – Chicago, IL – First Midwest Bank Amp.
19 – Pittsburgh, PA – First Niagara Pavilion
21 – Hartford, CT – Comcast Theater
22 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna
24 – Boston, MA – Comcast Center
Ozzy Osbourne has been a part of the music scene and the pop culture landscape for the better part of four decades. His ability to stay relevant and widely popular for such a long period of time is no small feat and is a testament to his iconic status in the realm of music. We are talking about the guy who introduced the world to heavy metal with Black Sabbath. This is the same guy who gave us one of the greatest albums of the eighties, ‘Blizzard of Oz’. Let’s not forget about his phenomenal and commercially successful album ‘No More Tears’. That is one hell of a resume and with his new album ‘Scream’, Ozzy proves that he still has plenty of tricks left up his sleeve.
‘Scream’ is full of plenty of hard rocking music and searing guitar riffs, but it also has a softer side at times. It is Ozzy’s most complete effort in years and may be one of his best albums to date. ‘Scream’ was recorded in Ozzy’s home studio in Los Angeles and all of the songs on the album were co-written by himself with the help of producer Kevin Churko. One noticeable change this time around is the absence of Zakk Wylde. Zakk has been a staple of Ozzy’s band since the late eighties and I am sure there are many people out there who will be disappointed with his absence on the album. Before all of you Zakk fans out there lose your mind and write off this album, I urge you to reconsider. Give this one a chance guys. Gus G of Firewind has replaced the legendary axe slinger and does an amazing job filling the beer soaked boots of Wylde. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that I actually enjoy Gus G’s shredding a little more than Wylde’s. Zakk had become so prominent on ‘Black Rain’ that it felt more like a Black Label Society album than an Ozzy Osbourne album. Hell, even Ozzy himself said the album sounded too much like Black Label Society and he wanted a change. Listen, I am a huge fan of Zakk Wylde and think he is an amazing guitarist, but he has a tendency to hog the spotlight. If you don’t believe me, check out his solo’s in footage of Ozzy’s old tours. Anyway, enough about Zakk Wylde. Gus G’s presence on the album definitely added new fuel to the unstoppable fire that is Ozzy and has rejuvenated his music.
The album kicks off with a back to back punch of heavy rock in the form of the grinding “Let it Die” and the first single “Let Me Hear You Scream”. Both songs adequately prepare the listener for a sonic assault on their ear drums. “Soul Sucker”, the album’s former title, is up next and comes off sounding like it should have been on Ozzy’s 1995 album ‘Ozzmosis’. It is one of my least favorite tracks on the record and probably should have never been included. The moody and melodic “Life Won’t Wait” follows and is a welcome departure from the sound of the previous track. While it is one of the least heavy songs on the album, Ozzy sounds fantastic and it could be one of the best songs he has done in a long time. “Diggin’ Me Down” begins with a continued lighter tone, but quickly ascends into a drum heavy rocker that is sure to please long time fans of the prince of darkness. After the banging drums have subsided, the listener is treated to the appropriately titled “‘Crucified”. The song delves into religion, but is far removed from the safety that is usually provided by the institution. Ozzy’s tone in the song is one of bitterness and anger. It is good to hear that there is still a little fight left in him after all of these years. Ozzy then switches gears again and delivers the unrelenting and unapologetic “Fearless”. This is the best song on the album. Everything from the guitars to the drumming is nothing short of astonishing. The album is worth picking up for this track alone. ‘Time’ is up next and leans toward being more of a ballad, but intermittently sees the return of heavier moments that are mostly in the form of great guitar work. The last two heavy tracks featured on the album are ‘”I Want It More” and “Latimer’s Mercy”. “I Want It More”‘ is more upbeat, while “Latimer’s Mercy” goes back to the darker and more grinding tone featured on ‘Let It Die’ at the beginning of the album. Both songs are among the best on the album. The last track, “I Love You All”, is a fitting end to the album. The song is mostly instrumental, but eventually features Ozzy singing what is essentially a love note to all of his fans. The song demonstrates that Ozzy is truly a humble man and is appreciative of all of his fans.
‘Scream’ is an amazing album from an even more amazing individual. Ozzy is nothing short of an icon and his status as such is not going to be in jeopardy as long as he continues putting material out of this caliber. While some fans may be put off that Zakk Wylde is not the guitarist on this album, I can tell you that you won’t miss him once you give this one a listen. Gus G is here to stay and that is OK with me. For fans of The Prince of Darkness, this album could prove to be a breath of fresh air and I highly recommend that you pick this one up. The album gets a very solid 4 out of 5. — Steve Johnson
RATING: 4/5
‘Scream’ tracklisting is as follows:
‘Let It Die’
‘Let Me Hear You Scream’
‘Soul Sucker’
‘Life Won’t Wait’
‘Diggin Me Down’
‘Crucify’
‘Fearless’
‘Time’
‘I Want It More’
‘Latimer’s Mercy’
‘I Love You All’
‘Jump The Moon’ (Japanese bonus track)
Berserkers of the universe, the wait will soon come to an end: the new BLS opus will drop in less than four months now. Black Label Society’s brand new album is officially confirmed for an August 10th North American release date. ORDER OF THE BLACK will feature Black Label at its best with frontman/lead axeman Zakk Wylde’s signature guitar virtuosity and howling vocals, as well as a propulsive rhythm section, courtesy of bassist J.D. Deservio and drummer Will Hunt, along with a few surprises. Wylde commented in jest, “The Doom Crew and I have been holed up in the Black Label Bunker for the last few months laying down some of the heaviest, sexiest tracks imaginable. We can’t wait for Berserkers worldwide to hear the symphonic masterpiece that is the new BLS record!” ORDER OF THE BLACK will be released in North America via E1 Music.
In other news, Black Label Society has just been confirmed to headline the second stage of 2010’s Ozzfest. This marks the band’s sixth appearance on the explosive hard rock package tour. Please see below for tour dates. Following Ozzfest, BLS will head out on its own worldwide headlining tour in support of ORDER OF THE BLACK through 2011.
Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society have become a worldwide phenomenon with die-hard fans all across the globe (affectionately referred to as “Berserkers”) sporting signature BLS gear – leather vests, t-shirts, denim vests with patches, bandanas, etc. Wylde’s international presence is at an all time high having recently returned from several hugely successful press junkets in China, Japan and Singapore. Sponsored by Gibson and Epiphone (makers of Wylde’s signature guitars), these trips saw Wylde completing interviews with high-profile media outlets (print and television), as well as signing thousands of autographs at packed in-store events throughout Asia.
In the two decades since Ozzy Osbourne hired him away from his job at a New Jersey gas station, Zakk Wylde has established himself as a guitar icon known and revered the world over. Writing and recording with Osbourne led to multi-platinum success, inspiring him to create the now legendary Black Label Society in 1998. In the decade plus since, BLS has turned the notion of what a rock band should be upside down by inspiring legions of fans (known as Berserkers) all over the world to follow the mantra: Strength, Determination, Merciless, Forever (SDMF for short). Wylde and his Berserkers have established a heavy metal institution true to the vision of uncompromising, unfiltered and unrestrained rock n’ roll.
OZZFEST 2010:
AUGUST
14 San Bernadino, CA San Manuel Ampitheater
17 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre
19 Pittsburgh, PA First Niagara Pavilion
21 Hartford, CT Comcast Theater
22 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
24 Boston, MA Comcast Center
The good folks over at Talking Metal are offering a free download in their news section of a rare Zakk Wylde track featuring Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal of Guns ‘N Roses.
“Till The End” is Zakk Wylde on vocals/piano, Bumblefoot on guitar, Mark Strigl on bass and John Ostronomy on drums. We all sang backing vocals along with anybody who happened to be in the room. It was recorded way back in December 2007 the night before Zakk Wylde played a sold out show with Ozzy Osbourne at Madison Sq. Garden. Fooatge from the 13 hour songwriting and recording session were featured on Talking Metal‘s TV show. The song was mixed by Bumblefoot.
Download it here >
Be sure to check out all the stellar work that they are doing at Talking Metal!
Legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne has announced the release of a a free Ozzy iPhone app. Get songs, videos, tour dates and leave a personal note to the Prince of Darkness on the fan wall. Click here to check it out and to download. 
Berserkers of the universe, the wait will soon come to an end: the new BLS opus will drop in less than four months now. 
