Blizzard of Ozz v Holy Diver
Today, we're think-abouting the debut albums from 2 post Sabbath singers and heavy metal rivals.
In the red corner, we have Ozzy Osbourne's 1980 comeback, Blizzard of Ozz a raucous, glammy, Van Halen aping, crazy ego train ride through rock 'n' roll's most twisted psyche.
Having been booted out of Sabbath for over bingeing, and rarely turning up to rehearsals (and perhaps due to Iommi's tactical ego), Ozz thought about giving up before returning with a spritely young guitarist called Randy Rhoads and together they explored some of Ozzy's favourite breakfast table subjects. These include: the locomotive lunacy of the man himself in the springy anthem of 'Crazy Train', genuinely occultist figures in 'Mr Crowley', the hilariously tragic consequences of alcoholism in 'Suicide Solution', the bitterness of not being Paul McCartney in 'Goodbye to Romance' and rampant masturbation in 'No Bone Movies'.
Blizzard served as a pretty god-damn successful template for every other Ozzy album, which is based on the following equation.
"Amazing guitarist + Ozzy nasality + current metal trend + sick hooks = VICTORY!"
God bless that man..
In the blue corner we have 1983's Holy Diver, from a former rock & metal journeyman who survived three albums in Blackmore's Rainbow before ego issues drove him out, re-vamped Sabbath for the new decade...before ego issues drove him out and decided that he would put an end to these accusations of egomania by stamping his own DIO brand of music on his own band...Dio! (and I say, fair play to him!)
Is that naughty demon, Murray drowning a priest? Surely not...although it does look that way....or does it? Frankly, Ronnie...yes it does. That's exactly what it looks like. Never mind that! 'Holy Diver' is a sick track about.....tigers....diamonds...and.....DIO!
Not enough for you? This crunchy, fluffy croquette of an album is choc full of goodies, from the brutal metal romp of 'Straight Through the Heart', the brutal metal romp of 'Stand Up and Shout' and the brutal metal romp of 'Don't Talk to Strangers'.....I suppose they're all metal romps! Who cares? There's hardly a dull moment, and this album served as a template for pretty much every other Dio release ever made...based on the following formula:
Dio + Dio x wizards, keys and rainbows = DIO!
God bless that man!
But which of these tasty debuts is your favourite?
Vote and tell me why you voted the way you did.
Personally I'm picking Holy Diver for greater consistency, despite Blizzard's near immaculate first half, it loses direction in the last few songs (big shame).
__________________
'Well, I'm a common working man,
With a half of bitter, bread and jam,
And if it pleases me, I'll put one on ya man,
When the copper fades away!' - Jethro Tull
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