The godfather of metal is back with a vengeance. After much anticipation, Ozzy Osbourne (“Crazy Train”) released his thirteenth studio album “Patient Number 9” on Sept. 9. For fans of numerical significance, there are thirteen tracks on the album and it was fittingly released on a Friday. 

Completely encrusted with stars of the rock world, the album features collaborations with friends both old and new. Big names include Osbourne’s longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society (“Stillborn”), Eric Clapton (“Wonderful Tonight”) and his Black Sabbath (“Paranoid”) bandmate Tony Iommi (“Scent of Dark”). The album details Osbourne’s thoughts on being hospitalized after a recent fall, as well as his eternal battle with darkness and death which have been mainstays during his entire career. 

Iommi’s wicked guitar skills are brilliantly showcased throughout the album, most notably during “Degradation Rules” in all its raunchy and glorious lyrical filth. The title track is a theatrical masterpiece, raging on for just over seven minutes in signature Ozzy fashion. Osbourne is known for making longer tracks and nearly every album he has made contains one. 

As far as favorites go, “Parasite” is arguably the best song on the album. Its greatness can be attributed to the late Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters (“Everlong”), who Ozzy managed to recruit for drums on the track. In an interview with People Magazine, Osbourne said Hawkins had a chance to hear it before his untimely death in March, praising him for his “phenomenal” skills and sweet demeanor. 

A close second would have to be the poetic lyrics of “A Thousand Shades,” featuring Jeff Beck (“Jody”) of The Yardbirds (“For Your Love”) on guitar and a winding solo mixed with the operatics of a violin section. Fans may notice the song “No Escape From Now” has a guitar line nearly identical to that of his song “Diary of a Madman,” with distortion elements reminiscent of Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan” off their 1970 album “Paranoid.”

There are also bits of acoustic guitar that seem to call back to Osbourne’s ‘80s period, particularly from his album “The Ultimate Sin” released in 1986. One could argue that ”One of Those Days” may have some tonal similarities to “I Just Want You” from the album “Ozzmosis,” or that “Mr Darkness” feels like a callback to his “No More Tears” album. Osbourne and “darkness” have a longstanding relationship, though the song suggests that things are on the rocks as of late. These similarities do not take away from his artistic integrity in any form, it simply means that he is a talented artist with a formula that can withstand any amount of time. 

Perhaps the most interesting track on the album is “DARKSIDE BLUES,” an uncharacteristic style choice for the “Madman” himself. Under two minutes long, this track is the oddball of his discography, as Osbourne is not known for making short songs in the slightest. Distorted and far away vocals on the thirteenth and final track of the album seem to wish the listener goodbye, but only for now as Osbourne’s trademark laugh rings at the very end. 

Osbourne is 73 years old and living with a form of Parkinson’s, but that has not stopped him. In fact, nothing has, since he recently played at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games alongside Iommi and some killer pyrotechnics. The metal icon boasts a long record of being the most indestructible man alive and has shown no signs of being interested in retirement regardless of what ails him. Please, show the original “Iron Man” some love and give this work of art a listen.

Image from Ozzy Osbourne via YouTube