Ozzy Osbourne/ Patient Number 9

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Ozzy Osbourne/ Patient Number 9

Genre: Hard rock/ heavy metal

Label: Epic Records/ Sony Music

Rating: ****

Some 55 years in the field, rock star Ozzy Osbourne still packs a punch. He's just released his 13th solo studio album, containing 13 songs. Interestingly he doesn't use the number 13 in the title, but calls it Patient Number 9.

The title track opens the album and after a short Syd Barrett-inspired madcap laugh, you hear one of the coolest opening guitar riffs in recent memory. It's not surprising that the song features guitar great Jeff Beck. The theme revolves around a mentally ill patient, with the words, "When they call your name, better run and hide; tell you you're insane, you believe their lies". Typical Osbourne.

Beck isn't the only star guest. The list of guitarists includes Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and Ozzy regular Zakk Wylde, who appears on four tracks. Expectedly, there are some outstanding solos - like Clapton on 'One Of Those Days', Beck on 'A Thousand Shades' and Iommi on 'Degradation Rules'.

There are also appearances by former GnR bassist Duff McKagan, Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo and drummers Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers and the late Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters. That's some line-up.

As anticipated, the songs are filled with darkness and negative moods. 'One Of Those Days' is about alcohol abuse and 'Degradation Rules' is about being 'addicted to debauchery". One of the highlights is 'Mr Darkness', where the 'Prince Of Darkness' sings, "Dear Mr Darkness, I write to you again, I've been so lonely, I'm needing a friend, everyone tells me you'll never reply, but I still try".

Heartfelt Osbourne emotions appear on songs like 'God Only Knows', where he sings, "God only knows what's going on, my life has become the saddest song, better to burn in hell than to fade away". Was that a take on Mr Neil Young? And on 'Immortal', he sings, "I'll never die because I'm immortal".

Barring the occasional foray into blues-rock courtesy Clapton, some melodic guitar by Beck and the two-minute folk-blues song 'Darkside Blues' that concludes the album, Patient Number 9 falls in the heavy metal space. Considering that Osbourne was called the 'godfather of metal' from his Black Sabbath days, that's but natural.

For his age and health condition, the 73-year-old Britisher shows adequate enthusiasm. A word of praise must also go out to the album's producer Andrew Watt, who co-produced Osbourne's previous album Ordinary Man two years ago. It's a great combo, and the presence of guitar royalty adds even more value to their work.