Label: Epic Records (Europe), 502042 2
Style: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Country: Marston Green, Warwickshire, England (December 3, 1948)
Time: 47:28
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 348 Mb
It's
time to laud Ozzy's eldritch but forever cool Bark At The Moon, his
third release from 1983, as well as Jake's first foray with the Ozzman
following Randy and crewmates' senseless deaths. Oddly enough, aside
from its impeccably composed title track, it took me a lifetime to hear
it in full, having only recently rocked out like a reliquian 1950s
greaser to its classic, however dated-like-a-mummified-prune's sound.
(Plus, I'm trying to quit smoking cigarettes as not only are they
harmful and expensive - money best put towards a slick Jackson guitar -
but can't abide those new, bad tasting charcoal filters with the grim
warnings. Next thing you know, they'll make 'em look like dicks.)
Anyhow(l), the verdict is in: it rules almost as much as 1981's
masterpiece, Diary Of A Madman, on which Ozzy still looks dishevelled as
Hell.
Aside from one last token lame ballad ("So Tired"), most
tracks are as great as prior gems. For its grand opening part, "Bark At
The Moon" is one of the best heavy metal songs ever. Sadly, it's
impossible to play unless you're a seriously devoted guitar master such
as sharply dressed Mister Tabs, who knocks it out of the galaxy over at
his extensive, jaw dropping tube channel. Everything about it screams
class and perfection, from its creative riffs and stirring verses to
mesmeric bridge and, of course, highly touted solo which ranks up there
as textbook killer guitar. Vocally, Ozzy is aflame, perhaps redeeming
himself for Diary's vapid and totally unnecessary "Tonight".
Although
I don't mind "You're No Different", an atmospheric throwback to lighter
waved arena rock laden with airy keys, find its track placement
preemptive; as in, it would've made an ideal next-to-last precursor to
wicked highlight "Waiting In Darkness", which in itself should've been
the closer, as "Spiders" is largely a forgettable piece of trite and
overly extravagant Ozzy kook. Regardless, alongside almighty opener, the
powerfully riffed staples "Now You See It (Now You Don't)" (with its
flashy, Ozzyfied refrain), "Rock N' Roll Rebel" and "Centre Of Eternity"
contribute in raising Moon Bark's AAA level of must-listen
recommendation.
I also dig the rare early lead on "Rock N' Roll
Rebel", not to mention smoky swagger which evokes Iron Maiden's "From
Here To Eternity". Speaking of Maiden, the bass heavy, upbeat and
synthesized "Slow Down" brings to mind the Brits' early, pre-Bruce
ruminations mixed in with America's Riot (V). Another banger is "Centre
Of Eternity" thanks to its volatile riff and spectral chorus, while
"Waiting In Darkness" is to Bark At The Moon what "Mr. Crowley" and
"Believer" are to Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman: darkly amazing
and Black Sabbath-like, yet more in style than in strict musical sense.
Its foreboding intro riff also recalls the spirit of Pentagram.
Sir
Osbourne is at the top of his record executive shocking game here, while
it's definitely haunting fare to rock small neighbourhood goblins,
witches and robots with beyond the doorstep on Halloween. Worth noting,
the B Side to Bark At The Moon's single features "One Up The B-Side", so
check that out if you haven't already. (Being five years old back then
wasn't an excuse to pass this up!) Thankfully, 1986's garishly covered
The Ultimate Sin is much tidier and memorable in its own way.
(metal-archives.com/reviews/Ozzy_Osbourne/Bark_at_the_Moon/844/) Review by CHAIRTHROWER. June 7th, 2024
01. Bark At The Moon (04:15)
02. You're No Different (05:49)
03. Now You See It (Now You Don't) (05:10)
04. Rock 'n' Roll Rebel (05:23)
05. Centre of Eternity (05:15)
06. So Tired (04:01)
07. Slow Down (04:20)
08. Waiting for Darkness (05:16)
09. Spiders (bonus) (04:31)
10. One Up the 'B' Side (bonus) (03:23)
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