Blizzard of Ozz＜Colored Vinyl/完全生産限定盤＞

オジー・オズボーン 1980年発売『ブリザード・オブ・オズ～血塗られた英雄伝説』(原題:Blizzard Of Ozz)の発売40周年記念アナログ盤(カラー・ヴァイナル)

ブラック・サバスを脱退したオジー・オズボーンが全英7位に送り込んだソロ第1弾。スマッシュ・ヒットした「クレイジー・トレイン」「ミスター・クロウリー〈死の番人〉」のほかにも「グッバイ・トゥ・ロマンス」「レヴェレイション(マザー・アース)〈天の黙示〉」といった名曲を収録。ランディ・ローズによる驚愕のギター・プレイは各方面から称賛を集め、新たなヒーロー誕生と話題を呼んだ。

Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 solo debut Blizzard of Ozz was a masterpiece of neo-classical metal that, along with Van Halen's first album, became a cornerstone of '80s metal guitar. Upon its release, there was considerable doubt that Ozzy could become a viable solo attraction. Blizzard of Ozz demonstrated not only his ear for melody, but also an unfailing instinct for assembling top-notch backing bands. Onetime Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads was a startling discovery, arriving here as a unique, fully formed talent. Rhoads was just as responsible as Osbourne -- perhaps even more so -- for the album's musical direction, and his application of classical guitar techniques and scales rewrote the rulebook just as radically as Eddie Van Halen had. Rhoads could hold his own as a flashy soloist, but his detailed, ambitious compositions and arrangements revealed his true depth, as well as creating a sense of doomy, sinister elegance built on Ritchie Blackmore's minor-key innovations. All of this may seem to downplay the importance of Ozzy himself, which shouldn't be the case at all. The music is a thoroughly convincing match for his lyrical obsession with the dark side (which was never an embrace, as many conservative watchdogs assumed); so, despite its collaborative nature, it's unequivocally stamped with Ozzy's personality. What's more, the band is far more versatile and subtle than Sabbath, freeing Ozzy from his habit of singing in unison with the guitar (and proving that he had an excellent grasp of how to frame his limited voice). Nothing short of revelatory, Blizzard of Ozz deservedly made Ozzy a star, and it set new standards for musical virtuosity in the realm of heavy metal. ~ Steve Huey

元ブラック・サバスのオジーが、元クワイエット・ライオットの故ランディー･ローズを起用してのファーストアルバム。今もなお高いクォリティを感じさせるランディの美しいギターとオジーならではの世界観が見事に融合した完成度の高い作品。 (C)yajt