The Metal Fields - Reviews

Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the moon

After the pass away of Rhandy Rhoads (R.I.P.) Ozzy published his thirs solo album in 1983 with a new, wild guitar player called Jake E. Lee. The Albus starts with a great guitar hook in the song Rock'n Roll Rebel, a straight forward song with a refrain everyone could remember and therefore a good decision to plug this song as opener. Followed by the title track that includes the werewolf theme, the main theme of this album. With a fast guitar opening of Lee and one of the best vocals Ozzy ever did, this song became the only classic song of Bark at the Moon, ending with Ozyy howling to the moon. After this real fast song, the band slow down with a semi ballad called You're no different. A song in the line of Goodbye to romance from the Blizzard Of Ozz album but without the vibes that were needed. Not bad, but more a filler than a song that could be remembered. Now You see it (now you don't) brings the album back to attack with fantastic guitar theme of Jake E. Lee and real high vocals of Ozzy in the refrain. A hook monster at its best. Waiting for darkness is another slower song with mystical touch and a tragic character. The song takes the listeners deep in the theme of this album and let them hope that Ozzy will reach the darkness soon to transform himself to a wolf. A very emotional song. So Tired is again more a filler than a song to remember. Silent and more for going to bed than staring at the moon. Forever brings the album back again with one more fantastic guitar work and incredible vocals. One of the faster moments of the album and the last kick before Spiders end Bark at the Moon with the feeling that this animals will crawl into your head.
In some countries the album had Slow down as song instead of Spiders. A song that was nothing more than a filler and not a lot of people know about this song. Doesn't matter.
A good album for sure, but without the amount of classics like the first two albums had.
I am in the nice position that I could see Ozzy Osbourne in the Bark at the Moon line up at Monsters of Rock, Nürnberg 1984.
The songs came live a lot heavier than they appear at the album and Jake E. Lee could show the people on stage his talent more than in the studio.

Points: 8/10

review by Kerb