There is a moment early on in Ordinary Man that reminds you of just how powerful and, at times, comforting rock music can be. As opener Straight To Hell explodes from the speakers with a classically sharp yet rolling riff that recalls the best of Ozzy’s four decades of solo output, one thought springs to mind: The Prince Of Darkness is back. And thank all the lords of the abyss for that. Given the health-related issues the big man has battled recently, this is an album that easily might not have come to exist. And while it’s not a perfect piece of work, it is an invigorating and important one. It’s Ozzy’s first record in a decade, for a start, but more than that, it’s proof that he’s still got that fire in his belly that’s kept him in his place as everyone’s favourite rock’n’roll madman. A...
