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.
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.
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
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
's personality. What's more, the band is far more versatile and subtle than
Sabbath
, freeing
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,
deservedly made
a star, and it set new standards for musical virtuosity in the realm of
heavy metal
. ~ Steve Huey