You Can't Kill Rock N Roll- Ozzy Osbourne's "Ultimate Sin"

This 1986 album was Ozzy's 4th solo album. He later said he did not care for it because the production created a uniform sound. This also contributes to making it his darkest and heaviest album to date, thanks to the "Cold War" fears creeping into the lyrics and the fear of nuclear war hanging over everything to create the mood. Despite the height of his hair at this time, it was not a glam metal album and set him apart from where metal was going at the time, putting him in the middle ground between the Motley Crues and the rising undercurrent of thrash bands. The title track carries a huge stomp. The fiery guitar work of Jake E Lee feels like it's more fully realized here than on "Bark at the Moon". Former Lita Ford drummer Randy Castillo plays on this album, as well as bassist Phil Soussan.

"Secret Loser" dives into some inner struggles lyrically, showing more depth than where metal was at in the mid-80s. "Never Know Why" is closer to Judas Priest than Def Leppard. More arena rocking than many of the songs on this album. "Thank God For The Bomb" sticks closer to the theme and offers some interesting riffs that allow the chords to ring out more. "Never" is familiar when I go back to listen to it, and it has a memorable hook or two, but I can understand Ozzy's point about this album not being as dynamic once we get to this song.  There is some great drumming on this song. 

The opening of "Lightning Strikes" calls back to "Crazy Train"; the chorus always felt a little too happy to me when it gets to the "I won't stop rocking all night" part. Is Jake E Lee and underrated guitars due to the two legends he is bookended between? Yes, but his solos are not a memorable as Rhodes or Wylde's either. "Killer of Giants" is both darker and more melodic than the bulk of this album; it is a power ballad of sorts, but a very well-written one that stands the test of time. It also sticks to the overarching lyrical theme of the album. 

"Fool Like You" is without the bomb references but otherwise sums up the tone of the album. Co-written by Phil Soussan, the lead single "Shot in the Dark" went on to become the album's most recognizable song. Ozzy's vocals are more normal than the range he normally sings in to create a darker quality. It is classic Ozzy, and when it came out did not feel like a total sellout. I will give it a 10. 

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