It seems No Rest For The Wicked has become "The Ozzy Album That Time Forgot." For many, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman are Ozzy's best albums. At the same time, The Ultimate Sin and Bark At The Moon are considered his weakest. No More Tears and Ozzmosis also get their share of critical acclaim and recognition. But it seems that for most fans, No Rest For The Wicked is just "there" and is pretty much regarded as "that other Ozzy album." Well, here's one fan that definitely has not forgotten this little gem. While I definitely won't deny that Blizzard of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman are very good albums (especially Madman), I find No Rest For The Wicked to be both Ozzy's heaviest and most enjoyable album.

The first thing that must be said about this album is that Zakk Wylde's guitaring is simply amazing. For those who were slightly disappointed with Jake E. Lee's performance in Ozzy's previous two albums, Wylde will definitely blow you away with his outstanding solos and catchy riffs. Unfortunately, he doesn't really do any of the neat guitar tricks Randy Rhoades did back in his day. But that isn't such a huge loss.

Second of all, Ozzy sings with almost as much passion as he did on the original Blizzard of Ozz (and that passion is probably what made Blizzard his most popular). Fire In The Sky, for example, seems to be a song Ozzy really got into when singing it, especially during its chorus.

Finally, the album as a whole is extremely powerful. The guitars and drumming seemingly go hand in hand to give the album a very heavy/pounding sound to it. This makes it very fun to listen to and definitely a good get-going type album.

So overall, this is one album that definitely should not be overlooked by Ozzy fans nor metal fans in general. It basically features everything we've all come to expect from Ozzy.. and more.

......then this album would be the picture next to it!! I'm dead serious, you don't like it then don't read this review cuz all I got is good stuff:

The Original Track list:

1. Miracle Man: I heard this song before I bought this album because I had the 6-track "Just Say Ozzy" EP (WTF was I thinking?) and thought it was great, but this version is that much greater! The intro to this is awesome with Zakk's 'Wylde' riffs and Ozzy's inventive lyrics for the hypocritical Jimmy Swagert. By the way Zakk's solo is great, it sonds part Van Halen part Satriani inspired 10/10

2. Devil's Daughter (Holy War): I think this has got to be one of Ozzy's most underrated songs, I'll even go as far as saying this should have been a hit instead of Crazy Babies (which was really weird in the first place). The bass and riffs on this are awesome and Ozzy has a certain dramatic flair on this piece. Definitely a 10/10.

3. Crazy Babies: I used to think that this song was kind of weird, I still do but in a lyrical sense and not songwise sense. THere is GREAT guitar spots throughout this track by Wylde and the tempo is just outstanding. Even Ozz's party boy lines are great on here. 9/10

4. Breaking all the Rules: A truly balls-to-the-wall track. From the heavy intro all the way to the 'rules' chant is awesomeness. It's easy to see why this became a hit. 9/10

5. Bloodbath in Paradise: Before going on with this track review I just want to address a few things: in the booklet for the newly remastered edition they say this is Vietnam inspired. Thats crazy, anyone with half a brain stem can tell just by LISTENING not even having to read the lyrics that it is inspired from the Manson family! Now onto the review: This songg is absolutely #$#%ng unbelievable. In fact I would rate it next to some of the tracks from Blizzard/Diary. Listen and make your own judgement. Rating: makes the "Helter Skelter" movie look like bull#$%t. 11/10

6. Fire In the Sky: FIrst off let me just say to all of those that are like : "Zakk's solo in FIre in the SKy is better than any of Randy's solos." I disagree. In fact, I think that there will never be anyone who can or will be as great as Randy Rhoads was, but I'll get to that later (saving it for my 'Tribute' review). I will say though that this solo is proof of why Zakk is Ozzy's guitarist: the guitar solo is sooooo unbelievably great that only a Mega-virtuoso like Wylde could pull off. The other thing about this is that it shows the beauty of Zakks guitar playing: he played so beautifully that it still keeps the melodic-like atmosphere while having the ubergreat virtuoso solo. THis song would have sounded great on Bill and Tedds Excellent Adventure (random but pratical). Rating: If only the Gods were mortal men with guitars, then they would be like Zakk Wylde! This track is easily the greatest on the album and I would rate it with the best of Blizzard of Ozz and daresay even Diary of a Madman. THe solo spot in my opinion is also better that No More Tears. 25/10

7. Tattoed Dancer: This song seems kind of out of place with the rest of the material. Of course the percussion on this is outstanding: Randy Castillo is such an awesome drummer, in fact I consider him one of the greatest in the history of heavy metal (face reality he could kick the crap out of Lee Kerslake and Tommy Aldridge, as great as they are.) But the lyrics, they are sooo UNOZZY! Leave writing dirty songs to Poison or Motley Crue, not Ozzy. Admit it, it's really awkward to hear Ozzy scream: "Dance for me b#$ch!" with that said I would have to give it an 11/10 because the drumming unbelievable.

8. Demon Alcohol: Unlike what the 'professional' critics say, I don't consider this a sequel to suicide solution because when Ozzy made Suicide Solution it was a tribute to his dearly departed friend and beer buddy Bon Scott. Demon Alcohol is about his own problem, which means it is not that sequel they are talking about. Nice riffs and beats throughout and the mention of 'suicide solutions' in there is just lyrical genious on Ozzy's part. 10/10

9. Hero: Supposedly the hidden track on the original cd version, it seems that the Ozzy camp has gotten smart enough to include it on the track listing this time. A beautiful ballard, you can definitely hear the emotion in the music. I think that this song is really about how much Ozzy gives to the audience whenever he is out there in frontman form, which if you ask me even in his old crippled state now, his voice sounds like crap, he may limp like a 150 year old, but the heart of the man is still there. and this song says it all. Rating: It comes from the heart of the man, that is one thing I can not rate, but if I could I would give it an 11/10

Extra Tracks:

10. The Liar: I can't believe they didn't keep this track on here! It would have fit perfectly well right after 'Hero'. In alot of ways this reminds me of 'Spiders', the bonus track on BATM. There is a light melodic bass line throughout and at times a little bit of riff, good for soothing ones spirit when down. 10/10

11. Miracle Man(Live): Better than the normal version and way better than the JSO version. It somehow keeps the riff atmopshere of the original but yet at the same time keep the live production atmosphere of JSO. LIsten to this and you can tell that Ozzy just loves stickin it to the man, which in this case is Jimmy Swaggert. I like this version better than Just Say Ozzy because there is more of a live feel in this one (for example in the middle of the song Ozzy shouts: "everybody clap your f#$%#ng hands!") YOu should definitely check out the 2002 remaster. 11/10

NOw if you don't like this album, then you are a big fat retard! Don't worry I'm just kiddn'! However, if you don't like it then give a legitamite excuse besides "I don't like Ozzy" or some crazy crap like that. I for one obey the guidelines, you should too.

Out of all of Ozzy's albums, this would be my fourth favorite. Here's how I would rate Ozzy's albums from best to worst:

1.Randy Rhoads Tribute

2.Diary of a Madman

3.Blizzard of Ozz

4.No Rest for the Wicked

5.No More Tears

6.The Ultimate Sin

7.Live and Loud

8.Just Say Ozzy

9.Speak of the Devil

10.Bark at the Moon

11.Ozzmosis

Anything after Ozzmosis isn't really worth adding on here.

Ozzy finished the `80's strongly with yet another new lineup featuring another guitar prodigy in Zakk Wylde. This partnership has been almost as long and enduring as the one with Sharon and Wylde has become another metal icon whether in his long career with the Oz or in his own Black Label Society. `No Rest for the Wicked' which came in the fall of 1988 is probably the heaviest record in Ozzy Osbourne's career due in no part to Mr. Wylde's ultra aggressive guitar style. The album is also a much more consistent and stronger LP the either of its two predecessors (the Jake E. Lee records, though I love Badlands!) "Miracle Man" is a great opener and a definitive shot at the hypocrisy of televangelists which had targeted Ozzy and his ilk for years. "Crazy Babies" and "Breaking All the Rules" both received some strong airplane though nothing to rival his earlier output. Bob Daisley came back to write most of the lyrics and they seem to be an improvement over much of his work on `Ultimate Sin'. Ozzy even revisits the subject of alcoholism in "Demon Alcohol" which is a fine cut but doesn't hold a candle to "Suicide Solution". `No Rest' is an enjoyable piece of madman mayhem that showed an artist who though again working with new collaborators could be depended upon to deliver the goods.

No Rest For The Wicked was the album Ozzy released in 1988, after the glam-influenced Ultimate Sin, and the commercial highpoint No More Tears. The album is heavy, with lots of screaming and crunching noises. I feel that it is Ozzy's best work. It was also his heaviest at the time. The album kicks off with Miracle Man, a great song with interesting lyrics. I like the way Ozzy's voice sounds in that one. Then come one of Ozzy's most underrated songs ever, Devil's Daughter. It is one of my favorites and nobody seems to like it. Then comes Crazy Babies, which is the famous song off this album, but I feel that it simply cannot match up to the other songs on the album. The song afterward is Breakin All The Rules, which is one of Ozzy's best ever songs. The chorus is simply awesome.The next song, Bloodbath In Paradise is good, too. Then comes the album's masterpiece: Fire In The Sky. The song begins with a chorus singing "bum bum bum bum bum" with gongs going off in the background. The song is an epic about a man who never had answers to his questions. I really feel this is Ozzy Osbourne's best. Then comes Tatooed Dancer, which is okay, I guess, but doesn't match up to the song that came before it. The last real song on the album is Demon Alcohol, a good song with great guitar playing. Then there is a bonus track: An unnnamed song that everyone just calls 'Hero'. I think it's very good. This album is one of metal's best.

The beginning of a new era begins for Ozzy Osbourne, with the addition of axe slinger Zakk Wylde (also of Black Label Society). And the difference is noticeable, from the outset. The sound of this album, beginning with "Miracle Man," is noticeably heavier, less grounded in 1980s stereotypes, and generally more...well, more METAL! Zakk's shredding ability carries "Devil's Daughter (Holy War)," where Ozzy's vocals seem a little weak, and his presence on "Crazy Babies" really makes the most of a fun, blues infused rockin' track. Throughout the album, Ozzy does things that are different from what he's done in the past (a good thing...some of the old was getting a bit stale). This album, while lacking the obvious hits of some previous efforts, marks a turning point in Ozzy's career and a breath of new life into his music.

On another note:

DO NOT BUY THE 2002 OZZY REMASTERS of his first two albums (Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman)! They are NOT the originals, and have been rerecorded by newer members of Ozzy's band, as a way to screw over the old members who are owed $$$ for the work they did. Seek out the 1995 remasters, instead. Reward the musicians who actually made the music!