Ozzy Osbourne Announces New Album Ordinary Man, Debuts First Single “Under the Graveyard”
As promised, Ozzy Osbourne has released a new song this morning. Titled “Under the Graveyard,” the track will appear on Ozzy’s new album, which will be called Ordinary Man. We already knew that the album will not feature Zakk Wylde, but now we have some actual details about the record’s line-up: producer Andrew Watt, who Ozzy met while recording his parts for the Post Malone song “Take What You Want” earlier this year, is on guitar, while Duff McKagan from Guns N’ Roses handles bass duties and Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers plays drums. So not only is Wylde absent from Ordinary Man, but so is the rest of Ozzy’s current solo band: Blasko (bass), Tommy Clufetos (drums), and Adam Wakeman (keyboards).
I would imagine that’s kind of a bummer for all of those dudes (and maybe Clufetos most of all — despite being the drummer for Black Sabbath’s farewell tour, he didn’t get to record anything for their final album, either). Having said that, the song is easily the best thing Ozzy has released in ages. Like, it is instantly more memorable than any of the material on Black Rain or Scream (Down to Earth isn’t a great record, but it does have a few cool tracks on it).
Okay, so I’m sure fans will say it’s not heavy enough, and Watt ain’t no Zakk Wylde, but whatever. The hook is way strong! And for the first time in forever, Ozzy’s lyrics feel authentic. The whole track is basically about getting old and dying, a topic surely on the singer’s mind given his recent health issues, and a stark contrast from songs like “Gets Me Through” and “Not Going Away,” which amount to declarations of intent to keep going forever and ever and ever. “Under the Graveyard” rocks, but there’s an underlying sense of sadness which is wholly appropriate for a man rapidly approaching the end of his career.
Listen to “Under the Graveyard” below. Ordinary Man will be out early next year on Epic. He’s repeatedly-postponed farewell tour finally resumes in February. Get dates and tickets for the U.S., U.K., and European legs of the trek here.
