Diary of a Madman

iTunes Review

Recorded quickly as Ozzy’s band prepared for their upcoming tour, Diary of a Madman, the follow-up to Osbourne’s solo debut Blizzard of Ozz and the group’s second album of 1981, maintains a tight, manic energy that centers on the spectacular guitarwork of Randy Rhoads, who died soon after in an unfortunate plane crash. Later studio albums would attempt to cushion his absence with expansive keyboards and a smoother veneer to mixed effect. However, here the band works at full force. “Over the Mountain” and “S.A.T.O.” are massive, intense rumbles that highlight the strong melodicism, agile fretwork and elastic grooves of ‘80s metal. Osbourne admits to failing the sobriety test for “Flying High Again” and takes on the role as rock n’ roll defender for the seven-minute opus “You Can’t Kill Rock & Roll.” With its sinister guitar riff, “Believer” comes closest to approximating the Black Sabbath vibe of doom from Osbourne’s prime, while “Tonight” is a prototype for the power ballad that every metal group would master for commercial riches throughout the decade.