Shot in the Dark is pure 80's gold.

Written by AngelofDeth on 10.10.2014 at 07:04

Shot in the Dark is pure 80's gold.

Yeah, but I do consider Killer of Giants to be the best track here. A more commercial output, not as chaotic as the previous one, but a cohesive one. Though some people label this as a glam record for the heavy usage of synths, I consider it to be more like a gap between traditional heavy metal and glam metal (something like WASP in their early days).

Written by TheMAGAmvm on 11.04.2015 at 23:50

Yeah, but I do consider Killer of Giants to be the best track here. A more commercial output, not as chaotic as the previous one, but a cohesive one. Though some people label this as a glam record for the heavy usage of synths, I consider it to be more like a gap between traditional heavy metal and glam metal (something like WASP in their early days).

Yeah that song is pretty good, along with Ultimate Sin and Never Know Why, otherwise the rest of the songs just arent that great imo.

Hmm, Synths don't equal glam, in fact most glam bands didn't/don't really use synth that much if at all.. Though I would agree that this album is a bit Glam-ish, with the easily sing-along choruses and simplicity. And though it has a couple hits it also features the bad side of glam with an excess of filler tracks featuring generic riffs and just plain awkward lyricism, I mean c'mon the song titles Secret Loser and Fool like You? lol

Also would have to disagree about the WASP thing, early WASP is fast and raw and rough, this album is mid-tempo and a lil more polished and restrained, plus Ozzy's and Blackie's voices couldn't be more different.

Written by AngelofDeth on 12.04.2015 at 06:18

Also would have to disagree about the WASP thing, early WASP is fast and raw and rough, this album is mid-tempo and a lil more polished and restrained, plus Ozzy's and Blackie's voices couldn't be more different.

I didn't mean in terms of vocal delivery. The performance done here isn't like your average glam band, though the glam formula is present on some songs. It is a sort of intermediary between traditional heavy metal and glam. WASP was within this category, this is why they never really fit into one of these category. Reason why they did not experience the success of Judas Priest for example or glam bands like Motley Crue.

Written by TheMAGAmvm on 12.04.2015 at 11:18

I didn't mean in terms of vocal delivery. The performance done here isn't like your average glam band, though the glam formula is present on some songs. It is a sort of intermediary between traditional heavy metal and glam. WASP was within this category, this is why they never really fit into one of these category. Reason why they did not experience the success of Judas Priest for example or glam bands like Motley Crue.

Okay I see what your saying now.

I guess I just never considered 'between heavy metal and glam' a distinct category of music, There's just too much room for variation imo, Ozzy(this album at least), WASP, Taking Dawn, Skid Row all sound so different that it doesn't really serve much purpose describing bands like this b/c people aren't going to be able to think up a general idea of how the music will sound like as opposed to most genre labels that instantly conjure up a general idea of sound i.e. death metal, thrash, black, glam, folk, symphonic etc etc.

If I'm going to describe either artist to a friend as something besides 'metal' or '80's metal', I'd consider WASP a unique and especially heavy, almost thrashy Sleaze band and Ozzy as a unique and often commercial heavy metal artist. I'd rather put both artists into categories unique their own as nothing sounds quite like either group and both often defy stereotypical categories/genre conventions, also imo these artists deserve to not be categorized 100%. Still, I can see what your saying now and it does make sense in a way, I'd just rather define each differently if I'm going to get more specific than heavy metal.

Written by AngelofDeth on 12.04.2015 at 23:24

Okay I see what your saying now.

I guess I just never considered 'between heavy metal and glam' a distinct category of music, There's just too much room for variation imo, Ozzy(this album at least), WASP, Taking Dawn, Skid Row all sound so different that it doesn't really serve much purpose describing bands like this b/c people aren't going to be able to think up a general idea of how the music will sound like as opposed to most genre labels that instantly conjure up a general idea of sound i.e. death metal, thrash, black, glam, folk, symphonic etc etc.

If I'm going to describe either artist to a friend as something besides 'metal' or '80's metal', I'd consider WASP a unique and especially heavy, almost thrashy Sleaze band and Ozzy as a unique and often commercial heavy metal artist. I'd rather put both artists into categories unique their own as nothing sounds quite like either group and both often defy stereotypical categories/genre conventions, also imo these artists deserve to not be categorized 100%. Still, I can see what your saying now and it does make sense in a way, I'd just rather define each differently if I'm going to get more specific than heavy metal.

There are always bands who seem to bridge between two different genres while not entirely fitting in one of the. I gave WASP as an example because it was a band that definitely did not fit in either genres, it did not receive the hype the glam bands did, nor the recognition that heavy metal bands received. It attained a cult status, even breaching mainstream for a short while, but it did not last long. I could give more examples, such as Crematory in their early days being a bridge between death metal and gothic metal. They did not receive recognition from both genres simply because they were too mellow and melodic for a death metal band too loud and raw for a gothic metal band.

Ozzy Osbourne's solo career was indeed more commercial, firstly because of his already established reputation by being the original Sabbath vocalist and also because of some very talented instrumentalists he gathered around him. I would also add his tendency to be a little bit opportunistic, taking advantage of the metal revival in the early 80s with the whole NWOBHM and German heavy metal going strong, later venturing into commercial almost pop metal (this album especially) territories because of the hype the glam bands received and later even trying to somehow fit within a metal scene that was succombing to grunge with albums like No More Tears and later Ozzmosis.

Written by AngelofDeth on 10.10.2014 at 07:04

Shot in the Dark is pure 80's gold.

yes and pop song as well , pop metal, pop rock name it

Written by AngelofDeth on 10.10.2014 at 07:04

Shot in the Dark is pure 80's gold.

Reminds you something? hehe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEbUF-FuYBw
Both are gold but Rock 'n' Roll Children was out one year earlier.
Great influnce though.

Shot In The Dark best song

Not bad, but pretty mediocre album overall, nothing really stands out except Jake E. Lee's marvelous guitar work.

Best songs here: Killer Of Giant, Shot in the Dark.

Yeah a few good songs but the rest is pretty average

Written by Tom Muller on 11.02.2021 at 18:34

Yeah a few good songs but the rest is pretty average

I have always found this to be among his best solo works.
Killer of Giants, Shot in the Dark, the title track -- all excellent.
Secret Loser, Never Know Why, Thank God still very good.
Rest not so.

9 from me because is the second album that i listen after Ozzmosis back in the 95'.jake .e.lee made a fantastic job here.

The album starts with the cracking self titled opener "Ultimate Sin", but then it's downhill from there, other than a few decent tracks there is nothing that memorable about it, this had started to become a regular occurrence now, and you start to get the sense that the songwriting was starting to become too generic, which wasn't necessarily such a bad thing, as the music itself wasn't bad, it just meant it wasn't as exiting.

There is a real classic 80's hard rock sound, with some tasty riffage throughout the album, and some memorable solo's, which sounds similar in style to the likes of Van Halen.

My favorite Ozzy album, there, I said it.

My favourite Ozzy album by far (Bark at the moon is my second favourite). I am a huge fan of Randy and also a huge fan of Jake E Lee. These two are my most beloved Ozzy guitar players (not Zakk who is also a great one). This album is pure GOLD. No fillers. Killer tracks from start to finish. If you have not heard this one in its entirety then you don't know what you are missing. Everybody talks about Shot in the Dark ok yeah I get it (you have not heard the album at all).
1 The Ultimate SIn - perfect opening track
2 Secret Loser - maybe one of his best songs ever
3 Never Know Why - powerful song with an insane guitar intro not in terms of technique but in terms of unique sounding
4 Thank God for the bomb - powerful song
5 Never - by far one of the top tracks in this album and in his entire career (not in terms of popularity but as a well-crafted musical composition- great guitar soloing)
6 Lightning Strikes - perfect opening for the b side of the vinyl
7 Killer of giants - MASTERPIECE
8 Fool like you - is the weakest song of the album
9 Shot in the Dark - The absolute MEGA HIT for those who have not heard the rest of the album.....

You must know that Jake E Lee wrote all the music. Sharon Ozbourne blackmailed him (after the recordings were over) to sign a short contract admitting(under pressure) that Ozzy wrote all the songs and Jake has no other claim on them. Otherwise, they would hire a new guitarist to play the already recorded songs. This is why Ozzy ....hates this album and never wants to talk about it. This is why Jake E Lee left the band after the promo tour was over and many years later talked about all this shit.

Written by Dorian75 on 08.09.2022 at 23:40

My favourite Ozzy album by far

I agree. There are so many excellent songs here. I dont go with no fillers but hey, for the standards of Ozzy solo albums this really is gold, indeed.

This one is probably my favorite, along with Blizzard Of Ozz. Filled up with super catchy songs and awesome Jake E. Lee's guitar licks! "Secret Loser", "Shot In The Dark", title track, "Killer Of Giants" - pure gold! And all other track is very good too. I see why many people disleke this one, it's a comercial Glam Metal album - but very, VERY good one!

Really liked this one 20 years ago when I started listen to Ozzy. Now I don't really find it that exciting.. Jake E Lee playing is great but the songs are tbf quite boring.. Shot in the Dark is the only exception. Just like with Bark at the Moon I think Ozzy sounds so out of place on this kind of melodic metal leaning.

My favorite Ozzy album, I love how melodic but riffy it is. Lee's playing is outstanding