BLACK LABEL SOCIETY ~ The Blessed Hellride Spitfire Records

I read an interview last year with Zakk where he complained that he didn’t get to write enough (if at all) on the last Ozzy record. He consoled himself by noting that “The Blessed Hellride” would contain those songs he had intended for Ozzy – full-on, balls-out rock. That alone raised expectations on the quality of the new BLS. The single “Stillborn”, featuring Ozzy on backing vocals, hit the airwaves a couple weeks before the record dropped. The video directed by Rob Zombie soon followed.

Though “Stillborn” is a solid effort “Stoned and Drunk,” “Final Solution” and “Destruction Overdrive” offer a bit more in the molten metal category. However, the Wylde-man shows his maturity as a songwriter putting together a range of dynamics from the acoustically driven “The Blessed Hellride” and “Blackened Waters” to the funky “We Live No More.” But, where it really takes a turn is in the piano embracing “Dead Meadow” - an Allman Brother influenced ditty that harkens back to Zakk’s Pride and Glory days.

Given this is BLS 5th outing, it’s refreshing to hear Zakk embrace his early roots and use them to carve out a passionate set of solid rockers. His axe-work is actually more potent than it has been in years (including Ozzy’s “Down To Earth”). This is a no-bullshit rock record in the highest order and pushes the one-man band into major-league contention.

Website: Spitfire Records or Black Label Society

Review by Todd Smith http://www.thecutting-edge.net/