Review Summary: Ozzy Osbourne really tries on this album, but his optimism can't save him from being mediocre.
Optimism is a character strength nearly every one possess. Nearly everybody has an urge to try something new, or to try something again. This is Ozzy Osbourne's attempt on getting back on the wagon into mainstream metal and although he shows everlasting optimism on this album, everything just turns out corny and mediocre.
In my opinion, Ozzy's solo career has been quite rickety when it comes to music. He hasn't really released a high quality record since 'Diary Of A Madman' in 1981. Ever since then his albums have been average or bad. This album is borderline average and continues the his combo of disappointing albums.
Scream is pretty much what you've heard for the last decade from Ozzy again. The opening track 'Let It Die' is pretty much just a presentation of his ego. His first single 'Let It Scream' is pretty much a weak metal song and 'Life Won't Wait' is pretty much him just telling people not to do drugs. Whatever Ozzy is trying to do here, it's not working.
But not everything is bad here. 'Soul Sucker' is quite catchy providing a hard hitting chorus, along with 'Fearless' and 'Latimer's Mercy'. These are quality metal songs from Ozzy, but these are really the only ones.
Songs are often overly song here and quite boring. Ozzy really only sings in one tone here, letting auto tune do the rest for him. This becomes annoying in most of the tracks because you are still able to hear Ozzy's worn out voice under the weird effects auto tune does to his voice here. This creates one weird and annoying vocal effect. I can understand him being 62 but I've heard these songs live and he sounds a lot better doing them without the auto tune.
Instrumentals are also quite boring here. Guitarist Gus G is nowhere as talented as the legendary Randy Rhoads or as any of Ozzy's other guitarists from previous albums. Gus G's solos are often quite boring providing the same old solo on every song. The Bass is almost invisible here and the drumming is boring as well. Keyboardist Adam Wakeman provides some nice effects here but nothing else really.
Although Ozzy Osbourne really tries to make a quality album here, he might just not have the power to do that anymore. Optimism is a respected character strength, therefore I respect Ozzy, but he'll just need to push harder to provide another quality album.
