Very melodic progressive psychedelic metal.
Intelligent, spiritual lyrics, nice vocals by Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering), Fish (Marillion) and Ayreon himself.
It's a trip to another dimension.

"Crazy Train", "Steal Away the Night" and "No Bone Movies" sound better than on Blizzard of Ozz, they're faster and rock harder.
"Dee" (studio Out-takes) is an interesting bonus track, you can hear Rhandy practicing and talking on that one.
Favorite songs: 1. "Revelation Mother Earth" (with nice piano and deep guitar), 2. "Steal Away the Night" (feel-good rocker), 3. "Children of the Grave" (Sabbath-cover), 4. "Believer" (stirring voice and music).

The heaviest Ozzy album, but a bit too mechanical sometimes.
Zakk Wylde is the new guitarist, he is more reckless, not as subtle as Rhandy or Lee.
Favorite songs: 1."Liar" (only on 2002 version) a beautiful emotional song with piano. 2."Tattooed Dancer", a strong headbanger, I like how Ozzy screams 'Dance for me bitch' and when he sings 'They gonna put me away God damn them' It has genitals-kicking guitar play by Zakk.
3."Fire in the Sky" (see "Liar", but heavier)
4."Breaking All the Rules" and "Crazy Babies" (see "Tattooed Dancer"). Also good lyrics about rebellion, social critics and emotional, psychological problems.

After Rhandy's death came Jack E. Lee, he's practically as good as Rhandy but different, his play is more flashing but less deeper.
Most songs are decent, except "So Tired" is lame.
"Centre of Eternity" a mystical song with a great intro and kick-ass guitar-play.
"Slow Down" is good musically, but Ozzy's voice is too screamingly on that... damn Ozzy.
"You're No Different" is one of his best slow songs, I like the 2002 remastered version of this song better, they cleaned it up a bit.
But not all the songs are better on this version, "Bark of the Moon" has lost its dark spirit on the 2002 release, so if you like this album you should also buy the 1995 version.
-Tell me where do I belong in a sick society. Is that blood on your hand from your democracy?

I've listened to this version with his re-recorded drum and bass a couple of times to hear the differences. The sound is clearer on this one, but I like the original MUCH better.
The drum and bass you hear on this album have been recorded in 2002, while the voice of Ozzy and Rhandy's guitar are from 1980...
HOW FUCKING RIDICULOUS IS THAT!!!!!!!!
The drum is not that bad, but I have a big problem with the bass. Bob Daisley, the original bass-player is 100 times better than Robert Trujillo, much more subtle and brighter.
Trujillo practically destroys my favorite song "Revelation (Mother Earth)". He did well on Live at Budokan, but here he fucked-up.
It's also a disgrace the original 1995 remaster of Blizzard is no longer being made and therefore hard to find (I can't find it).
So my 1 star rating for this piece of SHITTING ON HISTORY is a small form of protest.

If you can still find the original remastered released in 1995, buy that one.
I forgive Ozzy for this terrible mistake, guess he's growing a little senile, but with what he has already done and took in his life it's a miracle he's not dead yet.
I don't lose any respect for him but I don't like it that such a classic has been SHIT and VOMIT on. (see Blizzard of Ozz review)
I blame Sharon!!!

Excellent live album, the bass, drum, guitar and vocals sound clear and energetic. Ozzy's screams in and between the songs give it extra power.
Although being his best live performance Ozzy doesn't like this record, probably because his guitar player and best friend Rhandy Rhodes died in a plane accident a couple of months before that gig.
From the beginning to the end he unleashes all his demons, I don't know which drugs Ozzy was on this concert but it must have been something strong.

Why are there Ozzy fans who don't like this album?
Because it sounds too commercial? That's not always a bad thing...
IT ROCKS YOUR ASS OFF, it has tunes that keep sitting in your head. For me it's the best record of Ozzy's solo career, also has very good guitar play by Jack E. Lee.
On "The Ultimate Sin" Ozzy does sort of a black metal scream once, at the word Sin.
"Killer of Giants" has a mystical part near the end that sounds like Gods making war in another dimension.
Songs like "Never" and "Thank God for the Bomb" are also top.
Don't dare to call yourself an Ozzy fan if you don't have this.

No, they didn't copied Iron Maiden... The music, vocals and lyrics are way more interesting than any other heavy/progressive metal of that time.
Tates vocals sound operatic, dramatic and powerful.
The music is very melodic but also rocks and has excellent guitar work.
Thought-provocing social critical, philosophical lyrics about the mental struggle (fear, sorrow but also hope) of individuals in a confused and chaotic world. "I'm a fool in search of wisdom."

More experimental than the very underestimated The Warning and almost as great.
Operation: Mindcrime has some killer tracks but also some weak songs.
This one has no weak tracks, every song has something special.
Epic, atmospheric, melodic, futuristic cyber-metal.
Favorite tracks: "Chemical Youth (We Are Rebellion)", "Surgical Strike", "Gonna Get Close To You", "I Dream In Infrared"