Ozzy Osbourne's debut solo album, Blizzard of Ozz, released in 1981, became a masterpiece of neoclassical metal, which, along with Van Halen's first album, became a cornerstone of 80s metal guitar. After its release, there were significant doubts that Ozzy would be able to become a popular solo artist. Blizzard of Ozz demonstrated not only his sense of melody, but also his unerring instinct in selecting first-class accompanying musicians. Former Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads was a remarkable discovery, proving himself to be a unique, fully formed talent. Rhodes was as responsible as Osbourne — if not more so — for the musical direction of the album, and his use of classical guitar techniques and scales rewrote the rules as radically as Eddie Van Halen. Rhodes could have distinguished himself as a brilliant soloist, but his detailed, ambitious compositions and arrangements revealed his true depth and created a sense of dark, sinister elegance built on Ritchie Blackmore's innovations in minor keys. All this may seem to downplay the importance of Ozzy himself, but that is not the case at all. The music is entirely consistent with his lyrical obsession with the dark side (which was never an acceptance, as many conservative observers assumed); therefore, despite its collaborative nature, it is unambiguously marked by Ozzy's personality. Moreover, the band is much more versatile and sophisticated than Sabbath, freeing Ozzy from his habit of singing in unison with the guitar (and proving that he understood perfectly well how to frame his limited voice). The album Blizzard of Ozz, which was a real revelation, deservedly made Ozzy a star and set new standards of musical virtuosity in the field of heavy metal.
- Steve Huey (AllMusic)
