Nine Circles

Earlier this month Ozzy Osbourne turned 67 and whether you love him or not he has amassed quite a career that has been a huge influence throughout metal. He began by blazing a trail with Black Sabbath before moving on to his solo career, which is still active. Of course there’s the ill-fated reality show and I’m just going to leave it at that. Anyway, I’ve got several favorites from his body of work in the eighties but for this tbt I’m taking a look back at the highly underrated “Killer of Giants”.

“Killer of Giants” is from the b-side of Ozzy’s 1986 album The Ultimate Sin. It’s a fatalistic look at the superpowers and their nuclear capabilities to wipe us all from the planet. For example, ‘if the button is pushed there’ll be nowhere to run’. With today’s climate all one needs to do is change around the target of the song and it’s as relevant now as it was then.

Ozzy turns in an outstandingly heartfelt vocal performance and Jake E Lee offers the best guitar solo he ever put to tape. The first transition from hushed guitar and clean singing to the whole band exploding is one of those powerful moments that have stuck with me. Any time I give it a spin this part has to be played at maximum volume, no question. Back then this song stood out amongst the rest and struck a chord with me, looking back on it now it still does. Over the many years since first hearing it I would easily place it in my top three solo Ozzy songs of all time.

Certain albums or songs tie to different moments in time and this one recalls fond memories for me. A transitional time of music discovery and probably some teen angst in there but it takes me back and that’s what it’s all about. Yes, Ozzy has made some questionable career moves over the years that would prove detrimental at best. But, at the end of the day who cares? Certainly not me, when I have his outstanding early works to endlessly appreciate. To me this is where Ozzy was at his best so if it’s been awhile or if you somehow forgot how good this song is just hit the play button below. And by the way, it’s not the nuke button but if it were would you still push it?

– Josh