Black Rain

In February, Ozzy Osbourne made the ground-breaking announcement that Ozzfest will be free for all this summer. In continuing to give back to his fans, a limited number of specially marked copies of Black Rain -- Osbourne's first studio album in six years -- will contain a unique code which can be redeemed for reserved seats to the Ozzfest show of your choice. If you pre-order Black Rain Limited Edition now, you will receive the specially marked copy of the album on or around the May 22nd release date (subject to Amazon.com order/shipping policies). The CD will contain a unique code that you can redeem for two reserved seats beginning June 8th at 9PM ET -- four days before tickets become available to the general public. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Once the reserved seats have been taken at a show, general admission seating will become available (based on venue availability).This version with limited offer has the same content as the regular edition CD.

Ozzy returns with a startlingly heavy ninth studio album, a record filled with vows to continue his rock 'n' roll ways ("Not Going Away," "I Don't Wanna Stop"), meditations on the state of a world that has changed surprisingly little since Black Sabbath's early days ("Black Rain," "God Bless the Almighty Dollar") and the obligatory ballad ("Here for You," which can be read either as a letter to a lover or a love letter to his fans). With longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde providing plenty of brutal, soul-searing riffs and solos, there's no shortage of reasons to throw the horns, raise your fist, and yell. The rhythm section of Mike Bordin (drums) and Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (drums) is simply the best since Randy Castillo and Phil Soussan joined up for 1986's The Ultimate Sin and fires most accurately on the title cut, "Lay Your World On Me" and "Countdown's Begun." There's no "Crazy Train" or "Mama I'm Coming Home" here but Black Rain is a more convincing statement for it. The promises Ozzy makes here are sincere, he's not going away anytime soon––and he's still got plenty of game. ––Jedd Beaudoin