Black Label Society

As the old Spinal Tap gag goes, there’s a fine line between clever and stupid. The same can be said for that between tradition and predictability. Such is the case with Shot To Hell, an album featuring more of the same old, same old from Ozzy’s former right hand man: an infatuation with slowed-down ’70s Skynyrd riffs replete with pig squealing guitar, over-the-top solos and more "Ow ow ow” chants than one band should feature in a song, let alone a 13-track album. The trouble is, when you factor in the other saying about not fixing what isn’t broken, Shot To Hell could ride on either side of the fence. The soulful whinny of Wylde when thrust amongst his signature mid-tempo rock/metal hybrid is bordering on tiresome but with songs clocking in around the three-minute mark, they wrap up concisely and feel just energetic enough to push through yet another touring cycle. One would figure that heavy metal’s Wildman would be just about ready to throw a monkey wrench into his own works after this long. Then again, no one ever said that riding in the middle of the road was most entertaining… just that it offers the least resistance.