Six years without a new studio album is a long wait, even for the Prince of Darkness. On October 16, 2001 Ozzy Osbourne returned with “Down to Earth”, his eighth solo studio album and the follow up to “Ozzmosis”.
Ozzy had no plans to stay quiet. The album brought together heavy riffs, melodic moments and songs that showed different sides of his personality. “Gets Me Through” came out swinging, while “Dreamer” showed a softer side that many fans might not expect from the man who helped shape heavy metal.
Those two tracks also became the album official singles, but there are other songs worth turning up loud. Let’s take a look at the tracks that deserve your vote!
“Gets Me Through”
This is Ozzy coming out with guns blazing. Heavy guitar work, a driving rhythm and his reckognizing voice make “Gets Me Through” a natural album opener.
The lyrics also touch on how people see Ozzy, making the song feel personal rather than just another heavy rocker. It became a big rock radio hit and helped introduce “Down to Earth” to a new audience.
If you want the heavier side of this album, start here.
“Dreamer”
From the opening piano to its emotional delivery, “Dreamer” takes a different road. Ozzy sings about peace and worries about the world around us, giving the song a message that reaches beyond the usual rock ’n’ roll chaos.
Some listeners have compared it to John Lennon’s “Imagine” and it certainly shows Ozzy in a more reflective mood. It might not be the first choice for fans looking for crushing riffs, but its melody is hard to forget.
“Facing Hell”
Time to bring the heaviness back! “Facing Hell” has a classic metal stomp that will appeal to fans who prefer Ozzy at his darkest and most aggressive.
The track also has a connection to Black Sabbath history, with songwriting contributions from longtime Sabbath keyboardist Geoff Nicholls that originated from unreleased Sabbath sessions. That makes it an interesting piece of the album story, too.
“Junkie”
Sometimes the tracks that get less attention are the ones worth revisiting. “Junkie” is a punchy, mid-tempo cut built around a strong groove, with Robert Trujillo bass and Mike Bordin drumming helping drive it forward.
It doesn’t need to race from start to finish. The rhythm does the work, giving the song a heavier feel that makes it a solid deep-cut choice.
“Running Out of Time”
For those who enjoy Ozzy more atmospheric side, “Running Out of Time” is another track to consider. It leans toward the melodic, progressive-inspired ballad style rather than chasing the album harder, faster moments.
It gives “Down to Earth” a different mood and reminds us that Ozzy solo catalogue has always had room for more than one approach.
A Few Things You Might Not Know About Down to Earth
The album features Zakk Wylde on guitar, Robert Trujillo on bass and Mike Bordin on drums. It was the only full length Ozzy solo studio album to feature Trujillo, who later joined Metallica in 2003.
There’s an interesting twist with Wylde, too: although he played guitar on the record, he received no songwriting credits because most of the songs had already been written before he officially rejoined the band.
And that cover? It uses a real X-ray of Ozzy skeleton, with his tattoos added to the image.
“Down to Earth” also reached number 4 on the US Billboard 200 and eventually earned Platinum status in the United States. Not bad for an album that arrived after such a long gap between studio releases.
Which Track Deserves Your Vote?
“Down to Earth” gives us two very different sides of Ozzy: the heavy punch of “Gets Me Through” and “Facing Hell,” and the melodic pull of “Dreamer” and “Running Out of Time”. Then there’s “Junkie” waiting for fans who like to dig a little deeper.
Now it’s your turn! 🤘
Is “Gets Me Through” the winner or does “Dreamer” take the crown? Maybe you’re backing “Facing Hell” or an underrated deep cut. Vote for your favorite!
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