From the Metal Lair archives: Originally published July 23, 2022, this was our very first post. It has been lightly edited for clarity and formatting while preserving its place in our history.
Black Sabbath bandmates Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi have reunited on “Degradation Rules,” pairing Iommi’s unmistakable heavy riffs with Ozzy’s vocals and harmonica.
The track will appear on Ozzy’s upcoming album, Patient Number 9, due September 9, 2022. Iommi also appears on “No Escape From Now,” joining a guest lineup that includes Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde, Eric Clapton and Mike McCready.
Listen to “Degradation Rules”
As for his renewed collaboration with Iommi, Ozzy said: “It was really great working with Tony. He’s the riff master. No one can touch him in that respect. I only wish we had these songs for Black Sabbath‘s ’13’ album.”
The title track: “Patient Number 9”
“Degradation Rules” follows the album’s title track, “Patient Number 9,” released the previous month with Jeff Beck on guitar and a music video directed by Todd McFarlane. The following comments concern that title track, rather than “Degradation Rules.”
“The song is about a mental institution,” Ozzy said in an interview with SiriusXM, discussing “Patient Number 9.”
Regarding Beck‘s contribution to the song, Ozzy said: “Having someone like Jeff Beck play on my album is just incredible, a total honor. There’s no other guitar player that plays like him and his solo on ‘Patient Number 9’ is just jaw-dropping.”
Patient Number 9 track listing
- Patient Number 9 (feat. Jeff Beck)
- Immortal (feat. Mike McCready)
- Parasite (feat. Zakk Wylde)
- No Escape From Now (feat. Tony Iommi)
- One Of Those Days (feat. Eric Clapton)
- A Thousand Shades (feat. Jeff Beck)
- Mr. Darkness (feat. Zakk Wylde)
- Nothing Feels Right (feat. Zakk Wylde)
- Evil Shuffle (feat. Zakk Wylde)
- Degradation Rules (feat. Tony Iommi)
- Dead And Gone
- God Only Knows
- Darkside Blues