Saturday Shuffle: Ozzy, Travis Shredd, Uncle Nuge, Benedictum, Down

A little flash, a little heavy and a little fun this week ...

Ozzy Osbourne, “Lightning Strikes.” From the album The Ultimate Sin (1986). I maintain that The Ultimate Sin is one of Ozzy’s most underrated records. As this song and the accompanying video prove, it’s a record very much of its time with all the glitz, glitter and sparkles of the mid to late 1980s, and yes, Ozzy looked ridiculous in those get-ups. But the record contains some really good songs for the style. If I’m being honest, I like it better than Bark at the Moon.


Travis Shredd and the Good Ol’ Homeboys, “Oklahomey.” From the album 668: The Neighbor of the Beast (1996). Travis Shredd is one of those guys that should have made at least a ripple on the musical scene with his “countrymetalrap.” The stuff is absolutely hilarious, and often quite good musically. Sadly, I couldn’t find a video of this song, but look up some of his other stuff.

Ted Nugent, “Sexpot.” From the album Craveman (2002). Some folks don’t like Craveman all that much because of its heavier, more metallic sound on many songs, but it’s one of my favorite of Uncle Nuge’s latter career. The wah-laden opening riff of this song has that classic Nuge, sleazy porno music sound. It isn’t one of the better overall songs on the album, but that guitar lick is still pretty hot.

Benedictum, “Epsilon.” From the album Dominion (2011). Benedictum ranks as one of my favorite recent discoveries, particularly this record. “Epsilon” opens with some cool classical-sounding key work, then builds with heavy guitars and pounding drums into a nine-minute progressive metal epic. It’s a bit different than the rest of the record, but shows off the talents in the band.

Down, “Open Coffins.” From Down IV: Part 1, The Purple EP (2012). One of my favorite tunes from The Purple EP, this song has everything that I want in a Down tune. It’s sludgy, gritty and grooving, a song that plays on the band’s swampland heritage as well as its metal roots.