Ozzmosis is definitely his last listenable album- but the cracks were starting to show.
He had some of his biggest success yet using outside writers for No More Tears- so he does this in an even bigger way with Ozzmosis and the results are very hit or miss. Clearly, they were trying to “modernize” Ozzy (something they’re STILL trying to do in 2022, unfortunately).
I think the most interesting thing about Ozzmosis is that Steve Vai was brought in for the writing sessions and possible replacement to Zakk Wylde. Vai is diplomatic but if you read between the lines in interviews, it sounds like the guitarist was asking too many questions like “who is going to get publishing, songwriting credit, etc”.
“Oh don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of you!” says the Sharon/Ozzy camp who have screwed over virtually every musician they’ve worked with. This is pure conjecture but Vai, being the industry veteran, and shrewd business person that his is, probably smelled the BS and “noped” out of that situation in a hurry. He did contribute one song, though- “My Little Man”.
As someone who greatly prefers Vai’s playing within the context (and confines) of a band- it’s interesting to think what an Ozzy/Vai album would have sounded like. With the exception of Perry Mason- I find most of Zakk’s guitar work tired and uninspired here, especially compared to his work on No Rest and No Tears which is the stuff of guitar gods. Unfortunately, Zakk’s solos in ALL of his projects after No More Tears sound uninspired- I suspect you might need a Michael Wagener-like producer to coax a thoughtful, well-composed solo out of him.