The madman is back...after a longer than everybody expected flirt with his original band Black Sabbath -which still isn`t over by the way; next year will bring a brand new studio album- it was time for Ozzy Osbourne to return to his very own band. As the identity of his group of musicians is perpetually changing every new Ozzy Osbourne album means a challenge for both band and fans. Fans...very important for Ozzy Osbourne personally. The immense succes of the Ozzfest events in the USA have made it clear that even the young kids `dig` Ozzy big time. Ozzy = The Godfather of Heavy Metal in their eyes. `Down To Earth` means going back home literally, a home that was built in the years after his departure of Black Sabbath and I personally feel that Ozzy`s actual talents as an artist have come to full fruition during that period and still hasn`t dried up. `Get`s Me Through`, the first song of the record opens with a calm piano intro but then Zakk Wylde comes in after 28 seconds with a monster riff and the -dedicated to the fans- song starts the blood flowing, yeah! The sound is very heavy and Ozzy`s wailing voice is his very own, magnificent. `Facing Hell` carries the same feel; heavy riffs and melodic vocals. `Dreamer` is the first Ozzyballad, a `Goodbye To Romance` meets `Revelation (Mother Earth)` song. It is remarkable how Ozzy shows his love for The Beatles in his own music more and more, a thing he rarely could do properly in the past. The rhythm section (both ex-Faith No More Mike Bordin and Robert Trujillo) lay down the thunderous carpet with precision on which Zakk Wylde riffs away. A strong and firm combination, this new Ozzemble. A strange realisation after reading the song credits maybe; Zakk wasn`t involved in the writing process of the songs on `Down To Earth`, so he simply plays what Ozzy tells him to? Maybe the many `brews` he consumes have done more damage than is good for him already? It is still Zakk Wylde on guitar, make no mistake because his signature sound is all over the album and still is perfect for Ozzymusic.

3 songs were co-written by former guitarist Joe Holmes who was in the band in the period between the previous album `Ozzmosis` and this one. Too bad he didn`t get the chance to record with Ozzy because these songs (`That I Never Had`, `Junkie` and `Can You Hear Them?`) are impressive enough. A name that put a smile to my face is of Geoff Nichols, Black Sabbath longtime offstage keyboardplayer and probably one the most underrated musicians ever involved with Sabbath (and now with Ozzy as well), he has co-written a couple of songs too for this album and I think that can just as well be an act of friendship. To be credited in a song means heavy royalty cash...it`s simple as that, I don`t think Joe Holmes will complain either. Back to the album; `Running Out Of Time` is another Ozzyballad, again heavily Beatles inspired where Ozzy openly admits that time is influencing his career, a possible beginning of the end? Read and hear between the lines! Stylewise this album can be decribed as the logical follow up to `Ozzmosis` with a few hints of `No More Tears` and `No Rest For The Wicked`, the ballads however bring back `Blizzard Of Ozz` and `Diary Of A Madman`. Although the album is a bit on the short side I do think that `Down To Earth` is another proud chapter in the ongoing saga of Ozzy Osbourne. The Madman is back!