Written By: Jennifer Burch
Ever versatile Zakk Wylde is at it again with “Book of Shadows II”, a twenty year follow up to his first solo album released in 1996. Often considered a legend, Wylde is a recognizable force in music, most notably as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of Black Label Society. During a February 3rd interview with IIIII, Wylde jokingly refers to April 8th release as “something like the first” and “hangover music”. Indeed, this self-proclamation rings true.
Clocking in with 14 tracks in just over an hour, the album moves through various stages. Listeners can expect to hear mellow acoustic tones, bluesy Americana, keyboards, piano and southern-sounding rock. It’s interesting to see an artist unplug once in a while and tap into deeper territory. Wylde accomplished this by offering undiluted material, straight from the soul. It’s almost as if after producing so many heavy-hitting albums, he needed to click the reset button before getting back to tearing it up with another Black Label Society release.
Tracks like “Sleeping Dogs” and “Tears of December” showcase Wylde’s talent as a songwriter. His stripped down composition style comes across as effortless. The entire album, recorded in Wylde’s home studio dubbed The Black Vatican, is layered and impressive.
