OK, so I know what you metal-heads are thinking. How rightly the f*ck can a limp-dick fan of The Smiths like me possibly review an Ozzy show? What the hell do I know about the f*cking Prince of Darkness? Well admittedly, everything I do know is a matter of public record. His wife is a foul-mouthed harpy, his house is full of defecating animals, his kids are spoilt morons and he’s always worried about money. What else is there to know? Yes that’s right - the cult of Ozzy has gone global prime-time, and I’m jumping right on the bandwagon. Doesn’t it makes you weep...?

In Live at Budokan, simultaneously released on both CD and DVD, TV’s most loved dad since Bill Cosby adds yet another gig to his canon of live recordings. Filmed at Tokyo’s legendary Budokan Hall on February 15th (2002) in support of his newest studio album, Down to Earth, it features Ozzy backed by long time guitarist Zak Wylde (now full time with his own band Black Label Society), Robert Trujillo on bass, Mike Borden on drums and, hidden in the wings, John Sinclair on keyboards. At nearly 85 minutes, the set list is impressive, filled with solid Ozzy favourites and the odd track from the new album. A note to completists - this DVD release also contains an extra track, Suicide Solution, that's not provided on the CD!

The full track listing is as follows:

Although Ozzy’s material has become slowly more mainstream as his solo career has progressed, he still knows how to rock (sic), and the sonic barrage begins the moment he and his boys hit the stage. Wylde, Trujillo and Borden form an air tight musical unit and they’re cock-rock posturing, hip gyrating and lightning fret-work is all pitch perfect. Ozzy, for the most part, is content to remain centre stage (where he can see the teleprompter); treating us to his collection of well honed on-stage tricks. Nobody does the mini-jump, removes and replaces his microphone, trots on the spot, claps his hands above his head, or constantly moves his hair off his face like the Ozzmeister. But Ozzy’s real talent is with words, and between songs (and during lengthy guitar solos) he screams encouragement to the crowd including such gems as "You ain't f*ckin' crazy enough!", "I can't f*ckin' hear you!", and the ever popular "Go f*cking crazy!".

What this all adds up to is a high-energy, highly enjoyable, set from the Prince of Darkness that will have your lounge room shaking and your fingers ferociously picking that air guitar. Ozzy's voice is still sounding great after all these years - he and the band put in 110% for the appreciative (if very, very well behaved) crowd - and although I admit I could have done without some of the more lengthy of Zak's solos, (it comes with the territory), I enjoyed this gig immensely. I don’t know how long Ozzy can keep doing this, but while he can, I entreat you to go out and pick this up. Ozzy could sure do with the money...

Now Ozzy might be kicking on a bit, but this is about as recent a bit of concert footage you are likely to see on DVD, and the image certainly benefits from it. Presented in a widescreen, but sadly non-anamorphic format (1.78:1), Budokan has been mastered from crystal clean source material. The image is beautifully sharp and displays a wealth of detail from this assemblage of hairy individuals; and although the sharpness has introduced one or two instances of aliasing, they are only minor and do not distract. As with most concert footage, vibrant colours from stage lights (mainly blues and purples) battle for dominance with deep solid areas of black, and each is handled impressively by the transfer. Most important of all, shadow detail is impressive with our field of view, depending on the camera angle, easily extending the depth and length of the stage. The only negative I could find is a small, if constant amount of macro-blocking to be seen in the rendering of the omnipresent lighting haze. All in all an impressive looking transfer from Sony.

But even with the impressive video presentation, it is in the audio department that Budokan really comes into its own. Providing both Linear PCM Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes, it’s easily one the best non-DTS concert recordings I have yet heard on DVD. For me, the 5.1 mix is the track of choice and although it’s unclear whether the gig was specially recorded with all six channels in mind, this is certainly no stereo mix pushed out to the rear channels in the name of marketing. No, what we have here is a finely tuned, totally immersive viewing experience that puts you right in the centre of the braying Tokyo crowd. While the mainstay of the performance remains in the front channels, the rear channels are utilised actively and continuously to relate the sounds of the crowd and the subtly reflected acoustics of the venue. It really is just like being there! And better still - the louder you go, the better it gets. The subwoofer is also given a good workout, with Robert Trujillo's furious bass riffs and Mike Bordin’s kick drum thumping a continuous rhythm through your chest. In comparison, the PCM Stereo mix is reasonable enough. Providing more clarity than the 5.1 track but without the all-important immersive quality, it still runs a very poor second.

Accessed via some nicely animated, full-frame menus, in terms of Ozzy-extras Sony have collected together a few titbits, but there’s real only one jewel in the crown...

• Biography: 14 pages of information on Ozzy’s colourful career.

• Discography: just what it says. Only Ozzy’s solo releases are shpwn here, but record cover art is included.

• Videography: Ozzy’s three other video releases. Just in case you’re tempted.

• The Osbournes in Japan - Behind the Scenes: (29min) I can’t tell whether this is an actual episode of The Osbournes, or just a bunch of footage they didn’t use in the series, but basically we have what is for all intents and purposes a complete episode of The Orbournes in Japan. We get to see the band shuffling in and out of planes, vans and trains, Jack and Kelly wandering around buying things, and all with that normal Osbournes’ family dynamic.