About the Song
In a moment that sent chills down the spines of heavy metal purists, Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi — the two founding forces behind Black Sabbath — reunited in 2022 for a song that feels like a full-circle return to the shadowy origins of metal. “Degradation Rules,” a standout track from Ozzy’s Grammy-winning album Patient Number 9, is a ruthless, harmonica-laced juggernaut that blends Sabbath’s signature doom-laden groove with modern fury.
From the opening moments, Iommi’s guitar tone slices through with that unmistakable chug: thick, sludgy, and sinister. It’s a sound forged in the darkness of the 1970s but brought forward with renewed aggression. The riff work is classic Tony — deliberate, heavy, and rich with menace — while Ozzy’s voice, aged yet still hauntingly expressive, floats above it with a mix of theatrical flair and raw desperation.
Lyrically, “Degradation Rules” explores themes of addiction, compulsion, and the darker corners of human desire. Ozzy, never one to shy away from uncomfortable truths, leans into the grotesque with almost gleeful provocation. Yet beneath the surface shock lies a genuine exploration of the cycles of shame and escapism that have haunted many — including Ozzy himself.
And then, there’s the harmonica — a jarring, blues-soaked blast that cuts through the metal haze like a siren from hell. It’s a throwback to the genre’s earliest roots, and it adds an unexpected layer of grit and tradition to an otherwise modern metal track.
More than a reunion, “Degradation Rules” is a reminder of the fire that started it all. Ozzy and Iommi aren’t trying to relive the past — they’re reigniting it, stoking the same furnace that gave birth to heavy metal five decades ago. In an era of polished production and fleeting singles, this track stands defiantly loud, heavy, and unapologetically Sabbath.
For longtime fans, it’s a gift. For new listeners, it’s a masterclass in metal from the ones who wrote the rulebook.