Zakk Wylde’s most lasting contributions to heavy metal are his years as Ozzy Osbourne’s right-hand man, playing guitar (and co-writing numerous songs) on five of the legendary singer’s solo studio albums, and touring as a member of Osbourne’s band on and off since 1987. But it’s with his own band Black Label Society that Wylde has really made his mark as an artist, and even with all the time he’s spent working with Osbourne, he’s kept BLS incredibly prolific, releasing 10 studio albums since 1999 (on which he writes, produces, sings and plays most of the instruments) and touring extensively with some of the biggest names in metal.
BLS is a little bluesier and more Southern-influenced than the slick hard rock that Wylde creates with Osbourne, but the band’s music is still built around catchy riffs and driving rhythms, topped by Wylde’s gritty vocals. On this most recent tour, BLS is joined by another groove-oriented, Southern-style metal band, North Carolina’s Corrosion of Conformity, recently reunited with singer-guitarist Pepper Keenan. It’ll be an evening of energetic hard rock with a bit of a twang, maybe not as iconic as Ozzy Osbourne’s classics, but just as creative and original.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23, starting at $29.50 plus tax and fee, 18+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
