Customer Reviews

Fused

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When I got this Cd home and played it, I was more than amazed to listen to the quality of the recording. I mean, it sounded amazing. I expected Tony's guitar to sound kinda vintage (not to say a bit old) and I was certainly surprised to listen to a very moderon quality guitar work. The best of all, it still sounds like Mr. Iommi.

About the tracks, they're simply amazing. There's not a single song in this album that I have to skip, as every single song follows the scheme of the album and fits in perfectly, still having it's own to provide to the listener. I must confess that as soon as Dopamine finished I had to repeat it, it was just raw and powerful. Same with all the CD, the songs are simply excellent, most of them are moderate or slow, but anybody who has ever loved songs by Black Sabbath will enjoy the songs in Fused.

About the singing by Glenn Hughes... words can barely describe it. It's simply amazing and full of energy. He can hit very high notes (perhaps the best singing, in my opinion, is performed in "Face Your Fear" one of those two songs from these album I can't go home without, Dopamine being the other one) and the high notes of his singing marry perfectly with the low end from Tony's riffs.

This is definitly a must have if you're into hard rock and heavy metal. If you were into Sabbath this is definitley an album worth a try. You won't regret it. As I speak for myself, this is the best album from the entire year (2005) and is now another part of my music treasure chest.

Long life to Tony Iommi, Glenn Hughes and Kenny Aronoff!!!!!

Tony Iommi, the driving force behind Black Sabbath for so many years has a new album out. It's brilliant - but that should be no surprise to anyone who is a fan of his. This is the third collaboration between Tony & former Deep Purple and Sabbath singer Glenn Hughes. Let's get to it...

1. Dopamine - The opening of a new album of Tony Iommi riffs. It's like the needle going into the vein (not that I know what that means, I'm just using a metaphor). Interesting that the subject of the lyrics is a "drug" produced by one's own body. Anyway, it very much sounds like a traditional Tony Iommi riff and song. Good way to open the album, even if it's not my favorite track on the album.

2. Wasted Again - Hmm.. Based solely on the titles, this is an interesting one to follow "Dopamine". This is a slower song, although not "slow" - slower in comparison to Dopamine. It does feature some good "screaming vocals" by Glenn Hughes. It's one of those tracks I like, but I can't give you a concrete reason as to why. Just liked it.

3. Saviour of the Real - This is one of the few songs on the album that doesn't stick out to me. It's not bad, but there's no killer riff, no killer vocal hook on this one. Sometimes with songs that don't stick out to me, I want to skip them, but I keep this in here because it is decent, it's just not great.

4. Resolution Song - This one starts out slow like some of the good moodier Sabbath tracks from the past. There's a interesting vocal hook in this one. Not sure how to describe it except it comes in at about 1:44 for the first time, and sounds like "Ah-yee-ah". It's one of those good Iommi tracks that's mostly mellow, has a big powerful guitar sound behind the chorus.

5. Grace - The first few times I listened to this album, I felt Grace was just ore of Resolution Song. The starting riff of this song sounds a lot like the end of the last song. Grace is one of the best songs on the album. Great lyrics, great riffs, great vocals. About halfway through the song there's a guitar bit (starting around 2:51, runs for about 15 seconds)) that sounds a whole lot like a classic Sabbath riff from the Dio era (Southern Cross?). Anyway, after that, the big fast meaty part of the song really kicks in, and it's just awesome till the end of the song. One of the album's highlights.

6. Deep Inside a Shell - This is the other one that doesn't really leap out to me. As with Saviour, there's nothing wrong with the song. It's good. But it doesn't just have that killer hook for me. The guitar solo midway through the song isn't a standard Iommi power solo. From that aspect it's something different - but this doesn't leap out as a real highlight.

7. What You're Living For - This one is another of my favorites. It's to me is a classic Iommi song, as it leads off with nothing but a cool riff, and just keeps going. It's fast, it's catchy, and is a great song. When I first started listening to the album, this was one of my favorites because it's immediately accessible. I love the solo in this one, it's one of those "Dual solos" where Tony's playing more than one riff at a time. Really nice sound to this one.

8. Face Your Fears - A nice crunchy Tony riff is at the heart of this song. This one seems more geared towards Glenn's vocals than Tony's playing. Nothing wrong with that, but it isn't the "busiest" song in terms of Tony's playing.

9. The Spell - Nice heavy doom sounding riff to start off this song, like some of the classic early Sabbath stuff. The slowest song on the album.

10. I Go Insane - I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! This is by far and away the best thing on the album. A 9 minute and 30 second spectacular piece of music. The vocals, the... aw hell. This is the best song on the album. It's so good, I can't think of any good words to describe it. The best song Tony's recorded in ages. In terms of "feel" it reminds me of the track "Kiss of Death" off of Sabbath's last studio album from 1995, Forbidden. Both of these tracks have a sweeping majestic feel to them that outclass anything else on the disc they appear on.

If you're a fan of Sabbath, the number one complaint fans have is that they haven't put out a new album in the last 10 years. The last Sabbath album was released June 8, 1995. In all that time and all the albums released by the various members, this one is the one that has that feel of carrying the Sabbath banner best. "Fused" flies the legacy of Black Sabbath and the mastery that Tony Iommi has over the fretboard magnificently. There's little weakness on this album, it's strong from start to finish.

If you have ever considered yourself a Sabbath fan, you owe it to yourself to buy this album. Buy two, and give one to a friend. This album deserves all the attention it can get.

Now, before people start to critize my review please hear me out. Many of the following reviewers are jumping on the Glenn Hughes bandwagon stating in their reviews that Hughes is giving it his all on this CD, and this is the hardest Glenn Hughes has ever sounded, and what not . Now unless you were born yesterday or this is the only other time you've heard Glenn singing outside of his Deep Purple days, this isnt the heaviest Glenn has sounded nor is it the best lyrically Glenn has ever written for that matter. Don't get me wrong, I like this CD, the first noticeable thing I hear is it's very Sabbath musically. This release has been tauted as the whole desert as to the icing on the cake that was re-released last year from Glenn Hughes and Tony Iommi, the 1996 DEP sessions. Personally I prefer that release moreso than this. Yes, it was only 8 songs long, but it featured Glenn and Tony at their melodic best, full of melody, passion, playing energetic, beautiful music that the 2 recorded in 1996 that if released properly back then it could have been the start of a beautiful music collaboration. Fused is the "quote-unquote" follow up to that release, and it just isn't on the same page as their prior release. Now we get a CD full of Sabbath style grooves against Glenn's metallic wail. If you listen carefully to Dopamine, Wasted Again, Face Your Fear and quite a few other have riffs that sound like they were meant to be on the next Black Sabbath release with Ozzy on vocals (which has been in the works for a half a dozen years or so now, and will most likely never see the light of day; unless released into something like this). Personally Glenn for his age (mid 50's), is still a powerhouse vocalist but heavy metal music isn't really his thing. Hey hard rock (like the Hughes Turner Projects suit him well), or just rock (His solo Soul Mover and Songs in the key of rock) are much better music offerings from Glenn, both performance and lyric wise. Going back to the 1996 DEP sessions, if you listen to that in it's entirity it maybe has 1 Sabbath style groove and the rest is just pure melodic rock / hard rock. Fused is a sludge fest of metal riffs. The track I Go Insane is pretty cool, and is worth all the 9 plus minutes. Other than that, it's pretty good, just nothing earthshattering from Iommi or Hughes. Oh, and for those that want to hear some other Hughes hard rock check out his releases with the band Voodoo Hill. Glenn sings very metal-ish on both albums. That's for those reviewers who want more of the metal Hughes. Overall, this is a solid metal release, great to hear Iommi drive the riffs hard but i like it when Glenn just rocks not really metal.

I have to say that with all the anticipation leading up to the release of Fused, I am somewhat disappointed from what I've taken away from the first few spins. Superficially, there's nothing that sticks out as being wrong with the set, as all the songs are well played, well sung, and have catchy enough riffs and choruses. The main problem I have with Fused is the production. Bob Marlette gives this collection the same heavy, modern-metal feel that he gave to Brutal Planet and Dragontown by Alice Cooper a few years back. He throws in bells and whistles to create the overused radio-friendly effects we hear from bands such as Lincoln Park, Staind and countless others. In effect, Iommi's riffs and song structures lose their always dominant personalities somewhat as they become buried under studio slickery. It seems in too many instances, these songs could have been made by any number of nu-metal acts of 2005.

On the positive side, the addition of Kenny Arnoff on drums adds flaire and rhythmic pop to many of the songs. Glenn's singing continues to be amazingly versatile and clear for a man well into his 50s. Also, Tony's riffs are as brutal as on recent outings, if not taking as many reflective or accoustic side journeys. When butting Fused up against the 1996 Dep Sessions, this one seems much too glossed and ultra-professional. The real beauty in the Dep Sessions was it's rawness and spontenaity in which it was delivered. Dep seemed less like product, more like craft... with some sweat and guts. Iommi doesn't need all the decked out dressings, he shines brightest when paired down to the bare basics.

This CD has the same sound as all the Black Sabbath CD'S after Ozzy. Dont't get me wrong I dig It. I just think that the Ozzy Sabbath is something that stands on it's own. I've read that the scumbag record company forced Tony to use the Sabbath name when he wanted use his own. His talent is so pure and awsome that he wouldn't of lost any fans If went his own way. This CD is another shining example of why Heavy Metal will always rule. The bands from the 80's/90's that are still putting out CD'S are doing so for the love of the music and their fans. Even with little or no radio support which is being given to the no talent all sound the same poser bands that MTV is shoveing down the throat of this country. They still forge on. That wigger crap like Limpsync Bizketstreet Boys or Wigger Park or P.O.D. (Piece Of Dung) being called metal makes me want to puke. In 2000 at the Armored Saint show in L.A. the singer John Bush said something that still rings true today. Do you know why the bands today don't play solo's in their songs ? "Because they can't"

Riff meister Iommi is at it again and he is always interesting to listen to. Hughes and Iommi make a good team and should reform Sabbath with Hughes as the frontman. To heck with Ozzy, Hughes has a good rock voice. Reminds me of Sabbath of the 80s- good stuff.

First of all, it must be said that unfortunately, this album won't have the success or airplay it widely deserves. People who listen to boring predictable stuff like Nickelback or Saliva should take a listen to this album, and they would see how plain and tasteless those bands sounds in comparison with Iommi & Hughes. On the first hand, Hughes, as a vocalist, totally kicks Chad Kroeger's ass, and Iommi is simply the best hard rock guitarist of all time. Kenny Aronoff provides some tight, steady and heavy drumming. Can't wait to see those guys live, because they seriously rock. It doesn't matter if they're old: be open-minded and listen to the album, if you're disappointed, then you're a suckass.

This new record is glorious. It`s a couple of 50+ year old rockers from the UK, with their respective illustrious careers behind them, and somehow...they`re the most fresh thing I`ve heard in years. It`s so very modern, but so very old school, without being campy and akward when oldies start trying to fit in. It sounds urgent, natural, and it sounds mature. Production-wise, it literally sounds monstrous, and the songwriting is so spot-on.

I'm pretty confident in saying that I already think it blew the pants off of The DEP Sessions.

This is a very solid release. Songs like Dopamine, Wasted again, Grace, What you're living for and the epic I go insane are are among the best Iommi and Hughes have done. Hughes singing are strong and emotional. Iommi delivers some heavy riffs and cool guitar solos. Buy this CD you won't regret it.

I cant believe some of the reviews saying that this cd plain sucks, is un-inspired and glen's vocals suck etc etc! Are you listening to the same cd?? this is one of the best albums of 2005 and is excellent from start to finish! I think tony and glen should work together from now on because i cant see how he can do better with anyone else..