Customer Reviews

Ohmwork [Explicit]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Third "solo" album from Geezer Butler. I have to say when I first received this album, I really didn't like it. The first track was pretty catchy out of the gate (Misfit), but the album really wasn't like the last one. This one had good music, but the vocals.. They really borderlined into "growl vocals" - something I never much cared for. Still, it was Geezer Butler, so I was determined to give it a fair shake, and not dismiss it early on like I think a lot of people will.

So I listened to it a few more times, and some more tracks stood out for me (Pseudocide, Dogs of Whore, Pull the String). I found that it grew on me. It is definitely out there on the edge of what I personally like in terms of agressive vocals, but I can definitely call it an album I like. I will be honest - it's probably a bit harder edged than most Sabbath fans will listen to, and as I said above, I feel a lot will dismiss it because of that. There's some good music here, if you give it a chance. Geezer does experiment with styles. In terms of his Black Sabbath heritage, I'd say the song "Alone" probably feels the most like an old Sabbath track. But most of the rest of the album is faster driving stuff than Sabbath normally does. And Aural Sects goes the farthest in terms of "growl vocals", but is also enjoyable. There's a little bit of "rap" in Prisoner 103, and "I Believe" is probably the most radio friendly of anything in here, although it's definitely NOT a radio song in terms of the kind of thing you normally hear there.

This feels more like Geezer's first album, Plastic Planet because that one was harder edged than Black Science was. I love both of those, and this feels like a more natural progression to PP than BS was. Once more, give it a chance. I think you'll like it.

Honestly, this album sounds like Geezer listened to a bunch of Nu-metal and rapcore bands and decided to emulate all their styles in order to be popular again. I liked Clark Brown when he did Black Science, but now it seems he's trying to sound like Burton C. Bell off Plastic Planet. I like Brown better than Bell (not a fan of the Fear Factory), but this is definitely not him at his best.

"Misfit" is a good opener for the album, but still a step down from "Man In A Suitcase". The chorus sounds like it could have been inserted into any System of a Down song.

"Pardon My Depression" is heavy, but other than that it sounds like one of those made-for-radio songs.

"Prisoner 103"...what was Geezer thinking with this one? Come on guys, let's sound like Papa Roach? I don't get it. This song is horrible.

"I Believe" finally seems to have a bit of creativity behind it, but not enough to save the album from mediocrity. It starts out slow, but it's still a more than halfway decent metal song.

"Aural Sects" has a really good riff, but again is ruined by Brown's attempt to rap rather than sing. Sounds like it could be done by just any nu-metal band out there. But I bet it would sound better if it were played by someone used to playing that kind of music. However, later on, Brown's brooding voice (the one that sounded so awesome on Black Science) does come into play, but it's too little too late.

"Pseudocide" is another grim disappointment for me. It sounds like Geezer hired the Aqua girl and had her sing along Brown's growling attempts. Terrible, but not as bad as "Prisoner 103".

"Pull the String". Yes, please do, because at this point, it's all mediocrity from here. Very Papa Roachish song.

"Alone" is...okay...but now Brown's singing like the guy from Korn...why can't you sing like you did on Black Science...why...?

"Dogs of Whore" is a horrible title for an average song. Sounds like instead of "Give It" Geezer should have sampled Disturbed's famous "ooo wah ah ah" at the beginning of "The Sickness". The chorus saves the song from disaster.

"Don't You Know" what you sound like on this track? Again, the singing is way too nu-metal/pop for what the guitar is doing.

The guitarwork is standard for a Geezer album, but unfortunately, Brown is not singing in the style that made Black Science so excellent. While a change in style can be a good thing, in this case, it just doesn't seem to fit...

Also, if it ain't broke, why fix it? The band is too young for the style on Black Science to get old, and it worked. So why did Geezer change it? I really really don't know...

This is now the third solo album from Sabbath's Geezer Butler. Geezer has given his band a unique sound apart from Black Sabbath. Clark Brown is back on vocals, after recording on the previous album Black Science, and he does a wonderful job. He has a pretty good range from the light "I Believe" to the incredibly hard "Aural Sects". Pedro Howse of course is present to deliver the thrashing guitar riffs that have given GZR it's unique sound. The thumping bass lines from Geezer are, as expected, extrodinary. New to the band, drummer Chad Smith also does a great job, especially on "Prisoner 103".

Apart from the musicians great work, the tracks themselves stand to make a solid album and an amazing experience. The album starts off with the rocker "Misfit". The song is one of the best openers for an album I've heard since... Black Science with "Man In A Suitcase". The next track "Pardon My Depression" is a great, almost bluesy sounding, song. You'll really begin to see how hard Geezer can get with "Prisoner 103" as the third track. Brown shows some great vocals here as well as some fantastic drumming from Chad Smith. "I Believe" is perhaps the centerpiece of the album. Released to some radio stations as a single, this track is amazing. It really shows the range the musicians have from hard tracks to beautiful ones such as this. The song even transitions moods within itself. "I Believe" is an accomplishment to Geezer and the rest of the band. The next track being "Aural Sects" is very hard. If you heard this song, not knowing who it was by, you'd have no clue it was from a guy who's been making music for about 35 years. "Pseudocide" and "Pull The String" are two great tracks with some good bass. "Alone" slows down the mix a bit with a more melow (yet some how still hard) feel to it. "Dogs of Whore" is Geezer's follow up to the legendary "War Pigs" and a good follow up it is indeed. The closer "Don't You Know" is very worthy of being the finale to a great album. It has a good transition between hard and soft almost summerizing the experience GZR has just given to you.

This is a great album. Wheather you are a long fan of Black Sabbath or Geezer or you just like quality metal, then this is definately recommended.

Buy it.

Now.

Well, I hate to say it, but Ohmwork, Geezer Butler's third solo effort falls about 30 yards short of the first two stellar releases. Unlike Plastic Planet or Black Science, Ohmwork fails to deliver what Geezer and his band does so well. I have listen to this CD about 3 times since I bought it and that's about it. There are a few moments on it but most of it sounds rushed, and VERY, VERY dated...Geezer himself has said that most of the songs were rehersed and written over the course of the last 5 years or so...and it shows. The most obvious is the track (can't remember which..) that is an obvious rap/metal spinoff...and we all know...that era is dead and gone. The album was recorded in like 8 or 10 days..recorded, mixed, done....and IT ALSO SHOWS. Geezer's guitarist Pedro Howse is a very talented metal riffer (considerably more talented than many of today's standards), and the first two album showcase him primarily, but on this release, his riffs fall short to poor production. The other obvious fault is the absence of drummer Deen Costonova (spelling?). Deen's drumming was as precise as a rolex watch...ticking away right on time...

So, my recommendation, if you don't already have the first two...start with either one of them...and stay clear of this one.

Luzamo above had it exactly right. Why fix it if it ain't broke? You know, if I had known they were going to put out a hardcore/Nu-metal/sludge metal record, I would have advised Geezer to go with his experimental keyboard stuff instead (which he was too lazy to craft in the studio). At least that at least would have been bold and interesting, unlike OHMWORK, which is neither innovative nor original nor METAL.

I had never even heard of this band. My eye was caught by the "Founding member of Black Sabbath" sticker I saw on it. Well I previewed it on the preview machine at Circuit City. It sounded decent so I bought it. I must say that I was pretty suprised at how good it is. Great music. The rhythm is fast paced, heavy but still upbeat. On some of the slower-paced songs the slightly cheezy lyrics stick out a little.

This is metal with a hip-hop twist to it. So some metal fans will probably not like it. I would still definatley reccommend giving it a preview before you decide.

I love Geezer Butler and everything he's been to music for the past 35 years. When he put out his first solo album, Plastic Planet, I really loved it. For the time I thought it was very progressive and new, especially for someone who was well in his 40's when it was released.

Ohmwork doesn't add anything really new to the Geezer repertoire. I don't mind the vocals at all, and the music is hard-driving and to the point. If you want to put a label on it; perhaps nu-metal or industrial.

Geezer is a master lyricist, and anyone who knows anything about Sabbath also knows that he was THE songwriter in Sabbath. I like the lyrics. I think Geezer has a good feel for sci-fi themes while telling good stories. Musically, there's nothing groundbreaking here, but that's ok. It is a rare moment these days when you hear something that knocks you off of your feet.

What I look forward to is the proposed tour of Iommi and Butler after Ozzfest. That will be a treat! By the way, if you are looking for something that blows you away, go and buy Fused, the new album from Iommi/Hughes. Wow!!!

The third album by Geezer was the hardest one getting into for me. But when you get into it it's also a great album. it's very different from the first and second album. But, hey. Perhaps that is the good thing about it.
it's more traditional Thrash metal than the industrial feel the other albums had.
I really like the album and it also is a very good looking album. The artwork is great.
Great songs in my opinion is:

Alone - Very Sabbath feel to it
Prisoner 103 - IO think it's cool but it gets slammed a lot
Pardon My Depression - Feels like something Dimebag Darrel could have made solo
Pseudocide - Just because it is so different. I think it's cool

Final word, buy the album. It's worth the money. But this one ain't the album to start with when getting into Geezer.

I am a huge fan of Geezer's previous albums, but this album just does not live up to the others. To be honest, this album was rushed out because Geezer was caught up with the Sabbath reunion deal at the time and I read an interview before the album came out saying that it was written and recorded in a week and for this reason it shows (just look at the title of the album, super cheesy). The songs lack depth and it seems this album was just done to finish a record contract. I was greatly disappointed when I listened to this album and still agree that it is the weakest Geezer solo album. I wish he would put out another album on the level of the first two albums. If you are a fan of Sabbath/Geezer/Ozzy its obviously a must have.

great album. but note plastic planet and black science are better. but this one is still good.