5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very hard, driving material from Geezer - took some getting used to, July 9, 2005
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.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Geezer Does Nu-Metal, June 24, 2005
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...
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11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Great Album from Geezer, May 12, 2005
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.
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