Flashback CD Review #54 - Iommi w/ Glenn Hughes - Fused

[TageRyche]

This review was originally written for the Rock Is Life.com website in 2005.

 

Iommi (w/Glenn Hughes)

Fused

Sanctuary Records - 2005

http://www.iommi.com

 

What's The 4-1-1?

The latest collaboration between Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi and vocalist Glenn Hughes sparkles with yet another ten helpings of some pretty high quality rock and roll.

 

Genre

Hard Rock / Classic Rock

 

The Good

Man, if you want proof that Tony Iommi is still a masterfully relevant figure on the rock scene, look no further than Fused. His guitar licks are fantastic. While there is the requisite Black Sabbath dirge like riffs, there are also plenty of fast moving solos and leads as well.

The album has nary a mis-step in the songs themselves. There is no track that will be mistaken as a filler track. While all but one track is pretty darn good, I do want to single out my favorite cut. "Savior of the Real" stands out so well thanks to the complete melding of the talents from the trio recording the album. You have Iommi's guitar, Glenn Hughes providing the vocals and bass and Kenny Aronoff building an impenetrable foundation behind the drum kit. It's so good that it is making my list of favorite songs of the year.

 

The Bad

"What You're Living For" has a tempo change from the fast hard driving sound of the main verses to a painfully odd slowdown for the chorus that is just wrong!

Glenn Hughes has such a great voice you would think that people would know enough to let it be, but there is at least one instance where his voice is covered with effects and it renders those vocals weak.

 

The Verdict

This album is so good that I wish Tony Iommi could make his solo act his priority. A concert tour with Hughes and Aronoff would be a must-see show. I would much rather see Iommi doing something worthwhile like supporting Fused, instead of wasting his time and talent filling Ozzy Osbourne's coffers by touring with Black Sabbath.

Hot soulful vocals, guitars that blow your mind and drums that kick your butt. You can't ask for much more than that!

 

Did You Know?

Kenny Aronoff, who provides the drums on this album, is probably best known as John Mellencamp's longtime drummer. He's also toured with Melissa Etheridge among many other credits.

 

Rating: 5 out of 5

[Scott]

Very interesting!  Woudl love to hear this one...  I wonder if a certain someone on this site has this and would be willing to post this ....

[TageRyche]

Glad you are interested in the disc after reading my review.

Glenn Hughes has become one of my favorite performers over the last few years.

His solo stuff, his stuff with Iommi, two CDs with Joe Lynn Turner and Black Country Communion. The man is all over the place, with nary a mis-step.

[Gordon Williams]

Good review, TageRyche! I think this disc is very good, and have owned it since it first came out. I liked it enough, that later on, I went back and got the Dep Sessions disc featuring Iommi and Hughes. Good stuff indeed.

[TageRyche]

I have the DEP sessions as well.

[Jon]

I don't own it.

[TageRyche]

You should!

[Jon]

Fine!

[Bren Jones]

While Sabbath aren't one of my personal favorites, there is no question Iommi is one of the riff kings. His non-Sabbath stuff is pretty good and Hughes is a good singer.