Fused Review

Release Date: Jul 12, 2005
Label: Sanctuary Records
Genres: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Number Of Tracks: 10
This hard-rock masterpiece is everything you want out of metal: it's heavy, bombastic and melodic.

Sound:	6
Lyrics:	7
Impression:	5.5
Overall rating:	7.4
Reviewer rating:	6.2
Users rating:	8.7
Votes:	65

overall: 9.7

Featured review by: UG Team, on october 15, 2005

Sound: Even though vintage is out of fashion now, Tony Iommi is not looking back on what's trendy and what's not 'cause he created the most memorable riffs in heavy music and what he plays is classic of heavy metal. "Fused" by Tony Iommi and Glenn Huges, out July 2005, is the third album of the team. It was recorded in Monnow Valley Studios in Wales in December 2004 and produced by Bob Marlette who had produced Tony's first solo album back in 2000. Marlette also plays keyboards and bass on the record and he co-working some songs. Even though "Fused" is called the record of two guys, there's actually another one, who they wouldn't make a record without -? Kenny Aranoff's drum work on the album is not less important, than Iommi's or Huges'. He creates an outstanding heavy drum sound, which is what rock starts from.

Recording "Fused" the musicians had two aims -? the album should have been powerful and they wanted a record that they could go out and play live. And they achieved it stunningly well -? music on the record is wrapped in powerful and mellow groove. The album is as heavy as heavy rock can be, featuring low-tuned guitars and crunchy riffs, but at the same time very melodic. It is darker than any of the albums Iommi and Huges did together before.

"Fused" is one of those genius records that doesn't have to grow on you. Right from the first song you realize that's a masterpiece. Even though the opener "Dopamine" is not the greatest song on the record, but the most radio-friendly. Slow "The Spell" goes back to Black Sabbath roots with some heavy doom riffs. Awesome epic "I Go Insane" closes the album with crashing metal coda. This partly acoustic ballad is nine minutes long and has tempo changes and four movement of riffs by Iommi. The original version had six, but then the song was twelve-minute. The epic component of the song comes from Huges' predilaction to finish every record with an epic song. And he truly calls this one "the epic of epics." // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Huges sings about what happens to everybody -? being lost, going insane, things that terrify you. That's one of the components that makes the album "live." I love the funny beginning of "Go Insane" -? "I just want to live forever..." -? not new! I thought everybody does. "Wasted" seems like a song to an alcoholic friend, who can't stop drinking, which is actually a very vital question in rock music industry.

As Iommi says, he wasn't limited on what to play in the song in order to satisfy singer's ability. Huges can sing on anything -? both chords and riffs. Maybe that's why the album came out so honest -- musicians didn't have any restrictions in crafting music, expressing their feelings. // 10

Impression: That's the album I've been waiting for a long time -? not popularity-oriented, but easy-listening and airplay-friendly at the same time. You can actually feel the maturity of music. It's not an album by some young guys, who're playing in rock stars. There's no pretence, this music simply comes from these musicians' lives. The two musicians respect each other and the album was made in the "respective" manner. Huges finds Iommi's riffs awesome and Iommi appreciates Huges vocal skills. One thing that this album misses is variety. All the songs sound like they were written during one day or at least in the same mood and with the same feelings. Well, getting older, we all closes up for something different than our living style and that relates to music too.

Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes write songs like they were born to make good music and with the experience they both have, these guys know not only exactly what they want, but how to get it. If it's loud, it's comfortably loud, if it's lyrics about life, they reveal inner thoughts. Having two reactive components ? legendary Riffmaster General Tony Iommi and The Voice of Rock Glenn Huges -- in the mixture, the record is condemned to be a blow-out. As Huges says to Iommi in his "thank-you message" on the album, "It's all about the chemistry!" // 9

Reviewed by: unregistered, on october 17, 2005

Sound: This album does not sound one bit like Black Sabbath. No awesome hard rock riffs or mindbending solos. Just plain crappy metal of today. Like all those other crappy bands that exist today, like: SLipknot, Mudvayne, and all that other s-t. All to expect from the guitar is a bunch of fast untalented drop D riffs. Nothing exciting. All in all, this album sucks. // 2

Lyrics and Singing: Just like most of the rock singers today, this band lacks good vocals. The lyrics are simple and plain. Describing drugs, insanity, and misery of all the things in life. The thing that completes a band is good vocals, and this is definently not an album that has them. // 4

Impression: Overall, I hate this album. It's boring and every song sounds the same. I was very dissapointed with Tony Iommi's guitar playing. It's like he's trying to sound like the heavy metal bands he inspired and not himself. This is a terrible album. // 2

Comments

[jthm_guitarist]

Where can you buy this album? I can't find it anywhere.

[scottishmob]

The unregistered user hates it because it doesn't sound like Black Sabbath?

[the_random_hero]

Well, obviously this isn't Sabbath! Some people worry me. I had to download this album, it was definitely worth it.

[Jon101791]

I downloaded it also it was like ^^^said it was defintetly worth it

[Johnny Blade]

This album is great. The song wasted again sounds like sabbath. I live in Australia and I payed $36 for it at my local CD shop but it was worth it!

[MAKETHEMSUFFER.]

the unregistered dude needs to get his head out of his @$$

[gumbloid]

Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes make a great musical partnership. I put this up there with their 1986 DEP Sessions.

[gumbloid]

Oops, should have read 1996 Dep Sessions.

[Smitty370]

Second Review. Dude, it's not suppost to sound like Black Sabbath because it isn't Black Sabbath. If you want to listen to Black Sabbath, listen to there cds.

[I am the Drake]

MAKETHEMSUFFER. :
the unregistered dude needs to get his head out of his @$$
POSTED: 03/15/2007 - 09:20 pm / quote |
agreed

[shredhead69]

second review. YOU ARE A MORON!!! just because it doesnt sounds like Black Sabbath doest mean its crap.
look at Dave Mustian he broke off from Metallica and he is doing fine, doesnt sound like Metallica but is still kick ass!!!!

[xHellbound]

The 2nd review does make one valid point though.

I love the CD and all the songs, but if you listen to it in sequence, the riffs start to sound the same. Revolution Song and Grace is a clear example of that, back to back songs too.

[FVD]

The 2nd Review was plain crap. The band lacks good vocals??? You're an idiot. Glenn Hughes' voice is one of a kind. He an Iommi are a fine partnership. I hope they make another album sometime in the not too distant future.

Let's also not forget the 3 Bonus Tracks that were available for download. Slip Away was pretty good. I listed that first in my sequence followed by Let It Down Easy which is a decent Rock 'n' Roll number. And I decided to conclude the album with The Innocence because Glenn's wailing vocals closing the song was very fitting to closing the album as a whole as well. A brilliant moment from Glenn right there.

Fused is a fine album. A pity they didn't take their album live thanks to that bottom feeding psychowitch $haron Osbourne and the ill fated classic Black Sabbath Reunion.