Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi and former Black Sabbath & Deep Purple singer/bassist recorded a project back in 1996 that turned into The 1996 Dep Sessions, which just saw the light of day back in 2004. The fan response was so positive, and the players enjoyed playing & recording together so much that they went back into the studio to write once again, and the result is Fused. Fused is a high-octane affair, perhaps not as strong through and through as The 1996 Dep Sessions, but a strong statement on its own nontheless. The two brought in powerhouse drummer Kenny Aronoff, who really adds some metal thunder to the back end on this CD, which might open the eyes of many who have followed his career with John Mellencamp. Also along is Bob Marlette, who produced and played keyboards on the album.
There's really no surprises here, just classy hard rock and doom as only two professionals like Iommi and Hughes can create. "Dopamine" is an uptempo anthem with muscular riffs and the passionate vocals of Hughes. "Wasted Again", a song with lyrics that look back on the rough times both musicians have had with substance abuse, starts off with some doomy dirge riffs from Iommi before Hughes kicks it into overdrive with some high pitched screams. The chorus here is spot-on, as Hughes sounds more than menacing next to Iommi's thunderous guitar onslaught. On 'Saviour of the Real" the boys fail to excite, as for the most part the song has a fairly generic feel to it despite a catchy chorus. However, "Resolution Song" is an interesting piece with some textured guitar work, emotional vocals, and plenty of keyboard passages. During the chorus Iommi digs deep for some huge dark guitar chords with Hughes soaring over the top, which is very effective in creating an ominous mood. It also help to have Aronoff's mighty drums pounding underneath everything!
"Grace" is more uptempo doom, something that could easily have come off the lone Black Sabbath album these two did together, Seventh Star. The duo go for the catchy melodic track on "Deep Inside a Shell", a song that seems a little out of place here but is pretty much in line with what Hughes does on his solo albums. From this point on in the CD is where things kick up into hyperdrive. "What You're Living For" is a driving hard rocker, much faster than anything else on the album, with meaty speed riffs from Iommi and lots of melodic vocals from Hughes. The dark and menacing "Face Your Fear" is something you would expect Black Sabbath to record, just a great example of classy doom metal. The same goes for "The Spell", a slow, dark, and heavy dirge with huge riffs from Iommi, spooky keyboards, and the powerful vocals of Hughes, who sounds so at home singing this type of material. The best though is saved for last with the 9-minute "I Go Insane", which starts out with some Dave Gilmour styled guitar solos from Iommi, who shows just how fluid and bluesy he can get on a more mellow, melodic piece. This song is the moody, blues-based number on the album, yet it also has its share of doomy metal riffs and huge arrangements. Hughes sounds great on the chorus here, passionate and emotional, and it's one of those songs that you will find yourself singing along to at the top of your lungs. The middle section where Iommi kicks into high gear along with Aronoff is a metal delight, and Tony's soul-searching solo is a thing of beauty.
There are a few things that come to mind after digesting this CD. One is that Kenny Aronoff will certainly be in demand in the hard rock & metal world after people hear this album. The guy is GOOD! Two, Iommi and Hughes are a perfect marriage. With all of the problems surrounding Black Sabbath, like Ozzy's voice, and their inability to get an album recorded, why not forget Ozzy and hire Hughes and just move on? Fused is certain to make any Sabbath fan happy, and I'm already waiting for the next time these two get together.
Track Listing
1. Dopamine
2. Wasted Again
3. Saviour of the Real
4. Resolution Song
5. Grace en
6. Deep Inside A Shell
7. What You're Living For
8. Face Your Fear sten
9. The Spell
10. I Go Insane
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