Tony Iommi Fused CD

Tony Iommi: Tony Iommi; Glenn Hughes, Bob Marlette (bass guitar); Kenny Aronoff.
Personnel: Tony Iommi (guitar); Glenn Hughes (vocals); Bob Marlette (keyboards); Kenny Aronoff (drums); Sid Riggs, Mike Exeter (programming).
Audio Mixer: Bob Marlette.
Recording information: Avon & Monnow Valley Studios, Monmouth, Wales; Rhythm Studios, Bidford; Tone Hall, Warwickshire.
Tony Iommi and Glenn Hughes have quite a storied history together. Both hail from the same area in England. Iommi and Hughes first collaborated together on the 1986 Black Sabbath album, Seventh Star, before reuniting in 1996 to work on some new tunes Iommi had penned. The project was ultimately shelved when Iommi reunited with his Sabbath pals, but it finally saw an official release in 2004, as DEP Sessions: 1996. During the album's resurgence, the duo decided to work on a proper album together, which resulted in Fused a year later. Joined by ace session drummer Kenny Aronoff, Iommi and Hughes made a conscious decision to come up with a heavier, more riff-based album than DEP (which Iommi felt was more melody based). Well, the trio definitely accomplished their desired goal, as evidenced by such riff mongers as "Dopamine," "Wasted Again," and "Face Your Fear." But surprisingly, the best tracks are the ones where a bit of melody slips in, especially "Grace" and "Deep Inside His Shell." And like Sabbath's classic early albums, Fused ends on a truly epic note, with the near-ten-minute long "Insane." Soulful vocals, heavy riffs, and mighty drumming -- is Fused a sign that a new powerhouse trio had been born? ~ Greg Prato
Following up 2000's cast-of-thousands album IOMMI, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi resurrected his solo project for 2005's FUSED. Session-drummer extraordinaire Kenny Aronoff and bassist/keyboardist Bob Marlette are once again on board, with former Deep Purple member Glenn Hughes joining in on vocals and bass. Given Hughes's history with Iommi--he sang on Black Sabbath's SEVENTH STAR, as well as an aborted 1996 Iommi record that eventually saw the light of day in 2004--their pairing seems quite natural. While nobody tops Iommi's rapport with Ozzy Osbourne, Hughes does an admirable job playing off the guitarist's gargantuan riffs, particularly on the fierce "Wasted Again" and the brooding "Resolution Song." FUSED closes on "I Go Insane," a nine-minute-plus suite that begins with David Gilmour-like leads and ends in a flurry of surging solos. In fact, Iommi's huge six-string sound is as potent as ever; this is bold, straightforward heavy metal that will immediately appeal to fans of latter-day Sabbath.