Post by Steve on Apr 2, 2017 3:28:41 GMT -5
Gave this one a spin the other day when I finally found decent quality copies of all the bonus tracks and, twelve years later, it still hurts my ears.
I'm quite a fan of Tony and Glenn's other collaborations. Seventh Star doesn't sound much like Black Sabbath and nor was it intended to, so putting the band name on the cover was misleading at best. As a slice of mid 80s hard rock put together by two old friends just because they could, it works quite well. I enjoy songs like Turn To Stone, Danger Zone and the title track, but I don't expect to hear them alongside Ozzy or Dio era Sabbath tunes because this band, project or whatever you want to call it was its own distinct entity with its own sound that delivered everything you would have expected from the talent involved.
Ten years on, although it would take another eight to get an official release, The 1996 DEP Sessions is more of the same., but with a few important differences. This time around (ha!) Glenn played bass, which made him feel more at home than on the previous effort, and contributed lyrics about his life and his struggles with addiction. You get a sense of his being far more involved than just a singer for hire and that shows in the material.
When Fused came along in 2005, I hoped it would be the third of a thematic trilogy. Tony's riffs are as powerful and heavy as ever, but there's something missing. Whatever that quality is, its absence prevents them from becoming memorable songs. Bob Marlette's production is geared for volume and doesn't allow any nuances. The closest you'll get to a quieter, reflective moment is the breakdown in Grace, and it took me about four listens before I remembered which track it was in.
The biggest problem I have with Fused is that Glenn isn't allowed to sing like Glenn. He has to scream over the avalanche of guitars and sounds strained and nasal all the way through. When the Voice Of Rock (TM) has no room to show off his versatility, it's a waste of his time and talent. Any singer could have contributed vocals to this record and made no difference to the end result. I may revisit this album from time to time when I feel like a riff-fest, but it doesn't have much in common with its makers' previous work.
I'm quite a fan of Tony and Glenn's other collaborations. Seventh Star doesn't sound much like Black Sabbath and nor was it intended to, so putting the band name on the cover was misleading at best. As a slice of mid 80s hard rock put together by two old friends just because they could, it works quite well. I enjoy songs like Turn To Stone, Danger Zone and the title track, but I don't expect to hear them alongside Ozzy or Dio era Sabbath tunes because this band, project or whatever you want to call it was its own distinct entity with its own sound that delivered everything you would have expected from the talent involved.
Ten years on, although it would take another eight to get an official release, The 1996 DEP Sessions is more of the same., but with a few important differences. This time around (ha!) Glenn played bass, which made him feel more at home than on the previous effort, and contributed lyrics about his life and his struggles with addiction. You get a sense of his being far more involved than just a singer for hire and that shows in the material.
When Fused came along in 2005, I hoped it would be the third of a thematic trilogy. Tony's riffs are as powerful and heavy as ever, but there's something missing. Whatever that quality is, its absence prevents them from becoming memorable songs. Bob Marlette's production is geared for volume and doesn't allow any nuances. The closest you'll get to a quieter, reflective moment is the breakdown in Grace, and it took me about four listens before I remembered which track it was in.
The biggest problem I have with Fused is that Glenn isn't allowed to sing like Glenn. He has to scream over the avalanche of guitars and sounds strained and nasal all the way through. When the Voice Of Rock (TM) has no room to show off his versatility, it's a waste of his time and talent. Any singer could have contributed vocals to this record and made no difference to the end result. I may revisit this album from time to time when I feel like a riff-fest, but it doesn't have much in common with its makers' previous work.