Iommi — Fused

intothewellsabyss
Jul 10, 2023
2 min read

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

18 years ago, Tony Iommi & Glenn Hughes reunited for “Fused”!

On this day (July 11) in 2005, Iommi released his third (including “The 1996 DEP Sessions”) full-length solo studio album, “Fused” via Sanctuary Records.

The album also features vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (who briefly fronted Black Sabbath in the mid-1980s, assuming vocal duties on the album “Seventh Star” – an album that was originally intended to be Iommi's first solo album) and drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp fame)

The album was recorded in Monnow Valley Studios, Wales in December 2004 and BHM's studio in Warwickshire, England, and was produced by Bob Marlette (who also contributed keyboards and bass on the album) and Iommi. “Fused” reached No. 34 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.

(𝙺𝚎𝚗𝚗𝚢 𝙰𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚘𝚏𝚏)

Critical Reception:

Writing for AllMusic, Greg Prato states;

“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?”

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

▶ Click this link to listen to “Fused” via Apple Music: Not Available

▶ Click this link to listen to “Fused” via Spotify: Fused https://open.spotify.com/album/78HQZirzUrZGbBDkA8tNZi

▶ Click this link to follow Tony Iommi on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonyiomm

▶ Click this link to follow Glenn Hughes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glennhughesonline

▶ Click this link to follow Kenny Aronoff on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennyAronoffOfficial/

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells

Iommi — Fused

Critical Reception:

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