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Iommi/Hughes in the charts
The two Iommi/Hughes albums — The Dep Sessions and Fused, were reissued October 4, and both entered the UK charts. The Dep Sessions at #7, and Fused at #11 in the Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart, at #62 and #77 respectively in the Albums Sales Chart, and at #63 and #80 in the Physical Albums Chart, all for the week of 11 October 2024 – 17 October 2024.
Thanks to BraveWords for the heads-up.
Unauthorized copying, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing
These remasters have made me change my mind about these releases, fall to your knees and repent if you please! 🙏 I posted this before, but it belongs here:
1. Iommi’s Fused & 1996 Dep Sessions remastered were washed upon my doorstep from the Amazon.
It is time for penance. I never really liked Fused, that nu-metallish sub-Pantera stuff Iommi plays on that album …
But, but, but … I now marvel at the vocal melodies Glenn could still conjure from this brutal riffage, he was really creative. Mind you, the album is still unfunky as hell, but Glenn has explained that only recently in an interview when he said that he leaves his funk fedora at home when he writes with Iommi because the Birmingham Godfather simply doesn’t have that in him.
There is a bonus track called Let It Down Easy that sounds like a twin to the Sabs’ Hot Line on Born Again, mind-numbingly stupid, but great at the same time. I am a man of simple tastes.
https://youtu.be/bbvEJzotvKU
And then there is another track where Glenn does so many melismas towards the end it sounds like he is applying for a job as a Pink Floyd chick background singer. 😂
https://youtu.be/J9Xuack_kq4
Now for the remaster … It sounds crisper and they’ve turned up Glenn’s vocals quite a bit, maybe that is why they have caught my attention more than 19 years ago when this was first released.
Recommended.
Haven’t heard the 1996 Dep Sessions yet …
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2. Now listening to the 1996 Dep Sessions, also a crisp remaster with Glenn’s vocals to the forefront. Unsurprisingly, this album is much closer to what the two are known for, i.e. Trapeze circa Medusa era and Black Sabbath somewhere around Vol. 4. The album has a real late 60s/early 70s vibe, as if Tony Iommi had joined fellow Brummies Trapeze for a short spell. Nice.
The album sounds perhaps more relaxed and less forced than the “we’re gonna make this sound modern” Fused, yet it is much more inspired than the Seventh Star opus which I found almost reactionary and a bit dull when it came out in the 80s. I know, it is loved by many.
PS: Tony invented the diminished fifth interval to all intents and purposes for pop music when he wrote Black Sabbath, but does that mean he has to somehow squeeze it into every little riff like he does on this album just to show what a demonic badass he is? 🤣 Satan will claim his soul as a lump sum royalty! 😈
October 17th, 2024 at 00:11The Iron Man and The Voice of Rock together on two stellar albums….what’s not to love!? This is Glenn Hughes at his finest – in full-on rock mode, perfectly complementing Tony Iommi’s riffage. These two records are some of both men’s best work. Highly, highly recommended listening!
October 17th, 2024 at 01:11The great DP family tree is the greatest of any band on earth. It’s very messy but the music speaks volume.
October 17th, 2024 at 06:30Peace ✌️
Good copy! Both are great albums and I’m glad good music still charts.
October 17th, 2024 at 08:24