The Legend Thunders On
Tony Iommi is a guitar legend. Resident Black Sabbath shredder and all around guitar hero, it's very exciting to see him reunite with Glenn Hughes, who joined Black Sabbath in 1986, albeit for a short time.
Album opener 'Dopamine' is a fantastic track - huge walls of crunchy guitar riffs will suprise many listeners - unlike many of these "Guitar Legends" albums, Iommi is not content to simply rub the fretboard and make an album consisting of seven thirty minute out of time solos. No, there's really nice work here. Even more surprising to the anti-widdler is Hughes' gravel vocals, the sound of which is scratchy and serrated, yet they are more powerful than irritating. Furthermore they do not take away from the focus of this guitar-led music, and as a result the album enjoys the best of both worlds. The 'Dopamine' solo is an absoloute gem, throwing down the gauntlet to the artists who are content to call one chord a solo.
This album is very consistent in its style. The chunky riffs continue throughout but it is not without its more melodic songs. 'Grace' is an excellent example of a guitar led ballad, something that has been virtually forgotten in recent years. 'Face Your Fear' is another clever mid-tempo track, and this is really what Iommi is about. Being clever with the rules. Everything you expect this album to have; play-it-safe solos, basic choruses and the occasional solo have all been chucked out the window, and replaced with fast, crushing riffs, back-to-basics vocals and exceptional solos. Think John Petrucci gets angry.
This album is an essential purchase to anyone who is a Black Sabbath fan. It's an essential purchase to anyone who is an Iommi fan. Hell, it's an essential purchase to anyone who's ever enjoyed a solo guitar album, but is fed up of the damn widdling.