WIN! Competition (closes 30 October 2020)
BMG [Release date 30.10.20]
Bassist Terry “Geezer” Butler is best known as a founder of Black Sabbath, and not only provided the band’s groove but much of the lyrics.
While Black Sabbath endeavoured to keep rocking into the 90s, with Geezer slipping in and out of band (and sometimes appearing in Ozzy’s band too), he recorded these solo albums in 1995, 1997 and 2005 respectively. While they were technically as a band, GZR or G/Z/R, pronounced Gee Zed R, or just Geezer, they are oft considered solo albums.
Long out of print, these 3 reissues are welcome and come in nice digipaks.
1995’s Plastic Planet is a very heavy effort, and features Fear Factory vocalist Burton C Bell. There is a very definite 90s groove, without quite being nu or alternative metal, although much of the vocals are on the shouty side. What is unmistakeable is Butler’s heavy bass lines, and there are times on the album they stand out, showcasing how important they were in the original Sabbath sound.
Recorded at a time when the Butler/Sabbath relationship was more hate than love, Giving Up The Ghost is lyrically directed at Tony Iommi. A good album that tried to embrace the zeitgeist. Sadly the live tracks from the promo EP (added to Japanese pressings of the original album) are not included.
1997’s Black Science featured vocalist Clark Brown, and with a few technical sounds thrown in and bursts of shouty vocals it continued to embrace the 90s and the heavier end. Opener Man In A Suitcase is almost infectiously catchy, crunchy too. There’s a good late 70s Sabbath groove to Box Of Six, with some very strained and loud vocals, bringing the sound up to date. And the excellent Among The Cybermen one of several tracks referencing growing up with 1960s TV. Definitely at the better end of 90s metal.
Skip to 2005 and Ohwork, which sees the band joined by drummer Chad Smith alongside guitarist Pedro Howse and vocalist Clark Brown. Although there’s a definite Nu Metal hint to the album, opener Misfit has a beefed up punk edge. And amongst the obvious alternative metal of Pardon My Depression there’s a clear blues base. I Believe nods to more classic metal, and there’s moments of rap metal on the album too.
These three albums are different and defintely off the beaten track for the average Sabbath fan. Geezer’s take the opportunity to be more modern and experimental, utilising a different style of guitarist (excellent, just not Sabbath). Sabbath for the Nu Nineties and very enjoyable too, although the constant aggression does make them a little samey at times. The digipaks are a nice package, but the lack of any extra tracks is quite the missed opportunity. ****
Review by Joe Geesin
WIN! Competition (closes 30 October 2020)
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
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