This record should be crap; Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi whacking out yet another solo effort using a couple of muso chums. But it isn't. Not by a long chalk.

That the record succeeds so magnificently isn't just down to the chief protagonist, although he churns out some pretty fine riffs on the album and the drumming of Kenny Aronoff hangs things together as well. No, the secret to the success of this truly great record is the vocal contribution throughout from Glenn Hughes, ex-Deep Purple bass player extraordinaire. The musicians have worked together before but things have never gelled as well as they do here. Opener Dopamine rocks like few other modern day metal tunes can, proving that Iommi has his creative finger pressed firmly on the right spot. And it just gets better with each song.

As noted, Hughes' singing has much to do with this being a great rock record. He was forever trying to put some funk into Deep Purple, a move which eventually contributed to Ritchie "God" Blackmore leaving the band. But here he is doing what he always could do; singing rock songs with a voice that has enormous range and power, while keeping the feeling intact, nowhere better than on Deep Inside A Shell and the wonderfully epic I Go Insane. A return to form for all concerned...