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GZR Ohmwork Review by Gary Hill Ohmwork is the latest album by the outfit Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler belongs to as his side outlet. The group is not really a solo project, but more band, therefore it is little like Sabbath in terms of sound. Rather than finding that classic metal approach that Sab created one can expect something more along the lines of modern nu metal with some rap metal thrown in for good measure. Frankly, the mix doesn't have enough of a fresh approach or uniqueness to make it truly legendary, but there is some strong stuff here. Some of the song titles are incredibly clever, too. This is angry and dark to suit our times, and should sit well with fans of modern metal. I tend to prefer the older classic style that Geezer and his Sab cohorts pretty well invented, but this will definitely do in a pinch. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2005 Year Book Volume 3 at https://garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2005.

Track by Track Review

Misfit Thundering in with a very Sabbathesque riff, the vocals and chorus bring in a more modern metal approach. This also includes a rap metal segment.

Pardon My Depressions This one pounds in much heavier. It drops to a stripped down vocal/bass segment that feels a bit like Alice in Chains, but it's punctuated by bursts of the heavier. As the chorus enters it's much heavier and furiously energized. This has a major nu metal feel on those choruses.

Prisoner 103 This starts as full on rap, but then bursts of metallic fury and a frantic super heavy chorus pull it into the "yo metal" category.

I Believe The most melodic segment thus far starts this in a vaguely bluesy Alice in Chains like vein. It slowly build, but stays much more restrained than anything we've heard this far. The bridge is much heavier, though, and includes both Sablike guitar sound and rap. They return it to the earlier elements to carry on, though, but this heavier section returns later. This is kind of cool, but lingers a bit too long.

Aural Sects This is the first of the incredibly clever song titles on the disc (say it to yourself a few times if you don't get it at first). This one thunders back in fast and furious, but it pretty much all rap metal. The frantic fury, killer crunch riffs and anger make this one pretty strong. It drops to a cool almost prog rock more sedate and melodic section later. This is a pretty strong one. They bring in the fury with vengeance for the outro.

Pseudocide Another from the cool title category, an R & B like female vocal starts this, but they jump in with fury, anger and power at the end of this short intro. The female vocals come back later, shadowing some of the main vocal lines, most notably on the chorus. This is a heavy as lead aggressive excursion.

Pull The String We're back into rap metal territory again, turbo charged and very heavy. The chorus is more melodic. This song feels a lot like Linkin Park.

Alone This comes in super heavy, but is a fairly generic alternative rock styled cut until the spacey weirdness jam comes in later to take the piece out.

Dogs of Whore Here we go again with the cool song titles. This one is not a bad song, though, just a bit too much like a lot of the other stuff. It is nicely heavy nu metal with rap metal textures.

Don't You Know Another somewhat too much like the other songs cut, this one's fairly strong, just a bit too formulaic to really entertain.

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