Glenn Hughes – ‘Chosen’

That’s a big statement to make so early in an album review. Some might even say that it’s nothing more than hyperbole. However, after reading this review, I hope that it piques your interest enough to give Chosen a spin, making up your own mind as to whether the ‘Voice of Rock’, once described as Stevie Wonder’s favourite white singer, deserves such lofty praise.

Before delving into the tracks, let me briefly remind you of Glenn Hughes’ musical journey. Trapeze, Deep Purple (Mk III and IV), Phenomena, Black Sabbath (sort of!), Black Country Communion, California Breed and The Dead Daisies were all blessed with the talents of the singing bass player whilst Chosen is, by my calculations, solo album number 15… and that even includes an album of Christmas songs! Add to that a handful of live albums (including 2004’s Soulfully Live in the City of Angels, the one that started me on my own exploration of his music), some collaborations (Hughes/Thrall, Hughes Turner Project, Tony Iommi to name a few), an autobiography, providing powerful vocals on electronic dance duo KLF’s 1992 hit ‘America: What Time is Love?’ and even a recent collaboration with pop icon Robbie Williams. It’s clear that the Cannock born musician has been a busy and productive man during his 52 years in the music industry.

Before writing and releasing a solo album, Hughes is quite clear that he’ll only do so if he has something to say. Now, 9 years after his last solo effort Resonate, he’s ready to speak again with Chosen… and amen, the congregation is ready to listen! To help with his brand of rock and roll preaching, Hughes turned to three talented disciples; longtime guitarist, Danish six-string wizard Soren Andersen, touring drummer Ash Sheehan and former King King keys man Bob Fridzema, so there was a definite musical pedigree to Chosen before the first note was even recorded.

Opening track ‘Voices in my Head’ is the younger and less well-behaved sibling of some of the tracks from 2005’s brilliant Soul Mover. It’s hard, heavy and at times funky; what modern art-rock bands such as Franz Ferdinand would sound like if they had Tom Morello raging against the machine, beefing up and down-tuning their guitar sound! Hughes’ bass is prominent in the mix, very much dictating the rhythm and direction, whilst his now 74-year-old voice sounds as clear and powerful as it has in years.

‘My Alibi’ has a very similar vibe, with a heavy, sludgy Audioslave-like riff that makes way for a more sedate and atmospheric verse that is again very much driven along by the bass. Hughes’ voice is soulful one minute and powerful the next without losing any of its famous edge. Even in the higher range of his vocal register, there’s no hint of straining or crackling like many of his peers.

The title track, ‘Chosen’, was the first single to be released and was very much a statement of intent for the parent album. Coming straight of the blocks with a modern, polished heavy rock sound and drums that’ll shake your speakers, the track calms to a moody chorus as Hughes opines “I walk alone, no destination”, with his bass and Andersen’s light guitar touches invoking images of dark Los Angeles streets lit by seedy neon lights. The chorus opens into a truly driving hard rock song; “When the daylight comes, I just wanna be chosen”. Hughes’ vocals are sublime throughout, perhaps as good as I’ve heard them in many years… muscular yet controlled. It’s a sublime piece of melodic hard rock.

‘Heal’ is a direct and to-the-point rocker with a melodic riff that’s made for the catchy “oh, oh, oh” vocals over the top of it. This could be a good live number, with an opportunity for fans to join with their hero to raise the roof of the venue. Like other tracks in the Glenn Hughes arsenal, the track slows midway through for a rocking musical interlude between Hughes, Andersen, Sheehan and a sprinkling of magic keyboard dust by Fridzema.

‘In the Golden’ is another bass heavy, speaker shaking opening riff in the vein of Tom Morello’s multitude of bands with Hughes’ voice soaring in the impressive chorus. It’s modern heavy rock music, fused with the voice of a rock legend who can switch from the most soulful tones to almost window-shattering vocal highs in seconds. Another rocking instrumental interlude brings the track to an end before the menacing, almost down-tuned intro to ‘The Lost Parade’ starts. Vocally and musically, this is very much the kind of vibe found on the brilliant Fused album Hughes recorded with Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi in 2005. It’s dark, brooding and heavy, with top notch vocals. Kudos is due to the always brilliant Soren Andersen for successfully channelling his inner Iommi and special mention to Bob Fridzema with keyboards that add some true spookiness to the mix!

‘Hot Damn Thing’ is a happier, bouncier affair that will cause you to tap your feet and bop your head side to side, with a melodic, to-die-for chorus that would’ve been a real winner during Hughes’ much needed rejuvenation of The Dead Daisies a few years ago, whilst ‘Black Cat Moan’ is another funky, bass-led riff with a chorus that allows Hughes’ voice to truly soar. We hear that tremendous, soulful voice with very little accompaniment during the opening of penultimate track ‘Come and Go’, a song with superb orchestration that makes the track fly. There’s even a soulful, almost RnB section that is a clear example of why the legendary Stevie Wonder rated Glenn Hughes so highly. Vocally, this is the type of epic, soulful song that his voice was made for. Exquisite!

Album closer ‘Into the Fade’ is another moder, straight ahead rocker, driven by Hughes’ bass, Sheehan’s rock-steady drums and Andersen’s classic, hard rock, rhythm guitar whilst a smattering of Fridzema’s keyboards adds that little bit extra. Hughes describes it as being about “a life of acceptance, being here now and living in the present moment”. Could there be a more fitting theme to finish an album? It’s an important message for all of us.

Glenn Hughes hasn’t specifically said that Chosen will be his last solo album. It’s possible that in a few years, he might have something to say again. However, we also need to be realistic. Despite being in great shape vocally and physically, he isn’t getting any younger (and I mean that with the greatest respect). He’s on his 75th trip around the sun and what a journey it’s been so far. From revitalising and finding success with the world’s biggest rock band, to battling addiction that in his words took him to the “edge of the cliff of insanity”, to eventual sobriety and a well-deserved career renaissance, Hughes has been chosen and blessed by the Higher Power and life energies he has such a strong faith in. Surely, he can’t have much left to say in terms of a solo career. If Play Me Out was the opening chapter and Addiction was his stark, soul-baring moment, then Chosen could very well be the final sermon. What an outstanding and fitting ending it would be!

He is Glenn Hughes. He is the ‘Voice of Rock’. He is Chosen.

Chosen is released through Frontiers Records on Friday 5th September 2025. Glenn Hughes will be touring The Chosen Years Tour in Europe before heading to the UK throughout October, with dates in Bristol, Portsmouth, Wolverhampton, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Glasgow. The tour will end in South America.