TONY IOMMI RETURNS FROM THE DARK. FROM THE DARK BRINGS EIGHT NEW TRACKS AND THE RIFFS THAT HELPED DEFINE HEAVY METAL

One of the men without whom heavy metal would sound completely different is returning with a new solo record. TONY IOMMI, founding member of the legendary BLACK SABBATH, will release From the Dark on October 23, 2026 through BMG. Eight new songs mark his first new solo music in twenty one years and his first full length release since the final studio album by BLACK SABBATH, 13.

From the Dark is not built on nostalgia for nostalgia's sake. TONY IOMMI once again draws on the qualities that made his playing one of the foundations of heavy music, massive low tuned riffs, dark atmosphere, an instinct for simple but devastating motifs and an unmistakable guitar tone. At the same time, the new record is not intended to sound like an archival return to the seventies. The production is contemporary, powerful and layered, presenting Iommi's signature style in a modern sonic environment.

Throughout the album Iommi is joined by Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande, who also shares writing credits on every song. His powerful and dramatic voice rises above Iommi's characteristic guitars and gives the material a classic hard rock and metal force. The lineup is completed by bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil. From the Dark was produced by TONY IOMMI together with his longtime collaborator Mike Exeter.

The first taste of the record arrived with World Alone, unveiled during a special streaming event in Iommi's hometown of Birmingham. The location was no coincidence, taking place close to the famous Black Sabbath Bridge, which commemorates the history of the band that helped transform rock music. World Alone moves at a faster pace, driven by prominent guitar riffs and solos that immediately carry Iommi's signature. Lande's vocals add a melodic and at times anthemic dimension.

The video for World Alone takes place in a retrofuturistic dystopian world. Its central character, The Believer, finds himself trapped inside a twisted video game where he must fight for his life and search for salvation. The futuristic visual concept creates a striking contrast with music built around one of the oldest and strongest foundations of heavy metal, a truly powerful guitar riff.

The standard edition contains eight tracks. The record opens with Over the Violent Sun, followed by Black Times, World Alone, Beyond the Dead, Stormwatcher, Death Wake, Return of the Arbalist and the closing Legacy. The titles alone suggest the darker character of the material, while the expansive compositions give Iommi plenty of room to work with atmosphere, dynamics and guitar motifs.

One particularly notable moment arrives on Death Wake, where Iommi is joined by his longtime friend Brian May of QUEEN. May contributes a lead guitar solo to the track, making him the album's major guest guitarist. The collaboration adds another historic connection between two musicians whose distinctive guitar sounds have influenced generations of rock and metal players.

The deluxe CD adds two bonus tracks. The first is Scent of Dark, already known from Iommi's recent solo work, while the second is an extended version of Deified. The album will also be available in several vinyl editions. The double LP version is cut at 45 revolutions per minute in order to preserve the greatest possible dynamic range.

The return of TONY IOMMI to a complete solo record carries particular weight. His previous studio solo album Fused was released in 2005 and created in collaboration with Glenn Hughes. Iommi did not disappear musically after that. He continued with BLACK SABBATH, contributed to their final studio record 13 and released standalone pieces including Scent of Dark and Deified. From the Dark is nevertheless his first complete solo collection of new songs in more than two decades.

Iommi approaches the record without any need to prove himself. When announcing the album, he emphasized how much everyone enjoyed making it and described the result simply as a great rock album that rocks. That may be the most interesting starting point of all. A musician whose riffs helped lay the foundations of an entire genre does not need to chase trends or demonstrate his importance in 2026. He can simply pick up a guitar and show once again why his playing has influenced generations of musicians.

From the Dark therefore arrives as a meeting point between history and the present. On one side stands the unmistakable style of the man who helped create the very language of heavy metal with BLACK SABBATH. On the other is modern production, a powerful supporting lineup and eight new songs that are not intended to survive on the fame of their creator alone.

The first released material confirms that Iommi's greatest weapon remains exactly where it has always been, in the riff. It does not need to be complicated, it does not need dozens of notes and it does not need technical exhibition for its own sake. A few perfectly placed notes, that characteristic guitar sound and the way TONY IOMMI creates enormous weight are enough to make his playing recognizable within seconds.

From the Dark will be released on October 23, 2026 through BMG. Twenty one years after his previous solo album, one of the fathers of heavy metal is opening another chapter of his own story. Judging by World Alone, he certainly does not sound like a musician interested only in looking back at the past.