The Lord of the Riff, Tony Iommi, founding member of Black Sabbath and someone whose influence has spanned actual generations, not just every-five-years-is-a-new-one generations of bands, has a new solo album out Oct. 23. It’s called From the Dark, and for the endeavor, Iommi is joined by vocalist Jørn Lande (Masterplan, Jorn, etc.). Reportedly it has Becky Baldwin (Mercyful Fate, etc.) on bass and drummer Karl Brazil, who played with Iommi on the 2024 perfume-promoting single “Deified,” but it’s the first Iommi solo full-length since 2005’s Glenn Hughes collaboration Fused, and the first single “World Alone” is being released Sept. 4 as a 7″ with an instrumental B-side.

That’s the extent of what I know. As to what it sounds like, my guess would be riffy. Iommi of course took part last year in Ozzy Osbourne‘s farewell concert, but has been sporadic in his live appearances since his fight with cancer, and while he made a memorable guest appearance with Candlemass for their 2019 album, The Door to Doom (review here), studio work hasn’t exactly been bustling since the turn of the century. A solo album, whatever shape it takes, is welcome.

I snagged this from the preorder page that’s linked below:

Tony Iommi – From the Dark – Oct. 23

Preorder: https://imusic.co/exposure/25028/tony-iommi-from-the-dark

Tony Iommi, founding member of Black Sabbath and one of heavy metal’s absolute pioneers, is back with his first new solo album in 21 years and his first full-length release since Black Sabbath’s farewell album 13.

The album From The Dark features eight inventive, magnificent, and captivating tracks, created in collaboration with long-time producer Mike Exeter. The result is one of 2026’s most significant rock releases, where heavy riffs, rich soundscapes, and impressive musical details come together in perfect harmony. At the same time, Iommi delivers some of the strongest guitar performances of his career.

The first single “World Alone” is an up-tempo, guitar-driven track with Tony Iommi’s characteristic, monumental riffs at its core. The song balances the heavy expression with strong melodies, while Jorn Lande contributes both lyrics and vocals. The result is classic Iommi – with all the hallmarks of his legendary guitar playing, but with a modern twist.

1. Over The Violent Sun
2. Black Times
3. World Alone
4. Beyond The Dead
5. Stormwatcher
6. Death Wake
7. Return Of The Arbalist
8. Legacy
9. Scent Of Dark (Bonus)
10. Deifie (Bonus)

https://www.iommi.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tonyiommi/
https://www.youtube.com/@tonyiommiofficial
https://www.facebook.com/tonyiomm

Tony Iommi, “World Alone” official video

One of the things I like best about Whocares is the fact that you can almost imagine the conversation where the formidable personnel involved were sitting around in the studio, deciding what to name the project, and someone finally said, “Who the hell cares what we call it?” and it stuck. It’s a valid point, since no matter what name they gave it, it’s the names Tony Iommi and Ian Gillan that were going to draw eyes to the debut Whocares charity CD single (when was the last time you saw one of those? In a full jewel case, no less!), Out of My Mind/Holy Water (Armoury). The band, centered around the Black Sabbath guitarist and Deep Purple vocalist, was put together to benefit an Armenian music school. The story goes that Gillan — whose history in Armenia going back more than 20 years to the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake there is chronicled in an included documentary video – and Iommi were in Armenia to receive medals from the prime minister for the work they did and the money they gave helping rebuild after that quake, saw the school, and decided to help out some more. What it rounds out to is the first time Iommi and Gillan have paired on new studio material since Black Sabbath’s underrated 1983 offering, Born Again.

That alone has drawn eyes and hears to Whocares and the Out of My Mind/Holy Water single, but the fact that the guitarist and singer – two figures whose influence over hard rock and metal simply can’t be measured – are joined by the likes of drummer Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden, former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted and ex-Deep Purple organ master Jon Lord is even more fodder for the salivary glands. The above, as well as guitarist Mikko “Linde” Lindström of HIM (also Iommi’s son in law), comprise the Whocares lineup for “Out of My Mind,” the focus track from the single and the song for which a video was made that’s also included here. On the somewhat less star-studded, “Holy Water,” Iommi and Gillan are joined by guitarists Steve Morse (Deep Purple) and Michael Lee Jackson (a Deep Purple backup and Gillan solo guitarist), bassist Rodney Appleby and Hammond player Jesse O’Brien (both also of Gillan’s band), and drummer Randy Clarke. “Holy Water” also has a duduk contribution from Arshak Sahakyan and a key intro Ara Gevorgyan, for that Armenian flavor. It’s essentially two different bands led by Iommi and Gillan, one mega-supergroup and one regular old supergroup, operating under the same moniker to benefit an Armenian music school. Sure, they probably could have cut a check and been done with it, but one assumes (at least hopes) this was more fun.

Read more »