It is the Black Sabbath guitarist’s first solo release since his 2005 LP with Glenn Hughes
Heavy metal legend Tony Iommi has confirmed his new solo album From the Dark. It is the Black Sabbath guitarist’s first solo release since his 2005 LP Fused with Glenn Hughes. The forthcoming From the Dark arrives on October 23 through BMG. Today, Iommi has revealed the record’s lead single “World Alone.”
Stream the official audio of “World Alone” below now, which will also be available as a 7-inch vinyl single.
“It’s an album we’ve really enjoyed making,” Iommi said in a statement. “We’re not trying to prove anything – it’s a great album. It rocks!”
The forthcoming From the Dark features Iommi on lead guitar, alongside singer Jorn Lande (Ark, Beyond Twilight, Vagabond), bassist Becky Baldwin (Mercyful Fate), and drummer Karl Brazil (Robbie Williams, James Blunt, Feeder). Tony produced the album alongside longtime collaborator Mike Exeter.
The double LP edition will be manufactured in four colours, available from different retailers. Cut at 45-rpm on double vinyl for optimum dynamic range the deluxe, gatefold package is premium black card with a die cut of Tony’s signature cross, that holds beneath a suitably dark and detailed, illustrative journey across the album. Part visible when in situ and with the full image revealing as the inner sleeve is drawn out. There will also be a CD Amazon exclusive that also has the same die cut sleeve and a deluxe 32-page CD media book edition that includes two bonus tracks.
Physical editions include:
• Double black vinyl with die cut gatefold sleeve
• Double ‘Monkey’ red & black marble vinyl with die cut gatefold sleeve
• Double ‘New Boy’ white & black marble vinyl with die cut gatefold sleeve
• Double ‘Eyeglass’ transparent blue vinyl with die cut gatefold sleeve
• Deluxe CD media book edition with 32-page booklet and bonus tracks
• Amazon exclusive, CD digisleeve with die cut cover and 12-page booklet
• CD digisleeve with 12-page booklet
Check out all the physical editions below, the tracklisting, plus a link to pre-order.
During a livestream announcing the album, Tony was asked if there’s any chance of a tour to support the album.
“Is there any possibility that we could see these numbers performed live?”
“You may,” Iommi stated.
Last year, Tony made a special guest appearance on Robbie Williams’ hit single “Rocket.” The track was on Robbie’s latest album BRITPOP. Stream the official video HERE.
Tony Iommi last performed with Black Sabbath just over a year ago at their iconic Back to the Beginning concert in Birmingham. The outing served as Ozzy Osbourne’s final show. Just days later, Ozzy passed away on July 22. On the first anniversary of his death, Iommi reflected on his longtime bandmate and “dear friend.”
“Well, it’s now a year since Ozzy’s passing and I still can’t believe that he’s not with us. I watch him on YouTube and it feels like he’s still here with us. We always stayed in touch, almost every week or so and we’d usually talk about our ailments and then about what we’d been doing that particular week. The fans have been absolutely brilliant and the love and respect that they have shown for him has just been amazing. I’m so glad that we were able to play one final show with the original line up of Sabbath at the Back to the Beginning show in our home town of Birmingham! There will never be another Ozzy. I miss you my dear friend.”
Tony Iommi’s career outside of Black Sabbath allowed him to explore new creative directions while reinforcing his status as one of heavy metal’s most influential guitarists. Although he had occasionally worked on side projects throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his first true solo effort arrived with the self-titled Iommi in 2000. Rather than using a single vocalist, the album featured an impressive lineup of guest singers and musicians, including Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Corgan, Dave Grohl, Henry Rollins, Phil Anselmo, Serj Tankian, Ian Astbury, Skin, and Brian May.
The record blended crushing Sabbath-style riffs with modern hard rock and alternative influences, earning praise for its ambitious collaborations and proving that Iommi’s signature guitar tone remained as powerful as ever. He followed it in 2005 with Fused, a heavier, more cohesive album featuring former Deep Purple bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes. Their chemistry produced standout tracks such as “Dopamine” and “Grace,” and the album was warmly received by fans who appreciated its mix of classic heavy metal and contemporary hard rock.
Iommi continued to release music outside of Black Sabbath over the following years while also contributing to charitable and collaborative projects. In 2004, he issued The 1996 DEP Sessions, a collection of previously shelved recordings with Glenn Hughes that had developed a devoted following among collectors. Two years later, he reunited with Hughes for The 2005 Fused Sessions and later released The 1996 DEP Sessions officially after years of bootlegging. His 2021 instrumental single “Scent of Dark,” created alongside a luxury fragrance campaign, marked his first new solo composition in years and demonstrated that his instantly recognizable guitar style remained undiminished.
In 2024, he surprised fans once again by collaborating with Italian singer Gianna Nannini on the song “Silenzio,” showcasing his willingness to step outside traditional heavy metal while continuing to evolve creatively. Throughout his solo career, Iommi has consistently balanced experimentation with the unmistakable riff-driven sound that helped define an entire genre.
Tony Iommi’s final studio statement with Black Sabbath came with 13, released in 2013, the band’s first album in 35 years to feature Ozzy Osbourne on vocals. Produced by Rick Rubin, the record reunited Iommi, Osbourne, and bassist Geezer Butler, with Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk filling in for the recovering Bill Ward, who did not participate due to contractual disputes. Despite Iommi undergoing treatment for lymphoma during the recording sessions, he delivered some of the heaviest riffs of his career, helping 13 capture the dark, doom-laden atmosphere of the band’s earliest classics.
The album debuted at No. 1 in numerous countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, becoming Black Sabbath’s first U.S. chart-topper and earning widespread acclaim from fans eager to hear the legendary group together again. While 13 ultimately became Black Sabbath’s final studio album before the band concluded its career with The End farewell tour, it also served as a fitting reminder of Iommi’s enduring brilliance as one of rock’s greatest guitarists and the architect of heavy metal’s unmistakable sound.
Iommi – From the Dark [BMG, 2026]
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 the Dark*
10. Deified*
*Deluxe CD Bonus Tracks
Pre-order now HERE