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Iommi confirms Black Sabbath’s end with new solo album
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has confirmed the band's story has ended, unveiling his first solo album in more than two decades, *From the Dark*, due for release on 23 October. Now 78, Iommi said Sabbath is "finished" following its farewell performance at Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning concert last year, explaining that any future material bearing the Sabbath name would effectively just be him, so he chose to release it as a solo work instead.
The eight-track album grew out of two earlier instrumental pieces, "Scent of Dark" (2021) and "Deified" (2024), and was co-produced with longtime engineer Mike Exeter. It features Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande, bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil, with Exeter on keys and a guest solo from Queen's Brian May on the track "Death Wake". The lead single, "World Alone", was released alongside a livestreamed announcement event in Iommi's hometown of Birmingham, where a video for the song also debuted; other tracks singled out include "Legacy" and "Stormwatcher".
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In short
- Tony Iommi declares Black Sabbath over, releasing solo album on 23 October
- *From the Dark* features Jørn Lande, with a guest solo from Brian May
- Album grew from two instrumental tracks Iommi recorded in 2021 and 2024
How this story developed
- 4 months ago Tony Iommi has announced his first solo album in over two decades, *From the Dark*, out 23 October, revealing that Black Sabbath has ended for good and that the record features Jørn Lande, Becky Baldwin, Karl Brazil and a guest solo from Brian May.
Explained simply
Black Sabbath, formed in Birmingham in 1968, are widely credited as pioneers of heavy metal, known for their dark, doom-laden sound built around Tony Iommi's distinctive guitar riffs. Iommi has been the band's only constant member throughout its history, playing alongside various line-ups including original singer Ozzy Osbourne. The band's farewell performance took place last year at Ozzy Osbourne's Back to the Beginning concert, an event widely seen as the group's final bow.
Tony Iommi, now 78, has largely stepped back from Black Sabbath since that farewell show and has instead been working on new solo material, something he has not released in more than twenty years. His solo work has typically been separate from Black Sabbath's output, allowing him to explore music under his own name rather than the band's.
Black Sabbath's legacy matters because of the band's lasting influence on rock and metal music, and any statement from Iommi about the group's future carries weight with long-time fans given his role as its guiding creative force.
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Originally published by Rolling Stone as “Tony Iommi on New Solo Album, Missing Ozzy Osbourne, and How He’s Not Going Anywhere”.