Tony Iommi released From The Dark, his first solo album since 2005's Fused, today (Friday, October 23) through BMG, and marked the day with an official lyric video for the record's opening track, "Over The Violent Sun".
The BLACK SABBATH guitarist made the album with singer Jorn Lande, who co-wrote every song and handled all of the lyrics, bassist Becky Baldwin (MERCYFUL FATE) and drummer Karl Brazil. Iommi co-produced it with Mike Exeter, his engineer and creative partner of some 30 years.
Speaking to Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR, Iommi said the lack of a deadline shaped the whole record. With no tour waiting and a studio at home, he could "take me time" and live with ideas for a while. He and Exeter set aside Mondays and Tuesdays each week, working around their other commitments. The project began as an instrumental album: Iommi had four or five tracks down before deciding he wanted a singer, set those aside and started writing riffs with a vocalist in mind.
Iommi first worked with Lande at the London tribute concert for Ronnie James Dio, where the Norwegian sang a handful of SABBATH songs. "I like Jorn's voice," Iommi said, adding that it "goes with what I play". The title, he explained, simply reflects "the mood of it".
"Over The Violent Sun" follows the singles "World Alone" (July) and "Stormwatcher" (September). From The Dark comes in several formats, among them a gatefold double LP cut at 45rpm in four color variants, an Amazon-exclusive CD and a 32-page CD media book with two bonus tracks.
"From The Dark" track listing:
- Over The Violent Sun
- Black Times
- World Alone
- Beyond The Dead
- Stormwatcher
- Death Wake
- Return Of The Arbalist
- Legacy
- Scent Of Dark (media book bonus track)
- Deified (extended version) (media book bonus track)
Watch "Over The Violent Sun": YouTube