The overall feeling and impression I have had while listening to ‘From the dark’ is that it strongly brings back to me the studio album of Heaven and Hell ‘The Devil you know’ with the great Ronnie James Dio. The specific songwriting, the riffs’ pace and the general ‘setup’ of this record matches in a lot of ways and resembles the sound and outcome of Heaven and Hell back in 2009. The Norwegian Jørn Lande is of course no stranger to Tony Iommi and a connecting link of ‘From the dark’ to that era back at the ending of the 00s. Lande was included – together with Iommi’s friend Glenn Hughes – in the lineup of H&H when they played the one off tribute to RJD at the 2010 High Voltage festival.

‘From the dark’ has a clear and definitive proximity to the Heaven and Hell days of Iommi. The way the songs carry everything from the melodies, the long chorus lines together with the doomy heavy riffs makes the album reflecting Iommi’s late years with RJD. Moreover, the expectations of the fans for someone like Iommi, the founder (to many of us) of heavy metal, in making an exceptional solo album have been met, to my humble opinion. I still and will always worship his s/t album of 2000, which is a brilliant and stand out record, an album very diverse, experimental but also reflecting his unique identity and self-mastery. If you are wondering, I agree, ‘From the Dark’ cannot be compared with that. We talk about 2 (very) different eras, that first one included synergy with so many artists, styles and backgrounds and showcased how much can Iommi excel, when he works together with such varied musicians.

However, I must admit that, this new one still carries the flame, and the artist’s will to give us his best self, and even though years have passed, he’s still got it, and he’s got it for damn good! Every Iommi-esque riff, every melody played in his favorite SG guitar, every second that passes leaves a proof of authenticity and music craftmanship, the same way a legendary human being can leave. This is heavy metal at its best, and some people might argue about the supporting line-up, and it might not seem to their eyes as ‘flashy’ or ‘appropriate’, but let me tell them, that they all kick ass and they all deliver the goods in class! Any argument that, ‘the old man sucks’, or ‘these guys should not be playing with Tony’, or ‘He has made a bad choice, etc.’ can go and … Becky Baldwin (Bass); Karl Brazil (Drums); and Mike Exeter (a friend from old times, Keyboards, Mixing, Engineer, Writer, the list is endless..) provide the necessary depth and charisma on the album, they all work perfectly paced and balanced, without any doubt. Especially bringing their different background and experience, that adds up a lot to ‘From the dark’ being a magnificent record.

As the riff master said it himself in a recent interview, talking about ‘From the dark’: “It’s part of what I have always done. That’s the way I write from day one, I still have the same way of writing. So, it’s going to sound like me”. This is who Tony Iommi is. This is his craftmanship. This is what makes a heavy metal fan crave for, by the sound of a new Iommi album: to immediately connect and relate with what the left hand and the brilliant mind of this man can really create. ‘From the dark’ is a magnificent record carrying all the DNA elements of what the name Iommi stands for. Play it very loud and you will not lose.

8/10

Text by Antonis Mantzavinos

Tracklist:

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

Tony Iommi on Facebook and Instagram

Το άρθρο IOMMI – ‘FROM THE DARK’ (2026, BMG) εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Delivered by Central BID and OPUS (Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces) in collaboration with Birmingham City Council, Birmingham New Street, and Westside BID, the celebration will turn venues and public spaces throughout the city into a vibrant tribute to the Aston-born rock icon.

Spanning Birmingham city centre, the celebration will invite visitors to discover the landmarks that played a part in Ozzy’s remarkable journey, with events and activities taking place at the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham New Street Station, Bullring, Selfridges, and Martineau Place.

One year after performing during Ozzy Osbourne’s funeral procession, the five-piece BOSTIN BRASS will once again fill Birmingham’s streets with the music of Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH, staging a series of pop-up performances across the city. Meanwhile, musicians from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) will present a special lunchtime performance at Bullring, while visitors will have the chance to take home free commemorative Polaroids with a specially dressed Ozzy the Bull at Birmingham New Street Station.

At the same location, Birmingham Music Archive will encourage fans to share their personal memories, stories, and reflections on Ozzy’s extraordinary influence on both Birmingham and the wider world. Their messages will be collected in a commemorative guestbook, creating a lasting tribute to the Prince of Darkness and his remarkable legacy.

Alongside the live events, OPUS has commissioned a series of short films capturing Birmingham’s tribute to one of the city’s most iconic figures. Featuring specially created artistic installations, live performances, and heartfelt memories shared by fans, the films will serve as a lasting record of a unique celebration honoring Ozzy’s extraordinary legacy and his deep-rooted connection to Birmingham.

To mark the inaugural “Ozzy Day”, a special limited-edition t-shirt has been created, featuring a striking graphic of Ozzy Osbourne from his farewell concert, “Back To The Beginning”. The back of the shirt showcases a unique timeline of all 52 performances Ozzy played in Birmingham throughout his career, both as a solo artist and as a member of BLACK SABBATH. A limited quantity will be available exclusively at Selfridges, Bullring, from July 22, while supplies last.

Το άρθρο BIRMINGHAM TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST “OZZY DAY” εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

This version of the 1970 Paranoid track features co-lead vocals from Ozzy alongside Priest frontman Rob Halford. It follows Priest’s own cover of the song, released on July 2. Shortly after that release, Ozzy’s wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, reached out to offer newly recorded vocals from her husband.

Halford told Full Metal Jackie earlier this month: “She approached me with this idea, she said, ‘I love your version of War Pigs. Is there a way we can get Ozzy?’ I was [like], ‘You’re asking me? This is gonna happen!’

“So, you get Ozzy singing a line and then I’m singing a line and Ozzy’s singing a line and I’m singing a line. It’s the first ever time in my entire life that I’ve been able to do a duet with Ozzy and I’m so eternally grateful and blessed that I was able to do that”.

All proceeds from the new War Pigs collaboration will benefit Cure Parkinson’s and The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation. Ozzy Osbourne was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019, while Judas Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton revealed his own diagnosis back in 2008. In 2018, the band established The Glenn Tipton Parkinson’s Foundation in his honor. Although Tipton stepped back from full-time touring due to his condition, he continues to make special guest appearances during encores at select shows.

Priest originally released their first War Pigs cover as a tribute to Ozzy in the lead-up to his farewell concert, Back To The Beginning, held July 5 at Villa Park, near his childhood home in Aston, Birmingham. Notably, Priest did not perform at the star-studded event. Rob Halford later explained to Hammer that the absence was due to a scheduling conflict, as the band was already booked to appear at the Scorpions’ 60th-anniversary celebrations on the same day.

Ozzy Osbourne passed away on July 22 at the age of 76, just 17 days after his Back To The Beginning farewell concert, following a heart attack. In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Judas Priest paid tribute, writing: “Sharon, may God surround you and your beautiful family with love, peace, and light. Ozzy, you will never leave us.”

Το άρθρο JUDAS PRIEST FEAT. OZZY OSBOURNE: “WAR PIGS (CHARITY VERSION)” IS FINALLY RELEASED εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Devoted followers of both Black Sabbath and Osbourne’s solo career lined Broad Street from early in the morning, after the Osbourne family announced that the funeral procession would pass by the Black Sabbath Bench and Bridge. Since the news of Ozzy’s passing on July 22, fans have been leaving flowers, tribute cards, and personal messages at the site.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the funeral cortege—escorted by police—arrived at the memorial spot as hundreds of fans chanted Osbourne’s name. Meanwhile, tens of thousands more across the globe watched the emotional moment via livestream.

Six police motorcycles led the procession, followed by the Bostin’ Brass Band playing Black Sabbath’s classic “Iron Man” from the band’s iconic 1970 album “Paranoid”.

There were deeply emotional moments as the hearse carrying Ozzy Osbourne arrived at the memorial, with purple flowers spelling out “OZZY” placed beside his coffin. The singer’s grieving family—his wife Sharon, son Jack, daughters Aimee and Kelly, along with Kelly’s husband, Slipknot’s Sid Wilson, and their infant son Sidney—stepped out of a black people carrier to greet the crowd, lay flowers, and read some of the heartfelt tributes left by fans for the beloved 76-year-old icon.

As the family departed for a private funeral service at a church in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the gathered crowd—many visibly moved and in tears—chanted Ozzy’s name once again, in a powerful farewell to the Prince of Darkness.

Το άρθρο OZZY OSBOURNE’S FUNERAL PROCESSION IN BIRMINGHAM εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

JUDAS PRIEST has unveiled an official studio cover of BLACK SABBATH’s iconic track “War Pigs,” just ahead of the legendary Ozzy Osbourne-fronted band’s final concert this weekend.

Though Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Andy Sneap, Ian Hill, and Scott Travis won’t be performing at the massive “Back To The Beginning” show in Birmingham, U.K., they’ve honored their fellow metal pioneers with a powerful rendition of the 1970 Paranoid classic. Long used as PRIEST’s stage walk-on music, “War Pigs” now comes with an accompanying performance video released alongside the track.

PRIEST said in a statement: “We are honored to show our love for Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH with our homage of ‘War Pigs’, a song we play at every show around the world that fans sing along to, reinforcing their love as well for the legendary Prince Of Darkness!”.

Το άρθρο JUDAS PRIEST – “WAR PIGS” εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Titled “Back To The Beginning,” the charity concert will take place on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, with tickets available for purchase starting at 10 a.m. on February 14. Closing out the event will be an all-star lineup featuring Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT), Jonathan Davis (KORN), Wolfgang Van Halen, and many more. Morello, who will also serve as the event’s musical director, promises: “This will be the greatest heavy metal show ever”.

All proceeds from the concert will benefit Birmingham charities Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Acorn Children’s Hospice.

Osbourne shares his thoughts on the event, stating: “It’s my time to go ‘Back To The Beginning’… time for me to give back to the place where I was born. How blessed am I to do it with the help of people I love? Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever”.

A year ago, Sharon said that Ozzy was hoping to play a farewell concert at Birmingham’s Villa Park as a “goodbye” to fans.

So, get ready to stand in the online queue to secure your tickets. It is time for the speediest sold-out ever.

Black Sabbath Forever!

Το άρθρο “BACK TO THE BEGINNING”: BLACK SABBATH’S FINAL CONCERT εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Osbourne returns wearing the new Aston Villa kit, shouting, “Sharoooooooon! Where are my threads?!” This exclamation, seemingly directed at his wife and manager Sharon Osbourne, nods to his iconic catchphrase from the MTV reality series The Osbournes.

The new clip was released to reveal Aston Villa’s home kit for the 2024 season.

Το άρθρο O. OSBOURNE & G. BUTLER STAR IN TRAILER FOR ASTON VILLA’S NEW KIT εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Sharon said about the possibility of Ozzy returning to the live stage: “He won’t tour again, but we are planning on doing two more shows to say goodbye as he feels like ‘I have never said goodbye to my fans and I want to say goodbye properly”. Seeming to suggest the venue could be Aston Villa’s stadium Villa Park, she added: “We will do it in Aston Villa where Ozzy is from”.

“His voice is still absolutely perfect,” she continued. “And all the time he has been off, he still does his singing lessons, so his voice is perfect. And he can joke, yeah. He has all these melodies in his head. Even if you don’t like his music, you can’t not like Ozzy; he just draws you in.

Το άρθρο OZZY OSBOURNE: WANTS TO “SAY GOODBYE” TO FANS εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.