Legendary guitarist Tony Iommi unveiled his brand-new single, “Stormwatcher”, on September 30. The track is built around a trademark guitar riff from the man who served as the driving musical force behind BLACK SABBATH throughout the band’s celebrated career.
“Stormwatcher” explores a maritime theme, telling the story of a ship caught in a violent storm. The song is accompanied by a dramatic animated video that brings vocalist Jørn Lande’s lyrics and imagery vividly to life.
It channels something from within, something real”, Lande explains, describing how the lyrics tell a powerful story about struggles and sorrow as life voyages from birth to death, and beyond. “We are the captain of our own vessel, a ship crashing through unknown and sometimes challenging waters, always navigating forward, steering steady through every storm, driven by dreams of new horizons and longing for something new”.
One of the many highlights from Iommi’s forthcoming solo album, “From The Dark”, “Stormwatcher” captures the dark atmosphere and intense emotions that run throughout the record. Iommi is joined on the album by vocalist Jørn Lande, who shares songwriting credits across all tracks, alongside bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Karl Brazil.
Co-produced by Tony Iommi and longtime creative partner Mike Exeter, who has worked with him as a co-writer, producer and audio engineer, the album boasts a crystal-clear, vibrant and massive sound. It completely immerses the listener in a cutting-edge sonic experience that feels both modern and timeless.
Iommi says: “It’s an album we’ve really enjoyed making. We’re not trying to prove anything — it’s a great album, it rocks!”.
From the opening notes of “Over The Violent Sun”, driven by a classic down-tuned guitar riff from Tony Iommi and the dramatic vocal power of Jørn Lande, it becomes immediately clear that “From The Dark” is a remarkable album that stands proudly alongside the most impressive entries in Iommi’s catalog. “Black Times” keeps the momentum going with a devastating, no-nonsense attack, before giving way to the barnstorming first single “World Alone”. The fourth track, “Beyond The Dead”, shifts the mood, combining a stately, sinister riff with sweeping orchestration to create an epic atmosphere.
The existential themes running through Lande’s lyrics, filled with dystopian imagery and reflections on the fleeting nature of human existence, are a defining element of the album. This is particularly evident on “Stormwatcher”, where nautical metaphors and visions of new horizons add depth to its powerful atmosphere. One of the album’s standout moments, “Stormwatcher” is followed by the equally dramatic “Death Wake”, with the music and lyrics coming together to paint a vivid picture of a life stripped of love and humanity.
The final two tracks on “From The Dark”, the fiery intensity of “Return Of The Arbalist” and the truly epic, kaleidoscopic “Legacy,” perfectly showcase the power and drama, as well as the light and darkness, that run throughout the album. Arriving a year after BLACK SABBATH’s final-ever performance at the 2025 “Back To The Beginning” concert in Birmingham, the record proves that Tony Iommi’s creative fire is still burning brighter than ever. “From The Dark” is undoubtedly one of the standout rock albums released this year.
“From the Dark” tracklisting
01. Over The Violent Sun
02. Black Times
03. World Alone
04. Beyond The Dead
05. Stormwatcher
06. Death Wake
07. Return Of The Arbalist
08. Legacy
09. Scent Of Dark (exclusive bonus track)
10. Deified (extended version) (exclusive bonus track)
