Review TONY IOMMI “From the Dark”

Anyone landing on this blog already knows Tony Iommi. The legendary guitarist didn’t just influence an entire genre with his riffs, playing, and passion—alongside Black Sabbath, he helped lay the foundation for heavy metal itself. As we all know, Black Sabbath eventually called it a day after the The End tour and their final, historic show in Birmingham. But the music lives on.

That made the anticipation in the heavy metal community all the more palpable when Iommi announced From the Dark, his new solo album. The guitarist still seems to have plenty of creative fuel left in the tank, and the fact that those ideas have now taken shape as a full-length record is welcome news.

The first single, “World Alone,” gave us two early clues about what to expect. First, From the Dark has plenty going for it. Second, Iommi may have found the right voice for this chapter of his solo career in Jørn Lande. The Norwegian singer’s voice has long drawn comparisons to the late Ronnie James Dio, and with Lande behind the mic, From the Dark occasionally carries a hint of the Black Sabbath sound from the Dio era without becoming a nostalgia exercise. The record remains firmly its own thing.

From the Dark is Iommi’s first solo album since 2005’s Fused, and once again puts his heavy riffs front and center. At the same time, the production and arrangements give the material a contemporary punch, something that becomes clear right away on “World Alone.”

The album also sounds like it was allowed to develop without a stopwatch hanging over it. There are plenty of small details and carefully placed musical touches throughout, and tracks such as the dark, melodic “Death Wake” benefit from that attention. And yes, if you think you hear another guitar taking the lead at one point, you’re right. None other than Queen guitarist Brian May contributes a solo, adding another layer to an already compelling track. It’s a rare chance to hear two players with such distinctive styles share the same musical space after May also contributing to the Headless Cross album.

The album title already points toward the atmosphere Iommi is exploring. From the Dark builds eight songs around shadowy soundscapes, and that journey starts with the opener, “Over the Violent Sun.” The track hits with considerable weight, driven by one of those unmistakable Iommi riffs that immediately establishes the mood. Lande’s vocals add a more dramatic dimension, making the opener the first of several excursions into the darker side of the album. “Black Times” continues that journey.

“Black Times” is a highly atmospheric piece. The song wraps itself around the listener in a gray veil of melancholy while revealing subtle details with each pass. Rather than relying solely on heaviness, Iommi leaves room for texture and atmosphere, giving the track a character of its own.

“Beyond the Dead” explores the line between life and death, a theme that fits naturally within the album’s darker framework. It’s an epic doom-leaning track built on ominous riffs and Lande’s dramatic delivery. Coming after the comparatively fast-paced “World Alone,” the shift in tempo works well, giving the album another dimension without disrupting its overall momentum.

Life can be compared to a voyage at sea, and sooner or later, storms are bound to appear. That idea forms the lyrical backbone of “Stormwatcher,” a song that works its way into the subconscious with a steady, hypnotic force. As the album’s second single, it takes a very different approach from “World Alone,” slowing the pace considerably. Listen closely and you can almost feel the rough seas, the weight of the waves, and the struggle against the wind. It’s a track where the music and storytelling complement each other naturally.

Alongside the previously mentioned “World Alone,” “Return of the Arbalist” ranks among the shorter tracks on From the Dark. Once again, Iommi’s thunderous riffing provides the foundation, but there’s also a touch of a Rainbow-like hard rock feel running through the song. It’s a fiery track, and Iommi’s solo provides another strong focal point. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear this one emerge as another single. Together with the two songs already released, it captures a broad slice of what From the Dark has to offer.

The album’s closing statement is “Legacy,” a title that carries a certain weight—especially when the lyrics touch on the idea of leaving something behind. But rather than overanalyzing the title, it’s better to focus on the music itself.

Darkness and drama converge in this carefully constructed finale. A melancholy atmosphere runs through the track, which moves between spacious passages, an emotional middle section, and heavier doom-driven eruptions. The arrangement gives the song room to breathe before pulling the listener back into Iommi’s heavier territory.

“Legacy” is one of those tracks that reveals more with repeated listens. Its atmosphere settles in slowly, and the details become easier to appreciate each time around. By the end of the first listen, it’s hard not to want to hear it again.

From the Dark delivers what fans of Iommi’s solo work have been waiting for. Tony Iommi has found an excellent vocal partner in Jørn Lande, who also contributes as a co-writer, helping shape the songs rather than simply performing them. The result is an album rooted in Iommi’s unmistakable guitar language while giving those riffs a fresh setting—and proving that there are still plenty of dark places left for him to explore musically.