The closing of the Black Sabbath era, with the death of singer Ozzy Osbourne, and his final appearance with the band before his passing not long afterwards, has led many of us to wonder what will be next for the surviving members moving forward. Drummer Bill Ward has basically retired. The same with bassist Geezer Butler, although I’m pretty sure he will occasionally apply his bass skills to future collaborations with his many musical friends. As for guitarist Tony Iommi, he is moving forward, with the recent release of his third solo album entitled From The Dark.
Produced by Iommi and Mike Exeter, From The Dark is everything that the title suggests, and what you would expect from the guitarist who arguably invented the heavy metal riff. The recording’s heavy and, yes, dark tones are represented in the way that have made Iommi so praised during his career. It’s his trademark. But this is not a totally instrumental album. Iommi assembled a very heavy cast to help him out, including the great bassist Becky Baldwin, who has recently handled bass duties with Mercyful Fate, as well as drummer Karl Brazil, a very well-seasoned British session drummer.
Landing the chore of vocalist is Norwegian power metal legend Jorn Lande, whose vocal style is a nice match for Iommi’s gargantuan guitar sound. He has worked with Iommi in the past, and his voice compliments the music quite well, as far as Mr. Iommi and I are concerned. The opening track, “Over the Violent Sun,” lays testament to this decision, and its brutal Sabbathesque guitar tone sets the tone as Lande’s thunderous growl hits you like a punch in the nose.
Iommi’s guitar tones are the real stars of this record naturally, but Baldwin’s thudding bass tone are the driver that steers this vehicle. Naturally, my head was brought back to the classic Sabbath and Heaven and Hell recordings, and those really were so bass-heavy, that the real pounding that my ears were gleefully feeling have always been because of this. “Beyond The Dead” is a prime example. Its plodding tempo brings to mind everything that I loved about Black Sabbath’s pounding catalog of classics, and Baldwin and Iommi seamlessly recreate that feeling.
“Stormwatcher” has Lande and Iommi delving into what the late Ronnie James Dio brought to Black Sabbath — the soaring vocal lines that lead to Iommi’s stinging lead guitar. This one updates it a bit, but it’s what this recording is all about, and I absolutely can’t help but cranking it up to 11! “Beyond the Dead” and its gloomy tone continue with this trend, and Lande brings his emotions to a climax with every line, before Iommi takes the song to yet another level. It even features contributions from Queen guitarist Brian May, longtime friend and admirer of Iommi. As far as I am concerned, it is a future heavy metal classic for all like-minded playlists.
“Return Of The Arbalist” which is about a medieval crossbow-handling warrior, is a full-on rocker that features Iommi cranking out what his fans have always expected from him. Huge chord changes, layered with giant, enhanced vocals, and the assault of the rhythm section that comes at you like a battering ram from start to finish. All stitched together with a lyric that brings you back to the days of knights, kings, and deadly battles.
From The Dark follows up that theme with the appropriately titled “Legacy” of which Iommi is, without a doubt, referred to as. It’s the closer, clocking in at over seven minutes as it builds its pace up to an inevitable acoustic guitar solo, that is eclipsed with Lande’s soulful vocals, which bring to mind the late Dio or even vintage David Coverdale, before being swallowed up by Iommi’s signature Gibson SG guitar sound, the one that all in heavy metal have tried to emulate. Iommi and company have successfully driven his classic sounds into the future with this one. My hope is that the late Ozzy Osbourne was able to get a listen to some of it before he passed. I’m sure he would agree with me that this one is very well done.
~ Jordan West
