Tony Iommi explains the relaxed recording process behind new solo album From The Dark

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has opened up about the making of his new solo album “From The Dark”, due October 23 through BMG. In an interview with Brent Porche of Philadelphia radio station 93.3 WMMR, Iommi explained that the project took shape without the deadlines and touring commitments that traditionally accompanied a Black Sabbath record.

Well, I’ve been busy doing a lot of other stuff, of course, when we were doing the Sabbath thing, and I’ve done a couple of other projects. And so I thought, well, yeah, it’d be nice to do another solo album. It’s been 21 years. [Laughs] So, yeah, I’ve enjoyed it, and I’ve taken me time doing it. Like, when we do a Sabbath album, it’s always you’ve got a certain time to do it, then you’ve gotta record it, and then you’re touring. In this case, there’s no pressure. I’ve been able to do it when I want. I’ve got my own studio here [at home]. So I just come over and I start working on putting ideas down.

The guitarist worked with longtime collaborator Mike Exeter, often setting aside Mondays and Tuesdays for recording. Those sessions could be postponed whenever either musician had other commitments, making the process unusually flexible.

“We’d work around each other, and then just come in and start putting ideas down. So it was all very casual,” Iommi recalled.

The album was initially conceived as an instrumental project. Iommi recorded four or five instrumental tracks before deciding he would rather work with a singer and beginning a new set of riffs with vocals in mind.

Well, how this started, really, was I started doing an instrumental. I was gonna do an instrumental album, so I put about four or five tracks down instrumentally. And then I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t know. I think I’d like to do an album with a vocalist.’ So I put them on one side and then started writing riffs for a vocalist. And that’s how it sort of started, really. And it’s gone on. I haven’t… The good thing about this album, there’s been no pressure. I haven’t had to go out on tour. I haven’t had to have it done by a certain time. So I was allowed to be able to take my time on it and live with some of the ideas. So what I’d do, I’d say to Mike Exeter, who’s been with me for, like, 30 years, I’d say, ‘Let’s work on a Monday and Tuesday,’ ’cause he’s obviously producing other things. And so we always used to put Monday and Tuesday on the side every week, and then if something cropped up, we wouldn’t work, if he’s busy or I’m busy or doing something else. So we’d work around each other, and then just come in and start putting ideas down. So it was all very casual.

Norwegian singer Jørn Lande provides vocals and shares songwriting credits throughout the album. Becky Baldwin plays bass and Karl Brazil drums, while Iommi and Exeter co-produced the record. Iommi wrote the music and Lande developed the lyrics.

Iommi had previously worked with Lande at a tribute to Ronnie James Dio, where the singer performed several Black Sabbath songs. He felt Lande’s voice was a natural match for his guitar style.

Two songs have already been released from “From The Dark”: “World Alone” and “Stormwatcher”. Chaoszine previously covered the latter single. The album arrives on Friday, October 23.