Review by Michael on October 23, 2026.

When Tony Iommi announced that he was going to release a new solo album, I got really excited, probably like many other heavy metal fans. Soon, discussions about his companions began, especially about who would handle the vocals. Rumours that Tony Martin, former vocalist of Black Sabbath, or Rob Lowe, who sang for Solitude Aeturnus and Candlemass, might be involved started circulating, but the job eventually went to Jørn Lande, a Norwegian vocalist who might not be the best-known guy in the scene. With Becky Baldwin, we have a very talented woman on bass (she's also doing a great job with Mercyful Fate, actually), and Karl Brazil on drums (who has toured with James Blunt and Robbie Williams).

That sounds like quite an obscure combination of musicians, but from the very first note of "From The Dark", you instantly fall in love with it. The Hand of Doom hasn't forgotten a single classic doom riff, and listening to this album feels like travelling back to the good old Black Sabbath era when they released "Headless Cross" or "Cross Purposes". Many of those doomy yet somehow rather light-hearted vibes can be found throughout the songs, and you certainly can't compare this album to the Ozzy-fronted records.

Of course, there are some gloomier tunes as well, such as the opener, "Over The Violent Sun," a slow, dragging doom monster with such crushing heaviness that it blows you away. By comparison, "World Alone" is quite fast and almost a rock song. But on every track, you can hear Tony Iommi's unmistakable guitar signature. I guess I don't need to lecture anyone about his skills here.

The more crucial question is whether and how his bandmates manage to make their mark. Becky Baldwin's bass playing fits Tony's guitar work perfectly, and it sounds as if they had been playing together for many, many years. Together, they create a wonderfully cohesive, dark, and threatening atmosphere, and I guess even Geezer Butler wouldn't have done a better job here.

The drums also sound exactly as doom metal drums should: powerful, energetic, and delivered with the timing of the Grim Reaper's scythe. I was actually very surprised when I read about Karl Brazil's musical background. I wouldn't have guessed his career history in a thousand years!

But the biggest surprise for me is vocalist Jørn Lande, who has a distinctive voice of his own. Here and there, though, you're reminded of Tony Martin (especially when he hits the higher notes), and at times he even sounds like a more sonorous version of Ronnie James Dio. He's incredibly skilled and handles both the heavier vocal lines and more balladic passages, such as "Death Wake," with ease. This is fantastic, just like the rest of the album.

I could write several paragraphs about every song here, as there's so much to say. But let me assure you that every track is a jewel, and not a single one falls off the edge of the album (sorry for the Sabbatical pun). I don't know how the two bonus tracks on the special CD edition sound, but from the first track to the eighth, this is simply amazing. I'd say "From The Dark" is the best doom metal album in many years and another highlight in Tony Iommi's magnificent discography.

Rating: 10 out of 10 - straight from the dark!