Musikk
EXCLUSIVE: How Jorn Lande became the voice of Black Sabbath legend Tony Iommi’s new album
The untold story behind Tony Iommi‘s long-awaited solo album – and how two songs convinced the Black Sabbath legend to abandon his original vision and build the entire project around one voice.
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When Rockman revealed earlier this week that Norwegian powerhouse vocalist Jorn Lande is not only the lead singer but also co-writer on every track of Tony Iommi’s forthcoming solo album From The Dark, the news immediately generated excitement among rock and metal fans across Norway—and far beyond. That announcement alone was remarkable.
A Norwegian singer taking center stage on the first solo album from the legendary Black Sabbath guitarist in more than two decades is, by any measure, historic. But behind the official announcement lies a story that has never been told.
A story about how the first two songs completely changed Tony Iommi‘s original plans. About how a collaboration that began more than twenty years ago finally came full circle. About friendship, patience, mutual respect—and a creative partnership that evolved into one of the most exciting hard rock projects of recent years.
In this exclusive interview with Rockman, Jorn Lande shares the full story for the very first time.
He reveals how Tony Iommi originally envisioned a completely different album. How the first recordings transformed the entire project. How riffs, melodies and lyrics developed side by side. And why he considers this the greatest achievement of his entire career.
– The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Every great story has a beginning.
This one didn’t start inside a recording studio. It began at Jorn Lande‘s kitchen table.
When the phone rang, he sensed that something special might be about to happen.
Yet even then, he found it difficult to believe it was actually becoming reality.
«I was surprised—and incredibly happy. Of course I had hoped something like this might happen one day. But after Black Sabbath called it a day, I honestly thought that opportunity had probably passed.»
That single phone call marked the beginning of a journey that would last nearly two years.
A journey that had to remain completely secret.
– A Story That Actually Began More Than Twenty Years Ago
To many fans, Tony Iommi and Jorn Lande’s collaboration may appear to have come out of nowhere. In reality, its roots stretch back more than two decades.
Back in 2004, Jorn was invited to Tony Iommi‘s home, where he and Tony—as well as Tony‘s wife Maria—began writing material intended for what was then planned as a solo album. Some of the ideas were also being considered for what would eventually become the Heaven & Hell project.
Then everything changed. Ronnie James Dio returned. The solo project was put on hold.
«As we all know, that collaboration never happened because Ronnie came back, and the Heaven & Hell project was born with him.»
Although those recordings never became a finished album, the friendship between the two musicians never faded. Quite the opposite.
– «We always stayed in touch.»
After the passing of Ronnie James Dio in 2010, Jorn was invited to perform at the memorial concert in London’s Victoria Park—a moment that strengthened his relationship with Tony even further.
Over the years they continued talking.
Every now and then, the same sentence would return.
«We have to do an album together sometime.»
There were no headlines.
No press releases.
Just a dream quietly shared between two musicians who deeply respected one another.
Jorn hoped that one day it would become reality.
He simply never knew if that day would actually come.
– The Two Songs That Changed Everything
When Tony Iommi finally reached out again, he wasn’t looking for a permanent singer.
In fact, his vision was something entirely different.
The original concept was to create an album combining instrumental pieces with several guest vocalists. But then something unexpected happened.
After Jorn and Tony completed the first two songs together, everything changed.
«After we had finished those first two songs, Tony wanted to continue working together. He moved away from the original idea of an instrumental album with several different singers.»
This wasn’t a minor adjustment.
It was a complete change of direction.
«Tony felt those first two songs set the bar for the entire project. After that, there was really only one thing left to do—we just kept going.»
That decision says perhaps more than anything else about the confidence Tony Iommi had developed in the Norwegian singer.
From The Dark was no longer becoming an album featuring multiple voices. It became an album built around one.
Jorn Lande.
And with that decision came an enormous responsibility.
For Jorn, this wasn’t simply another recording session.
He was about to write—and sing—alongside the man widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of heavy metal.
– «I Felt the Pressure»
With Tony Iommi‘s decision came an enormous sense of responsibility. For Jorn, this wasn’t simply another studio project. He was about to write songs and record vocals alongside the man many consider the architect of heavy metal itself.
«I definitely felt the pressure.»
Yet those nerves quickly gave way to confidence.
From the very beginning, Tony made one thing clear: he didn’t want Jorn to imitate anyone—not even the classic Black Sabbath vocalists. Instead, he wanted him to be himself.
«The wonderful thing about Tony was that he wanted me to write from the heart, just as I do with my own material.»
That philosophy became the foundation of the entire album. Rather than receiving fully completed songs, Jorn was sent recordings containing guitar riffs and drum-machine tracks.
From there, he built the vocal melodies, lyrics and arrangements organically.
«Tony’s music has always been part of my DNA, so everything felt incredibly natural. The vocal melodies came almost effortlessly.»
What began as a songwriting collaboration soon developed into something much deeper than either musician had originally imagined.
– When Tony Iommi changing his own riffs
For most songwriters, the idea would seem almost unimaginable. Tony Iommi has written some of the most influential guitar riffs in rock history. From «Paranoid» and «Iron Man» to «Heaven and Hell», generations of musicians have studied the unique way he constructs songs.
That’s precisely why one particular aspect of their collaboration surprised Jorn more than anything else.
He wasn’t simply invited to sing.
He became a genuine creative partner.
«Tony would send me ideas with riffs and drum programming—some more complete than others. From there I wrote the melodies and lyrics.»
There were no rigid rules.
No ego.
No creative barriers.
Ideas were allowed to evolve naturally.
As the writing process continued, Jorn discovered something unexpected. The two musicians approached songwriting in remarkably similar ways.
«What surprised me the most was how similarly we actually worked. We matched each other incredibly well throughout the writing process.»
Inside the studio, Tony might play a riff repeatedly while Jorn experimented with vocal ideas.
Sometimes the words didn’t even matter.
«I’d often sing complete nonsense—just to find the rhythm and melody. Just like we used to do when we were kids writing songs in rehearsal rooms.»
It was spontaneous.
Instinctive.
Completely free.
Then came the moment Jorn never expected.
«The biggest surprise of all was that Tony automatically started changing his own riffs and arrangements to fit my vocal melodies.»
For someone who grew up idolising Tony Iommi, that moment meant everything.
«I never expected that. It made me feel respected—as an equal partner in the creative process.»
It was no longer about adding vocals to someone else’s album. They were building the music together.
– Humour, spontaneity and real rock
Despite the enormous expectations surrounding the project, Jorn remembers the recording sessions as relaxed, creative and surprisingly humorous.
Behind the crushing riffs and dark atmosphere was a studio filled with laughter.
One particular memory still makes him smile.
Whenever he wanted to test a new melody, he couldn’t simply stand still behind the microphone.
He had to perform it.
«I’d jump out onto the studio floor with the microphone and sing toward an imaginary audience standing against the wall. I like to immerse myself completely in the song.»
Tony watched everything unfold from the control room. Then came the joke.
«He told me that next time I came over, he’d wallpaper the entire wall with a concert audience. ‘Haha… you’re on stage now!'»
Both burst into laughter.
But beneath the humour was genuine appreciation.
«He loved seeing that level of commitment because that’s how the songs truly came alive.»
«If there had been a fly on the wall, it probably would have wondered what on earth was going on.»
– Nearly Two Years of Complete Silence
While rock fans around the world eagerly waited to hear what Tony Iommi would do next, Jorn Lande was carrying one of the biggest secrets of his career.
The project stretched across almost two years.
During that time, much of the rest of his professional life had to be put on hold.
«I invested an incredible amount of time in this album. That meant putting many other things aside—without being able to explain why.»
Keeping everything secret proved almost as demanding as recording the album itself.
«Another challenge was making absolutely sure that nothing about the collaboration leaked before the official announcement.»
For an artist accustomed to sharing new music with fans, remaining silent for so long was unfamiliar territory. But secrecy was essential.
Only after the album had been completed—and its release was finally announced—could Jorn begin talking openly about the project that had occupied nearly two years of his life.
– «The Greatest Thing You Can Achieve»
Throughout an extraordinary career, Jorn Lande has worked with some of rock and metal’s most respected musicians. He has built a reputation as one of Europe’s premier hard rock vocalists.
Yet he places From The Dark above everything else.
«Only now is it really beginning to sink in.»
He explains that during the recording sessions he was so focused on delivering his absolute best performance that he barely had time to reflect on who he was actually working alongside.
«My entire focus was simply on doing the best job I possibly could.»
Only once everything had been completed did the emotions begin to surface.
«Now that the music is finally coming out and everything is becoming real, I feel an overwhelming sense of pride, gratitude and humility for having been part of this.»
For Jorn, the album represents far more than another chapter in an already remarkable career.
It is the fulfilment of a dream that began more than twenty years earlier—with a friendship, a shared respect, and a promise that one day they would make an album together.
– Songs That Found Their Own Identity
As the collaboration evolved, so did the album itself.
For Jorn, the goal was never to imitate anyone—not even the iconic singers historically associated with Tony Iommi. Instead, he wanted to stay true to both the music and his own artistic identity.
«Tony wanted me to write from the heart, just as I do with my own material. That made the entire process both inspiring and completely natural.»
The result is an album that blends Tony Iommi‘s unmistakable guitar universe with Jorn Lande‘s melodic signature and lyrical style.
Throughout the writing process, both musicians challenged one another creatively without either compromising their own musical identity.
«We took the time the songs needed. Neither of us wanted shortcuts. Everything had to feel right.»
Perhaps that’s why From The Dark feels less like a collection of studio recordings and more like an album that developed organically—one where every song earned its place.
– A Future Classic
When the conversation turns to his favourite track on the album, Jorn doesn’t hesitate for long.
Although he emphasizes that several songs are deeply meaningful to him, one stands above the rest.
«If I have to choose one, it would be ‘Stormwatcher.’ It represents the magic of our collaboration and means a great deal to me personally. It’s an absolute monster of a song—and I genuinely believe it’s a future classic.»
He also singles out another track that he believes will surprise listeners.
«‘Beyond The Dead’ is probably going to catch a lot of people off guard.»
According to Jorn, it’s one of the heaviest compositions on the album.
«It’s massive and incredibly heavy, but at the same time it’s a little different. The lyrics go very deep and deal with something many people will relate to.»
– When Brian May Entered the Picture
One of the album’s most remarkable moments features a guest appearance from Queen legend Brian May.
For Jorn, it was an unforgettable experience.
«Magical. When you’re holding that long vocal note leading into the guitar solo, and suddenly it’s Brian May coming in… it almost feels spiritual.»
That simple description says a great deal about the extraordinary calibre of musicians brought together on From The Dark. For rock fans, the combination of Tony Iommi, Brian May and Jorn Lande on the same record is almost surreal.
For Jorn himself, it became another reminder of just how special this project truly is.
– Hearing the Finished Album
After nearly two years of writing, recording, refining and maintaining complete secrecy, the moment finally arrived. The finished master was complete. For Jorn, the feeling was almost impossible to describe.
«It felt like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Norway’s National Day all rolled into one! Hearing the finished album for the first time was incredible. Everything was finally set in stone, and I could truly appreciate what we’d accomplished.»
For the first time, he wasn’t listening to rough demos or unfinished recordings.
He was hearing the album exactly as the world would soon hear it.
– What Does He Hope Fans Will Take Away From the Album?
When From The Dark finally reaches listeners around the world, Jorn hopes fans will experience one thing above all else.
«Goosebumps—and the irresistible urge to rock.»
It’s a simple answer.
But it perfectly captures what the album ultimately represents. Despite nearly two years of painstaking work, detailed arrangements and creative collaboration, the goal never changed.
To create music that moves people.
Music that hits both the heart and the soul.
– More Than Just Another Album
Throughout our conversation, one feeling keeps returning. Gratitude. Not only for being invited to sing on Tony Iommi’s first solo album in more than twenty years.
But for being welcomed into the creative process by one of the musicians he admired most while growing up. When asked what Tony’s trust has meant to him, the answer isn’t found in a single quote.
It’s woven through the entire story.
It’s about friendship.
Mutual respect.
Creative equality.
And the realization that a dream once considered impossible somehow became reality.
For the young boy who grew up listening to Black Sabbath records, this story would have sounded unbelievable. Today, it has become part of his own life.
– «This Album Is the Real Deal»
From The Dark will be released worldwide on October 23.
When we ask Jorn if he has one final message for everyone eagerly awaiting the album, he answers without hesitation.
«This album is the real deal—true craftsmanship, made the way genuine rock music is meant to be made.»
And after hearing the story behind it…
It’s hard not to share that excitement.
We certainly do.
Album Facts
Artist: Tony Iommi
Album: From The Dark
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Label: BMG
Featuring:
- Tony Iommi – guitars
- Jorn Lande – lead vocals, co-songwriter
- Becky Baldwin – bass
- Karl Brazil – drums
- Special guest: Brian May
Produced by Tony Iommi and Mike Exeter.
Watch the First Music Video
The video for the first single unfolds in a retro-futuristic dystopian world where the main character, The Believer, is thrown into a twisted video game, fighting for survival in search of redemption.
Listen on Spotify
The first single is now available on all streaming.
Read More on Rockman:
Jorn Lande Announced as Vocalist on Tony Iommi’s New Solo Album
Jorn Lande – A Norwegian Vocal Legend in a League of His Own
The Ultimate Guide to Active Norwegian Rock Bands
The Best New Norwegian Rock Songs of 2026
Editor’s Note
This exclusive interview with Jorn Lande was conducted by Rockman editor Knut Eirik Myhre and is published in English for Rockman’s international audience.
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