Music

Tony Iommi – Black Times

Tony Iommi returns with “Black Times”, a fresh release that gives fans one more song to add to their playlists.

Dark periods in life can shape the way people understand the world, and Tony Iommi places that idea at the centre of Black Times, a track on his 2026 album From the Dark. The title suggests difficult days, though its precise meaning rests on the lyrics.

“Black times” is a phrase people may use for periods marked by loss, uncertainty or repeated setbacks. It can refer to a private struggle or a wider moment when events seem to move in the wrong direction. In a rock context, the phrase also leaves room for a more dramatic interpretation, but the title by itself cannot establish the story being told. The words of the song are what determine whether the focus is personal, social or symbolic.

Iommi is widely recognised as the guitarist and founding member of Black Sabbath, a band central to the development of heavy metal. From the Dark was released on 23 October 2026 through BMG and marks his first solo album in more than two decades. Norwegian vocalist Jørn Lande shares songwriting credits across the album, which was co-produced by Iommi and his long-time collaborator Mike Exeter.

The contrast in the title is worth considering: “times” makes the darkness a period rather than a permanent state. That wording can leave room for the possibility that circumstances change, even if the people living through them cannot see the way forward at first. It frames hardship as something experienced over time rather than an identity.

Listeners drawn to rock that deals with struggle and uncertainty may find the title a useful entry point. Its full weight depends on the way the lyrics connect that darkness to a specific experience, but the phrase is familiar to anyone who has had to endure a difficult chapter.