BREAKING: Black Sabbath GUITARIST Tony Iommi Pi…read more.
When people talk about Black Sabbath’s golden era, most immediately think of the early days the Ozzy Osbourne years, the raw beginnings of heavy metal. But for guitarist Tony Iommi, the band’s true high point came much later in 2009, with the album The Devil You Know.
That record, released under the name Heaven & Hell, reunited Iommi with Ronnie James Dio, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Vinny Appice the same lineup behind Mob Rules and Dehumanizer. And in Iommi’s eyes, it captured something truly special.
“We were really proud of that album,” Iommi said. “It showed what we were capable of musically and emotionally. It felt like we were firing on all cylinders.”
What’s especially fascinating is how casually it all started. Iommi remembers being in Japan, having a few drinks with Dio, and blurting out an idea. “I just said, ‘Do you fancy doing an album?’” he recalled with a laugh. “It was as simple as that.” From that moment, things moved quickly and naturally.
The result was The Devil You Know, a dark, heavy, and hauntingly beautiful album that many fans still treasure. Tracks like “Bible Black” and “Fear” showcase Iommi’s signature riffs thunderous yet thoughtful while Dio’s voice cuts through with power and soul. It wasn’t about chasing radio hits. It was about creating something deep, something real.
“With Ronnie, we could explore more,” Iommi explained. “The songs were more complex, more layered. We weren’t limited we could just let the music breathe.”
Of course, Sabbath’s early records like Paranoid and Master of Reality will always be iconic. They were the birth of something new raw, groundbreaking, and unforgettable. But as Iommi sees it, the Dio era was where the band truly matured. It was less about chaos and more about craftsmanship.
And while The Devil You Know might not get the same mainstream attention as those early albums, Iommi believes it deserves its place at the top. “That album really captured what we had become. It felt complete,” he said.
Sadly, it would be the last full album with Ronnie James Dio before his passing in 2010. Looking back, the record now feels even more meaningful a final chapter from one of metal’s most powerful voices, and a band that had grown wiser, but no less fierce.
Tony Iommi’s reflections remind us that greatness doesn’t always lie in the beginning. Sometimes, it’s in the return when old friends find their rhythm again and make magic one more time.
“To me,” Iommi said, “The Devil You Know was Black Sabbath at its best.”
