Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi has revealed that the group had written a bunch of material for a new album, before deciding to abandon the project that would follow up from their 2013 album, 13.
The SG guitar shredder, who has created his own signature Epiphone, told Q that he had “so many riffs” ready.
He explained that Geezer Butler, Sabbath’s bassist, wasn’t too keen on pursuing another album at the time, "I wrote a whole load of stuff for another album, and we met up in L.A. but the others ... well, Geezer didn't particularly want to do another album."
Iommi explained that the band had reached an impasse, “After you've just had a Number One album, where do you go from there? For the last LP, we did record 16 songs so we may still put something out from that. We don't know yet."
With regards to touring, Iommi expressed his desire to keep playing, "It's the touring, really… I'd love to do something with the guys. But, whatever happens, I will do something."
Earlier this month, Ozzy Osbourne, the band’s lead singer and bat head biter shot down rumours of the band releasing any more new material on the basis that they were ‘too old’.
Speaking to Gigwise about the potential of a new record, Iommi said that "it could happen."
"We've got some tracks that we recorded before with Rick Rubin in LA," he replied. "When we did our last album we made 16 tracks, but we only put eight on the album so there are tracks there that could possibly show their face at some point."
Nevertheless, the band will be headlining the UK’s Download Festival 2016 with Iron Maiden and Rammstein.
Download Festival 2016 takes place at Donington Park, Leicestershire between 10-12 June. Tickets are on sale now, and you can buy them here.
