Black Sabbath Blending Familiar with Unexpected on New Album

Black Sabbath is resisting the temptation -- obvious though it may be -- to simply repeat their own winning formula, as original members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Ozzy Osbourne work to complete a long-hoped-for reunion album.

The trio, who co-founded Black Sabbath with departed drummer Bill Ward in 1969, took on the subject of fans' heightened expectations about their forthcoming album '13' in a newly released video trailer for the album, which is due in June.

“If you try to live up to the expectations of the past album," Butler admits, "then you just fail dismally." Butler, Iommi and Osbourne haven't recorded together since 1978's 'Never Say Die,' an album that capped a run of eight studio albums together after Black Sabbath reconfigured heavy rock with its 1970 self-titled release. Ronnie James Dio subsequently took over as frontman (kicking off a long parade of lineup changes), while Osbourne started his own celebrated solo career.

Osbourne acknowledges the pressure to live up to their own legacy, saying: "This Black Sabbath album is quite possibly the most important album of my career." But, at the same time, he echoes Butler's sentiments about keeping things fresh.

“I want it to sound current," Osbourne says in the video, "but yet still have that Sabbath vibe, ya know.”