The news you've been waiting for, Black Sabbath fans: The original Sabbath lineup -- Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward -- have reunited again to record a new album and embark on a tour. Did you just read that correctly? Yes, you did!

Iommi tells the U.K. newspaper the Birmingham Mail that he and Osbourne got together in June to start penning songs for a new Sabbath album set to drop next year. The disc would be the first album featuring the original lineup since 1978's 'Never Say Die!'

"It’s all been very hush-hush," reveals Iommi. "Ozzy’s been the worst at trying to hold it back. He’s doing a lot of TV and he’s being asked stuff about a reunion and he’s going ‘well I never say never.’"

Since June, the band has secretly been rehearsing songs for the new album and their classic tracks for a yet-to-be-announced tour. Iommi says it's been tough for him to keep the secret, as well:

"I had umpteen number of people on the phone asking if I fancied getting together with a band but I couldn’t tell them what I was doing," explains the guitarist. "I just had to say I was busy."

One drawback could be Ward's health. The drummer, who suffered a heart attack in the past and had a recent operation, is not up to full strength. "He hasn’t been 100 percent," says Iommi. "He had an operation a few months ago, so we’ll see how he is."

Still, the news of a Black Sabbath reunion is incredible. And, according to Iommi, the new material is a throwback to the band's classic sound.

"We’re really looking forward to it and I think the stuff we’ve been writing is really good," remarks the axe-man "It’s more back to the old original stuff."

So, get ready, music fans, the godfathers of heavy metal are back!

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