A new book in The Blackwell Philosophy And Pop Culture Series, entitled BLACK SABBATH And Philosophy: Mastering Reality, is now available (Amazon order link below).

A book description reads: Black Sabbath is one of the world's most influential and enduring rock bands. Dubbed "THE BEATLES of heavy metal" by Rolling Stone, they helped to define a genre with classic songs like 'Paranoid', 'Iron Man', and 'War Pigs', songs whose lyrics reveal hidden depth and philosophical insight. Their songs confront existential despair, social instability, political corruption, the horrors of war, and the nature of evil. This book explores the wide range of profound ideas in the band's music and lyrics to help you understand Black Sabbath as never before.

Discusses and debates essential Black Sabbath topics and themes, such as the problem of evil, 'War Pigs' and the nature of just war theory, whether or not Sabbath is still Sabbath without Ozzy, and whether "evil is in the ear of the beholder".

Gives you new perspectives on Black Sabbath's music and lyrics. Provides a deeper appreciation and understanding of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Ronnie James Dio. Brings some of history's heaviest thinkers to bear on the band's music, from Aristotle and Nietzsche to Schopenhauer and Marx.

The reunited Black Sabbath are currently working on their first full studio album since 1978's Never Say Die with Rick Rubin (METALLICA, SLAYER) at the production helm. All was quiet until last week when Sharon Osbourne has told Australian Triple M that Black Sabbath will “definitely” be touring there in spring next year. So what's up with the studio album? Metal Injection has a new report below:

"Almost a year after announcing their reunion, Black Sabbath are hard at work in the studio working on their first new album in 33+ years at Shangri La Studios in Malibu and we have some exclusive info on the progress.

My buddy (and fellow SiriusXM Liquid Metal DJ) Jose Mangin went down to the studio to record audio snippets for OZZY OSBOURNE's SiriusXM channel, Ozzy's Boneyard, and was accompanied by RockMyWalls.com photographer, Sonny Guillen. Sonny was nice enough to give us a few tidbits of information about the status of the new album.

The band is currently in the studio recording vocals with Rick Rubin. There are 15 songs that have been written, and according to Geezer Butler, 12 of them will make the record, most likely with the additional three serving as bonus tracks for different special editions.

Apparently, guitarist Tony Iommi completed all 15 guitar tracks during the band's sessions in England earlier this year, and judging by the way most bands record, that would mean drums are done as well. Ozzy and Geezer are working to complete the tracks in five song increments, with the first five being worked on currently.

Ozzy is tracking vocals, with bassist Geezer Butler writing all the lyrics. One song title has been confirmed and it's 'God Is Dead'.

As for guitarist Tony Iommi, Ozzy mentioned that he spoke to Iommi recently and he is in good sprits and recovery is coming along very well from his cancer scare earlier this year.

Snippets of Jose's interview with Ozzy and Geezer will begin airing on Ozzy's Boneyard (SiriusXM 38) starting next week. You can get a free 30 day trial to SiriusXM by signing up here.

Below is a photo of Jose presenting Ozzy with his branded Affliction shirt."