BLACK SABBATH have been recording their long-awaited reunion (minus Bill Ward) album at Malibu's Shangri-La Studio with producer Rick Rubin (SLAYER, METALLICA). Original members Ozzy Osbourne - vocals, Tony Iommi - guitar, and Geezer Butler - bass, along with session drummer drummer Brad Wilk (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) are creating the group's first studio album - tentatively titled 13 - since 1978’s Never Say Die!

About the process Rick Rubin says: "My goal is to make something really great that I can listen to forever. That's the whole heart of it. The idea that we are making an album that can hopefully si alongside the best Black Sabbath albums is exciting ... we've worn out the old ones!"

Watch Rick Rubin talking about being in the studio with the metal godfathers below:

A three-minute teaser produced by Ozzy's son Jack was recently released below:

During the video, Sabbath's original members talk about the sessions and what they mean to their career:

Butler: "If you try to live up to the expectations of the past albums you'll fail dismally."

Iommi: "You can't always repeat what you've done, you just have to go on. It will be todays version of where it was 40 years ago I suppose. The last time we were in the studio together was 1978. It's different altogether now. We have much more of a thing going than we did in those days. The new material, I really like it."

Ozzy: I want it to sound current, but still have the Sabbath vibe you know. I'm really excited that Rick Rubin is doing it."

Iommi: "He's looking for a raw Sabbath and were looking for that as well."

Ozzy: "This Black Sabbath album is quite possibly the most important album of my career."

In a recent interview with David Browne from Rolling Stone, Osbourne describes the new album as "Satanic blues." New track titles include 'End Of The Beginning', 'Age Of Reason', 'God Is Dead' and 'Dear Father'.

13 will be released in June via Vertigo/Universal Republic in the US and Vertigo in all other territories. A North American tour is set for July and August, then the band will hit South America in October and Europe in November and December. In advance of the album’s release, Black Sabbath will head to New Zealand, Australia and Japan for a series of live performances. Additional tour plans will be revealed in the coming months.

Current Black Sabbath dates are below:

April

20 - Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
22 - Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
25 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre - Brisbane, Australia
27 - Allphones Arena - Sydney, Australia
29 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Australia

May

1 - Rod Laver Arena - Melbourne, Australia
4 - Perth Arena - Perth, Australia
7 - Entertainment Centre - Adelaide, Australia
12 - Ozzfest at Makuhari Messe - Chiba-shi, Chiba, Japan