Black Sabbath reunite with Ozzy

Ozzy Osbourne is rejoining Black Sabbath for the first time since 1979. Photo / Supplied

Legendary heavy metal act Black Sabbath are reuniting with their original line-up for a new album and world tour.

Music magazine NME reported Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler announced their plans at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles - the venue of the British metallers' first ever US show 41 years ago.

Osbourne, who was kicked out of the band in 1979 for alcoholism, said simply: "It was time."

"The timing was right," Iommi added. "It's now or never for us ... We're getting on great."

NME reported the band had recorded new material with producer Rick Rubin, and the band said the songs harked back "to the old Sabbath style and sound".

Their first show since reuniting will be at the Download festival in June.

The British metallers, who formed in Birmingham in 1968, have been named the Greatest Metal Band of all time by MTV.

After Osbourne was fired, the band toured and recorded with Ronnie James Dio. He died in May last year.

Black Sabbath have sold more than 70 million albums.

- Herald online