Universal Music has set a December 12 U.K. release date for BLACK SABBATH's "The Vinyl Collection: 1970-1978", a limited-edition box set celebrating the iconic albums featuring the full original BLACK SABBATH lineup.

Details:

* 9×12" LP: full reproductions of the original album releases, remastered from the band's personal archives on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl. Included are the following titles: "Black Sabbath", "Paranoid", "Master Of Reality" (with poster), "Volume 4" (with photo insert book), "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", "Sabotage", "Technical Ecstasy", "Never Say Die", "Live At Last".

* 7" single: featuring the band's debut single, "Evil Woman", and non-album B-side "Wicked World".

* 12" x 12" hard-backed book: containing original tour programs from 1970, 1975, 1976 and 1978.

* Back to BLACK SABBATH download voucher: for easy download of the full set

* Includes an exclusive limited-edition 12×12 print of the box set design. Only 50 prints available.

Pre-orders are currently being accepted at this location.

BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi clarified the status of the band's new album in an interview with "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show". Although it has been reported that the band has recorded 15 songs, Iommi explained, "That's wrong . . . We've written 15 songs and we've played them all. But now, at the moment, we're recording them. We recorded them at my house first, in England, just as demos, but now we're doing them for real. So we're about six tracks in now, at the moment."

Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Geezer Butler are recording their first album together under the SABBATH name since 1978's "Never Say Die".

The drums on the disc are being handled by Tommy Clufetos, who has replaced founding drummer Bill Ward due to a contractual dispute between Ward and the rest of the group.

Asked if there is any chance of Ward rejoining the band, Iommi said, "We'll always have a heart for Bill, but I think it's gone past that now, because it's gone on so long that I don't see that happening at the moment. Maybe at some point we might [play together again]."

Meanwhile, SABBATH has announced an Australian tour for next April and has also revealed that it will headline the first-ever Japanese version of Ozzfest on May 11-12, with SLIPKNOT also on the bill.