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"Magica"
Dio |
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One of metal's true reigning kings, Ronnie James Dio arrives back on the scene with his first new studio album in four years! "Magica" is a sonic spectacle that recalls the best work of his past. a conceptually majestic piece modeled after the book of spells of the same name. "Magica" sees a return back to the gothic/fantasy realm of years past concurrent with the welcoming back of some old friends that add further to the new dimensions of sight and sound only a wizard the likes of Dio could conjure. Along with legendary bassist Jimmy Bain and returning drummer Simon Wright, Craig Goldy, recognized for his stellar work on 87's exquisite underachiever "Dream Evil," rejoins the fold to lend a little of his own six string alchemy to the mix. "Magica" tells a spiritual tale that walks through the deep resources of the human mind. a surreal presentation, broken into several intriguing chapters where each song compliments the other in comprising the whole, yet stands alone equally as effectively. The mechanized introduction sets the stage for "Magica's" opening sequence before giving way to "Lord of the Last Day," which enters the picture in a dark and plodding fashion. "Fever Dreams" and "Turn to Stone" are two similarly fashioned successors, imposing a great will amidst an ax-ground tone-heavily set in stature alongside mid-range beats where much of the song structures lie. The further we go flipping through the pages or tracks here, one thing is certain. Where Dio's more recent work could be placed in a more black and white context, "Magica" is a return to the vivid imagery that peaks through the overcast. A harmonious mix of melody and might that slides freely along the glimmering rainbow of hope that separates magic and mayhem. good and evil. Released by Spitfire
Records. Reviewed by Vinnie Apicella |
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The Very Beast of Dio Dio |
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Holy Dio! I already love it… this one covers all the vintage stuff from the beginning from "Holy Diver" to "Strange Highways…" or basically the prime years before the world went on hiatus and wasn't truly ready to accept that fantastic musical journeys also had a place in the 1990's… not to discount the next couple of albums but they're still a little too recent to really be considered classics at this stage of the game-though there are probably some "Magica" listeners who would wholeheartedly disagree. "Stand Up & Shout," right off the bat, makes everything right again in the rock world. "The Very Beast Of…" takes a lengthy trip through the magic and mysticism that the man first envisioned since breaking off from the likes of Rainbow and Sabbath to form what would simply become known as "Dio" to millions of metal fans. "Holy Diver," of course his original and best release, is felt immediately; timeless as ever and done with perfect clarity-yes sir, that Rhino Phonic sound certainly does work in mysterious ways! The band Dio has obviously held many shapes over the years and varying degrees of opinion will surface as to which if any, were better than another, but the one constant was always the quality of musicianship and that voice… and this man's ability to bring a listener away from the harsh reality of everyday life and into another world where spirits soar and demons and dragons live together in perfect harmony… or something to that effect. Musically, Dio's never strayed very far from his heavy metal roots. His mood changed from time to time, reflected briefly during some of his more tenuous times occurring and later following his brief return to Black Sabbath-but a necessary "evil" nonetheless. Granted, there's been an off album or two, a corny song lyric or pretentious message here or there but for nearly two decades now, as Dio, there's been a model of consistency few bands can boast. "Rainbow in the Dark," is still as glorious as it ever was. No real secrets or surprises here on this comp… everyone's expectations will be met if not exceeded by the phenomenal sound that really delivers the old stuff into the present! There's even the appearance of "Man on the Silver Mountain" (Live) that only previously became known as one third of the original medley first heard on "Intermission" back in '87. And those hearty backing vocs during the chorus of "We Rock…" how can anyone ever let this music die? The focal point of the "…Beast" is undoubtedly and rightfully Dio's golden years during the '80s and those many classics he delivered for WB, where each of the first three records boasts three to four songs each for all us rock and roll children to play with… loudly! But one of the many highlights which were too often ignored back in the day, "Dream Evil," the signaling of slightly more darker days ahead for what was a previously brightly colored phenomenon, and the title track, and only single "I Could Have Been a Dreamer" make the cut here. For those still unfamiliar with new Dio album, "Magica," the latest addition of guitarist Craig Goldy back to the fold brings the fantastic sound first forged on "Dream Evil" back to the forefront… and dazzling and brilliant though it was, where's "Night People?" Okay well something's gotta give to make room for the "Man on the Mountain" right, but easily one of his best ever songs should get its just due-so its here in spirit I'm sure! "Lock Up the Wolves" and "Strange Highways," bring this latest chapter to a close… but for an artist like Dio, it never really closes, it just disappears for a short and waits for the right time to descend on an only too welcoming material world. "The Very Beast of Dio," aside from revisiting the gifted Vivian Campbell back when his guitar playing meant something, also features some insightful background by way of a photogenic insert booklet that covers the band album for album, compliment for compliment and leaves off in true Dio fashion, at the nexus of doing something great-"Children of the Night," a worthy cause designed to bring kids in off the street. And stay tuned in the not too distant future for "Hear & Aid" part II! For now, "The Very Beast of Dio" is all of that and then some... A necessary collection for dream weavers, risk takers, rainbow watchers and returning fools everywhere! Released by Rhino Records Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] |
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The Very Beast
of Dio
DIO |
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Long overdue, this fairly comprehensive look into the solo career of Ronnie James Dio is more a primer for what metal and hard rock should be than simply a scrapbook of what it was. The sixteen songs selected for inclusion here, for the most part, have become Heavy Metal standards. I would challenge the legitimacy of any Metal-Head who could not recite the lyrics to "Rainbow in the Dark" or describe the video for "The Last in Line" scene by scene though I would make allowances for them not being terribly familiar with either "Lock Up the Wolves" or "Strange Highways" all of which are here for the remembrance. There is an emphasis on the early eighties version of DIO, a period when DIO truly looked like a band and before members began to change with each new record. In fact, the first 12 numbers are all performed by the same lineup of Dio, Jimmy Bain, Vinnie Appice and Vivian Campbell. The last four tracks feature no less than six subsequent musicians that each moved DIO in some way toward the greatness that is DIO's current release, "Magica." All of the full length standard albums from which these songs come from are available domestically save the live "Intermission" disc which Rhino was good enough to shake a killer version of the RAINBOW classic, "Man on the Silver Mountain" from. If you haven't the cash to invest in the whole library this collection of snippets from Dio's solo years is more than adequate to inspire a savings account strictly for such a purpose. In addition to the music this release features gushing liner notes from Martin Popoff and photos by Neil Zlozower making this the definitive DIO hits collection. Released by Rhino Records Review by David Lee |
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"Killing The Dragon" Dio |
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And all is right in the Metal kingdom, Ronnie Dio is back singing about Dragons and Spiders and Rock & Roll children… Your first inclination as a listener,
writer, cynical fan, is to scoff at a notion that RJD could rework the
ol' magic and create something as timely and inspired as his "Holy
Diver" or "Last In Line" classics, so you do
in fact shrug off the Still in the back of your mind you're thinking, "Well why not?" He's the one who created them in the first place. Yet it's not as if the grand wizard fell off the face of the earth in the years that followed. "Sacred Heart" was a bomb, let's tell it like it is; "Dream Evil" was a nice return to form; "Lock Up The Wolves" was unbearably difficult at first but then it grows on you. The 1990's saw RJD in a darker mood returning to the Blues-heavy and somber tones of his Sabbath years with records like "Strange Highways" and "Angry Machines," neither of which sought or succeeded in lighting any commercial fires. While Dio's previous "Magica" release was not an actual "comeback," it was a welcome return to the "other world" where Dio's mystical touch met with melody and thematic grandeur in what was a top-flighter that'll improve with age. Not to belabor the idea of "coming back," Dio's latest "Killing The Dragon" is a return to the earlier form, embracing the best of the first two or three records with the trademark Dio voice and return of the riff. As usual, Dio's lyrics are intimate and inspirational, the "voice" of Metal never of unsound mind or without right of statement, lays out tricky titles that on the broad front display a "Killing The Dragon" or "Along Comes A Spider" as fairytale/nightmare storybook fodder, yet their remains the underlying truth; though we'll indulge in a little of the expected mysteriousness now and again. Doug Aldrich is Dio's latest in a long line of fret burners and one which will make musicians and traditionalist followers alike raise their fist and rejoice. For the first time since 1990's
"Lock Up The Wolves" which boasted a youthful-and now
an aging- unknown "Scream" follows the "real" lives of back page celebrities in a thumping rhythmic display nearly rivaling "Holy Diver" itself; "Better In The Dark" is a rushed "Don't Tell The Kids" sound-alike, both great songs, here in the traditionally Dio raised eyebrow style; "Rock & Roll" is one of the two rebel anthems included here, and inspired as it is by the 9/11 incidents, is a bit flat; As well "Guilty," save for Aldrich's searing solo, is an unflattering filler track; The unsuspecting pick hit however goes to "Push," another Aldrich staple with his riffing run red for this powerfully built and catchy track. "Throw Away The Children" is the album epic, originally designed for the "Children Of The Night" charity, and here a somber, seriously intended musing similar to "All The Fools Sailed Away." Very few "throwaway"
tracks make the new Dio record a keeper. We're looking at an impressive
70% potency rate with only about 30% wasted energy-"Cold Feet's"
a plodding, unreliable closer-and earns high marks for returning now and
again to his Rainbow/Sabbath-inspired roots. Backed by another solid lineup,
a resurgent RJD continues to Released by Spitfire Records. Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu] P.O. Box 20252
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