Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona)  is a heavy metal legend. He has the voice that defines heavy metal. When he started his first rock band, ELF, in the early 70's, he was already an experienced vocalist. Soon he joined Ritchie Blackmore in founding Rainbow, sticking with him for 3 records. After being fired by Mr. Blackmore, he took over the mic in Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy Osbourne. 2 records later he found himself band-less again, and formed his own band, DIO. He was also one of the initial brains behind the Hear 'n' Aid sessions.

HOLY DIVER (1983, 2005) MERCURY/UNIVERSAL

After getting a name for himself through Rainbow and Black Sabbath, fans were eager to hear what the voice of metal could come up with on his own terms. The result was nothing short of breathtaking. 'Holy Diver' was Dio's first solo-effort. Though the man himself consistently has said that Dio was, and still is, meant to be a band effort. And what a debut 'Holy Diver' was. Still held by a united horde of fans as a heavy metal classic. And quite frankly, Dio hasn't released a better album since. Who can forget stuff like "Holy Diver", "Don't Talk To Strangers" and "Rainbow in the Dark"? Obligatory in any heavy metal collection!!

I replaced the original CD with the 2005 Remastered Collector's Edition. It contains a bonus interview session, an extensive booklet, with loads of comments and pictures, and the sound has been beefed up (not that it is that noticeable to these ears).

Killer tracks: Holy Diver, Caught In The Middle, Don't Talk To Strangers, Straight Through The Heart, Rainbow In The Dark

THE LAST IN LINE (1984) VERTIGO

OK, so I said in my write-up of 'Holy Diver' that Dio has never released a better album since, but 'The Last In Line' is surely not worse either! Opening with one of my all time favorite rock anthems, "We Rock", this is another heavy metal classic for sure. Ronnie's voice and Vivian's guitars are two ingredients that created the mold for 80's heavy metal. Metal back then was not about being the most brutal act, nor was it necessarily about the shock value. It was all about writing some great tunes. And Dio have delivered more memorable and catchy songs than most!

Killer tracks: We Rock, The Last In Line, One Night In The City, Mystery

SACRED HEART (1985) VERTIGO

This album starts out just as good as it's predecessors. The 5 first tunes are heavy-metal classics, and "Rock 'n' Roll Children" is my all-time favorite song by this band. The music-video for this track fascinated me immensely as a kid. But after these tracks, the album fades. "Just Another Day" is as almost forgotten gem, but the rest are just sad. All in all I think 'Sacred Heart' is a great album, but not Dio's best. 'Hungry For Heaven' was also featured on the soundtrack for a movie called 'Vision Quest', starring Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino and Daphne Zuniga, and featuring a movie score recorded by Tangerine Dream.

Killer tracks: King Of Rock And Roll, Sacred Heart, Rock 'n' Roll Children, Hungry For Heaven

INTERMISSION (1986) VERTIGO/WARNER BROS (EP)

'Intermission' is a live EP, with 1 new studio track.  The live section was recorded at the Sports Arena in San Diego, CA, December 6th, 1985. As a live document this CD is a bit too short. And the inclusion of the new studio track, "Time To Burn", right in the middle of the live set creates an unnecessary break on such a short EP. Still, Dio sounds awesome live, be it on the man's own material, or on the medley containing some old Rainbow favorites. The new song is actually a quite good mid-paced rocker too. Just wish the live portion was longer. A full album would be nice, considering that this was Dio at his prime, both musically, and career wise.

DREAM EVIL (1987) VERTIGO

This was the first Dio album I listened to in it's entirety. And it is still one of my favorite albums, by the grandfather of metal! 'Dream Evil' is just filled to the brim with cool tunes. The die hard fans mumbles about the album being to commercial, but I don't care!! The music is great! There are less then memorable moments here as well, but the majority is just classic Dio! I think it sounds somewhat in the same vain as Black Sabbath's 'Heaven And Hell'. A must!!

Killer tracks: Dream Evil, All The Fools Sailed Away, I Could Have Been A Dreamer

LOCK UP THE WOLVES (1990) VERTIGO

I've read numerous bad reviews of this album. But in my memory I never could see what was so wrong with it. I used to listen to this a lot, when I was younger. But now I've gotten a hold of a CD-copy, and I clearly see what those reviews were all about. This album stinks, and is definitively Dio's worst album. Only 3 songs are worth listening to, the rest are just plain bad. Oh, Simon Wright has also played with AC/DC.

Killer tracks: Wild One, Hey Angel, Lock Up The Wolves

DIAMONDS - THE BEST OF DIO (1992) VERTIGO

I know best of albums aren't considered cool among most collectors. They are just milking you of money on something you already own. But I think it's cool to put on a CD with all my favorite Dio tracks, one after another. Included here are also "Hide In The Rainbow", previously only available on the 'Iron Eagle'-soundtrack.

STRANGE HIGHWAYS (1994) REPRISE

I never tried very hard to score this album. I had read too many bad reviews of it to even care. But a friend of mine in the US picked it up for me, and I finally got the chance to check it out myself. And to my surprise I liked the album. It's not by far as bad as most people have told me. It lacks the really cool tunes like "Holy Diver" or "Rock 'n Roll Children", but most of the tracks are good in their own right. Dio seems to be on autopilot, and that is maybe why we don't get a classic album. But as a Dio fan, I like it nevertheless. The album is also a bit darker than usual.

Killer tracks: Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost, Strange Highways, Hollywood Black

MAGICA (Limited Edition) (2000) SPITFIRE RECORDS

Dio start of this new millennium with the release of what is supposed to be the first installment of a trilogy, based on 'The Book of Magica'. Simply entitled 'Magiga', Dio's 8th studio album, it also marks the return of guitarist Craig Goldy, bass-player Jimmy Bain and drummer Simon Wright.

However, despite the new line-up, this is still a classic Dio-sounding album. Maybe even more so than the previous 2 efforts. I would put this album somewhere between 'Sacred Heart' and 'Dream Evil' in sound. 'Magica' is still a different Dio album. It consists mostly of mid-paced songs, and there are no catchy, anthem-like rockers here to rival the likes of "Holy Diver", "The Last In Line" and/or "Sacred Heart". It is also a fairly dark sounding piece, and the storyline seems to be the main focus. It's a little confusing if you're not that interested in the lyrics, because some of the songs have a mid-evil feel, while others have this computerized, alien effects in them. I also find some of the songs to be too anonymous and lifeless. So this album may fall a little on the wayside of its better known, older brothers. I know I have spent a long time to really get to "feel" this album. Make no mistake about it though, 'Magica' is a good album nonetheless. Dio sings like the God-given talent he is. Just check out the ballad parts of "As Long As It's Not About Love'! But as a whole it is not as impressive as I had hoped.

I own a limited edition of 'Magica'. It comes with an 18 1/2 minute bonus track where Ronnie James Dio is reading the Magica story. It also has a second booklet with the same story in text form.

Killer tracks: Lord Of The Last Day, Feed My Head, Eriel, Losing My Insanity

Jimmy Bain, Scott Warren, Ronnie James Dio, Doug Aldrich, Simon Wright

KILLING THE DRAGON (2002) SPITFIRE

Dio isn't only a legend in the hard rock and heavy metal history. He is also one of the most consistent purveyors of classic heavy metal. 'Killing The Dragon' is yet another stellar contribution from the little man with the huge voice. I find the album to be a step up from 'Magica', and would rank it along side classics, such as 'Dream Evil' and 'Sacred Heart'. In fact, both in sound, songwriting and concept, it is just classic Dio! You can call it predictable and void of innovation. But who cares, as long as it works as well as is the case with this platter? The man rocks, mesmerizes and sings his leathered lungs out. Craig Goldy is out (although he did co-write several song for the album), and in came scene veteran, Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Hurricane, Bad Moon Rising). He puts his stamp on the guitar-work, and delivers some tasty solos in "Guilty" and "Throw Away Children", as examples. 'Killing The Dragon' is a very enjoyable album, and delivers all the musical aspects you'd expect from Dio at this point. Up-tempo rockers, slower epic-length tracks, dungeons & dragons; in other words; prime heavy metal. The more I listen to this album, the more it dawns on me that this is one of the finest efforts from Dio, ever.

Killer tracks: Killing The Dragon, Scream, Rock & Roll, Guilty, Throw Away Children

THE COLLECTION (2003) SPECTRUM/UNIVERSAL

Holy Diver Don't Talk To Strangers Rainbow In The Dark Stand Up And Shout (live) Straight Through The Heart (live) We Rock The Last In Line (live) Mystery I Speed At Night Rock 'N' Roll Children Hungry For Heaven King Of Rock And Roll (live) Sacred Heart (live) Dream Evil I Could Have Been A Dreamer Wild One Jesus Mary & The Holy Ghost

Grabbed this compilation album at a gas station for 1/4 of the price of a regular new CD. It features songs from Dio's debut up to 'Strange Highways'. The song selection is great, and all the hits are here. But what caught my eyes were the live versions of songs included. 'Intermission' was the only live album released during the period from which these songs are picked. However, "King Of Rock And Roll" (not even listed as a live song on the trey card) and "Sacred Heart" are the only tracks from that live EP. A little online searching told me that  "Stand Up And Shout" and "Straight Through The Heart" were recorded at Monsters Of Rock, Castle Donington, UK August 20th, 1983, and previously available on various versions of the 'Rainbow In The Dark' & 'The Last In Line' singles. So here they get their CD debut. "The Last In Line" is most likely from the recordings from Spectrum, Philadelphia, USA, September 13th, 1985. This concert was released on VHS video, and songs were later scattered on different singles B-sides too. "The Last In Line" appears on the 'Rock And Roll Children' 7". So I guess this compilation is worth it for the live songs, if nothing else. Some versions of this CD erroneously lists "Sunset Superman" on the track list instead of "Jesus Mary & The Holy Ghost".

MASTER OF THE MOON (2004) SANCTUARY

Another 2 years has past since 'Killing The Dragon', and some minor line-up changes have occurred. Craig Goldy returns once more, replacing his replacement, Doug Aldrich, as the bands 6-string bender. Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken) is also a returnee, this time taking over the bass duties from Jimmy Bain. This all leads to a less guitar-oriented sound, at least not as overtly flashy and 80's classic as was the case with 'Killing The Dragon'. The overall sound is that of a darker and eerier Dio, border lining almost a doom-like sound every now and then. What is lacking in the riff-department has been replaced with atmosphere. So there will be no surprise that Dio have added a full-time keyboardist to it's line up, for the first time since 1990! The music often brings my mind back to Dio's past in Black Sabbath (as in the title track) and Rainbow ("The Man Who Would Be King"). Of course there are some trademark Dio cuts here also. "Shivers" and "Living The Lie" comes to mind first. 'Master Of The Moon' is musically less accessible than it predecessor. But that doesn't automatically make for a lesser album, quality wise. All of the songs are solid throughout the CD, but you might find that it lacks 1 or 2 highlight tracks. Still I find every song as enjoyable as the next, and there are no low points present either. It is also a very diverse album. So it's definitely yet another great album from our favorite heavy metal grandfather. If you liked 'Magica', then I think you will appreciate 'Master Of The Moon' also. Besides, you know that Dio always delivers. And his voice sounds its usually great self here as well.

Killer tracks: All killer, no filler

Simon Wright, Scott Warren, Craig Goldy, Ronnie James Dio, Rudy Sarzo

May 16th, 2010: Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer.

R.I.P.

Dio also appear on:  

V/A - 'Hear 'n Aid: Stars'

V/A - '96% Puddel Rock'

V/A - 'Pondus - Flat Fuzzpedal'

Ronnie James Dio guest appearances:  

Queensrÿche - 'Operation: Mindcirme II'

Jeff Pilson guest appearances:

Jens Johansson guest appearances:

Roland Grapow - 'Kaleidoscope'

V/A - 'Holy Dio : A Tribute To The Voice Of Metal - Ronnie James Dio'

HammerFall - 'Crimson Thunder'

HammerFall - 'No Sacrifice, No Victory'

Sonata Arctica - 'Winterheart's Guild'

Kamelot - 'The Black Halo'

Avantasia - 'Angel of Babylon'

Related artists

Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, Def Leppard, Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius, Hear 'n' Aid, Quiet Riot, Dokken, Impellitteri, Ozzy Osbourne