This is a MASTERPIECE

Written by Reality03 on 24.09.2013 at 21:59

Most definitely the best Dio album. The following releases didnt come even close to this one.

qft although Dream Evil comes closest

Written by Reality03 on 24.09.2013 at 22:21

Yes probably but The last in line f.e was way inferior to this one.

totally true as was Sacred Heart and everything after Dream Evil. Actually, come to think of it only Holy DIver and Dream Evil are the only essential Dio solo albums

Written by Reality03 on 24.09.2013 at 22:44

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 24.09.2013 at 22:34

Written by Reality03 on 24.09.2013 at 22:21

Yes probably but The last in line f.e was way inferior to this one.

totally true as was Sacred Heart and everything after Dream Evil. Actually, come to think of it only Holy DIver and Dream Evil are the only essential Dio solo albums

Holy diver for sure and to a lesser extent Dream eVIL. I still think his best work was with Rainbow. Rising and Long Live Rock´n Roll are classics and better than anything done with Black Sabbath or solo.

I am not too much of a fan of Long Live Rock 'n Roll but what he did on Rising is my favourite and also on the Rainbow debut and especially live just go watch the Munich 1977 dvd dman that was Dio's best.

As for Black Sabbath never really like Heaven & Hell but Mob Rules I always enjoyed. But true his Rainbow years were better than anything he did with Sabbath or solo

Maybe the best metal album of all time

Written by deadone on 25.03.2014 at 06:35

Great voice and in my mind epitome of what it is to be a heavy metal vocalist.

Oh yeah, he was one of the best. In my top five of all time, would be surprised if he didn't make the top 5 in any list of the great metal vocalists of all time.

What can I say? It's a real classic of heavy music.

Written by Angelic Storm on 28.01.2011 at 22:17

Written by Mountain King on 28.01.2011 at 22:08

Doesn't deserve a 10 for sure...

I agree with that. I think the album is slightly overrated, even though over half the album is classic stuff.

I disagree and agree, IMO whole his solo career are overrated , had some kind 80's new touch ... cant compare whit Elf amnd Rainbow, specially Rainbow if we do lyrical compeering, but still good album, later what came out are more overrated and boring , but it don't change a fact what great icon in metal he was

I love Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (album) and i like Heaven and Hell (album) but nothing on this album is good except for the cover art.

Listen to Dio and don't waste your time arguing with stangers on internet forums. The heavier riffs make Dio sound better than he did with Rainbow. Simply the greatest vocal performance by Dio and only second to Blackie Lawless on Headless Children and Crimson Idol.

The album's full of good to total masterpiece songs. Not all these songs are "hits", but there is certainly lots of quality in all of them, which doesn't really encourage to skip any of them. The musicianship is simply outstanding and RJD as the unquestionable legend of a heavy metal vocals sounds amazing on this record. Listen to it and vote it 10/10, or be a poser and leave the hall.

P.S. My theory is that David DeFeis took the overused "look out!" line from RJD

Not as strong as Rainbow's Rising, but definitely the best solo Dio album.

Written by nonZero on 14.09.2020 at 17:04

01. Stand Up And Shout - 9/10
02. Holy Diver - 10/10
03. Gypsy - 8.5/10
04. Caught In The Middle - 9/10
05. Don't Talk To Strangers - 9/10
06. Straight Through The Heart - 9/10
07. Invisible - 8/10
08. Rainbow In The Dark - 9/10
09. Shame On The Night - 8.5/10

Overall: 8.9/10

Spinning this once again after quite some time I think I actually come to exactly the same assessment in terms of voting on each of the songs -- as well as the overall album vote -- as you do.
That alone is worth a
Besides, no need to elaborate I guess, album is a classic. One of the best, if not the single best, Heavy Metal albums of all time.

Written by Redel on 29.11.2020 at 23:49

Written by nonZero on 14.09.2020 at 17:04

01. Stand Up And Shout - 9/10
02. Holy Diver - 10/10
03. Gypsy - 8.5/10
04. Caught In The Middle - 9/10
05. Don't Talk To Strangers - 9/10
06. Straight Through The Heart - 9/10
07. Invisible - 8/10
08. Rainbow In The Dark - 9/10
09. Shame On The Night - 8.5/10

Overall: 8.9/10

Spinning this once again after quite some time I think I actually come to exactly the same assessment in terms of voting on each of the songs -- as well as the overall album vote -- as you do.
That alone is worth a
Besides, no need to elaborate I guess, album is a classic. One of the best, if not the single best, Heavy Metal albums of all time.

Awesome!

It's a great album for sure. A shame there is only 1 particularly strong standout song, but it's definitely consistent in quality.

^ why do some people focus and even obsess on stand out songs. I'd rather listen to an album with all good songs than to an album with 2-3 great songs and then average or mediocre rest of them. If that makes sense...

This is the first vinyl I ever bought in 2010 from a Comic Book store when I was 14. Holy Diver was also the first song I ever learned to play on an instrument. That combined with the absolutely unreal music video for Holy Diver have cemented this album as one of the most impactful albums of my teenage years. That album cover is unreal too.

Pretty overrated for a top 20-of-all-time stuff, would rather listen to Rainbow any day.

Written by JoHn Doe on 30.11.2020 at 11:35

^ why do some people focus and even obsess on stand out songs. I'd rather listen to an album with all good songs than to an album with 2-3 great songs and then average or mediocre rest of them. If that makes sense...

Exactly! That's the criteria I look for as well. An album only gets a 9 or 10 for me if almost all the songs are enjoyable on the album.
That's the same reason why Somewhere in Time is my favorite Iron Maiden album. While it might not have standout songs it's consistently good (unlike Number of the Beast which only really has Hallowed be thy name and Children of the Damned as great songs)

Written by nonZero on 30.11.2020 at 11:31

Written by nonZero on 14.09.2020 at 17:04

01. Stand Up And Shout - 9/10
02. Holy Diver - 10/10
03. Gypsy - 8.5/10
04. Caught In The Middle - 9/10
05. Don't Talk To Strangers - 9/10
06. Straight Through The Heart - 9/10
07. Invisible - 8/10
08. Rainbow In The Dark - 9/10
09. Shame On The Night - 8.5/10

Overall: 8.9/10

Nice summary! Those ratings reflect my views as well

This album might not be the best thing ever, but it's still definitive traditional metal classic. I remember when I heard these songs for the first time without knowing anything about the genre and they still kicked all sorts of asses, not just mine but also other people around me. Holy Diver isn't just a great album, but also easily accessible by pretty much anyone anywhere without being too polished or cheesy, and that is just a great thing. They don't make music like this anymore.

Written by Metal Rasputin on 17.07.2021 at 00:37

They don't make music like this anymore.

qft

R.I.P. Dio

Few albums are as iconic as this one, and the album sounds better than ever listening to it today.. what a production (!) and the musicianship is very impressive.

Many bands have their opening track be the best song and title track of the album (Painkiller, South of Heaven, Hell Awaits, Heaven and Hell, Symbolic, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Left Hand Path, The IVth Crusade, Enter the Moonlight Gate, etc).

That's why I'm always surprised that Holy Diver isn't the first track here. While Stand Up And Shout is a decent anthem for a concert, I think starting with the heavy riff of Holy Diver would've been a stronger opening.

Just a minor complaint. The album is still great and fun - one of the albums that first introduced me to metal

Written by F3ynman2000 on 11.01.2022 at 03:02

Many bands have their opening track be the best song and title track of the album (Painkiller, South of Heaven, Hell Awaits, Heaven and Hell, Symbolic, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Left Hand Path, The IVth Crusade, Enter the Moonlight Gate, etc).

That's why I'm always surprised that Holy Diver isn't the first track here. While Stand Up And Shout is a decent anthem for a concert, I think starting with the heavy riff of Holy Diver would've been a stronger opening.

Just a minor complaint. The album is still great and fun - one of the albums that first introduced me to metal

I agree, the only minor downside to this album for too is that the title track would of been the perfect opener, with the slow build up to that brilliant riff.

Written by F3ynman2000 on 16.07.2021 at 23:24
unlike Number of the Beast which only really has Hallowed be thy name and Children of the Damned as great songs

I can't quite believe what I've just read there.

On topic though, love the first three Rainbow albums but never been a huge Fan of RJD's solo albums.

Just had a Facebook memory pop up from when I bought this album. Marcel commented on it being a good choice for my first vinyl album. Time flies.

All time classic

Written by Tom Muller on 07.01.2024 at 13:41

All time classic

Yep, totally agree, and every track is classic material imo. In fact, this is one of my all time favorite heavy metal albums, one of which I've listened to more times than I can remember, and still never get tired of listening to it now.

You've now made me want to listen to some Dio

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 07.01.2024 at 14:46

Written by Tom Muller on 07.01.2024 at 13:41

All time classic

Yep, totally agree, and every track is classic material imo. In fact, this is one of my all time favorite heavy metal albums, one of which I've listened to more times than I can remember, and still never get tired of listening to it now.

You've now made me want to listen to some

I did the same today
Dio