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| Oh Murray... |
Dio - Holy Diver
Band Origin: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Warner Bros.
Running Time: 42 minutes
Release Date: may 25, 1983
Best Part: No one escapes the wrath of Murray.
Favorite Tracks: Rainbow in the Dark, Holy Diver, and Don't Talk to Strangers
Grade: 4.5
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Holy Diver in
One of the timeless classic heavy metal albums that is sure to please true fans of metal, featuring the powerful vocals of one of its most iconic artists.
The Band:
After replacing Ozzy Osbourne and recording two records with Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio departed from the group with drummer Vinny Appice amidst disagreements regarding the mixing of Sabbath's first official live album, Live Evil. Wishing to remain together, Dio and Appice formed the group Dio together, adding in bassist Jimmy Bain and following a talent filled search, guitarist Vivian Campbell. Shortly after they finished recording their debut album, Holy Diver. The rest is essentially history. Dio would go on to record 10 records between 1982 and 1991, and 1993 and 2010. An eleventh album was beginning to be rumored, and tracks were in the works, when Ronnie died on May 26, 2010 of stomach cancer. Ronnie James Dio's legacy is a long one, having shared the stage with some of the greatest musicians in classic Heavy Metal. He has the credit of being the man to make throwing up the horns the Metal thing to do, and has one of the more iconic and powerful set of pipes in classic heavy metal.
Dio's other releases include: The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Dream Evil (1987), Lock Up the Wolves (1990), Strange Highways (1994), Angry Machines (1996), Magica (2000), Killing the Dragon (2002), and Master of the Moon (2004)
Jay's Take on Holy Diver:
Holy Diver is a staple in the history of classic heavy metal, and as a debut effort speaks to the staying power and talent of the band. Ronnie James Dio is an iconic voice in heavy metal history, having also provided vocals for the likes of Black Sabbath and Rainbow with Ritchie Blackmore in the past. His performance on Holy Diver is commanding and memorable, from beginning to end. Vivian Campbell, the 'winner' of the grand search for Dio's first lead guitarist flexes his mettle and provides fantastic fretwork, with memorable solos, particularly on Rainbow in the Dark. Holy Diver is a record that has stood the test of time, and that can be added to a long list of influential works. The title track has also spawned fitting covers and homages by the likes of artists including Killswitch Engage and oddly enough, Pat Boone - I don't think anyone saw that coming.
Sample of the Day:
- J
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