Dio - Holy Diver (1983)

Following his three album stint in Rainbow and two album sting with Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio decided to go it alone and formed Dio, of which Holy Diver was the debut offering. Featuring a relatively unknown 19 year old Irish guitarist Vivian Campbell, ex-Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice and ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain, the omens were good.

For once, initial expectation wasn’t dashed on the rocks with this album which features 9 of the hardest rocking songs you could ever wish to hear. The combination of Dio’s vocal dexterity and Campbell’s razor sharp riffing ensured that this album really buzzes along – think Sabbath’s Neon Knights crossed with Rainbow’s Kill The King and you’ll be in the right ball park for what to expect here.

From the opener, Stand Up And Shout, the album thunders along with all members playing to their strengths but Dio and Campbell emerging as the true stars. The title track itself is a plodding, metal anthem that really hooks-in the listener and became one of the band’s classic tracks.

The album, and two singles taken from it, even achieved chart success with Holy Diver reaching number 40 and Rainbow In the Dark reaching the dizzy heights of 14 on the Billboard charts and the album itself achieving number 13 in the UK charts.

One of the must-haves for any rock collection!

• Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
• Vivian Campbell – Guitar
• Jimmy Bain – Bass
• Vinny Appice – Drums

Rainbow - Long Live Rock And Roll (1978)

One of the finest proponents of blues-based hard rock during the latter half of the 1970s, Long Live Rock marked the end of the Ronnie Dio era of the group which, including this one, spawned three powerful studio albums.

Despite internal turmoil within the group which would lead to Dio, Bob Daisley (bass) and Dave Stone (keyboards) departing from the group shortly afterwards, the album itself is a classic of its day that still sounds good when cranked up on the stereo!

Kicking off with Cozy Powell’s pounding intro to the title track (Cozy being the only member other than Mr Rainbow Himself, Richie Blackmore, to make it to another Rainbow album) the album thunders along with the trademark guitar/Hammond sound developed in Deep Purple giving a thick and heavy sound to the tracks with Dio’s powerful voice belting out the lyrics with his usual gusto.

Personal standout tracks are the title number and Kill The King which was an earlier Rainbow track that appears on the live ‘On Stage’ album a year prior to this release.

Whilst Rainbow progressively became more and more commercial following Dio’s departure – the three albums with Ronnie Dio were consistently prime examples of 1970s rock at its best and perhaps if Blackmore had been a little less irascible maybe this album wouldn’t have been the swansong of the group’s strongest lineup!

• Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
• David Stone – Keyboards
• Bob Daisley – Bass
• Cozy Powell – Drums