Dio - The Studio Albums 1996

One of the most expected boxes of the year even though the albums here aren’t the ones from the magical Dio era from the 1980’s. In fact, as the tittle says, they’re from 1996 to 2004 which means they were recorded after Dio’s contribution to Black Sabbath which, from where I’m standing, was very short due to many past and present issues. From that era it’s missing the 1994’s “Strange Highways.” As a matter of fact, it’s possible to say that 1996’s “Angry Monsters,” 2000’s “Magica,” 2002’s “Killing the Dragon” and 2004’s “Master of the Moon” are a kind of sandwich between Dio’s contribution to Black Sabbath and the forming of Heaven and Hell with Tony iommy, Geezer Butler and Vinnie Appice the long-standing Dio’s drummer. Unfortunately, Dio left us in 2010 due to a stomach cancer.

The space here is too short to everything I want to say about Dio and his magical voice, one of the most outstanding voices from Metal music. Everyday I thank the universe for having his music in my life when I was a stupid teenager. His music made my dark days much better. The memories from the times I discovered his music are so fresh in my mind even thought the long years. I lost track of the long hours listening to albums as 1983’s “Holy Diver” and 1984’s “The Last in Line” and having fun with all their videos which, between you and me, were lots of fun to watch with that magic kingdom fantasy.

If memory serves me right, the first Dio song I heard was The Last in Line “Mistery” I don’t remember quite well if it was on the radio or a videoclip, even so I have colorful memories of the impressions and feelings the song caused me. I was astonished by the melodic grip plus the mystique. Yeah, Dio is one of the first to introduce this kind of mystique into Metal music world. If dragons, magical worlds, sorcerers, magical creatures, and many more are now a constant part of our music, Power Metal bands of all parts of this sad and lonely and pathetic little planet must thank the man.

If you ask me, Dio’s voice together with Rob Halford’s and Bruce Dickingson’s are staplers of Metal music. More than staplers, whenever one wishes to quote a great Metal singer the three are on top of any list. Metal music wouldn’t be Metal music without his contribution, I’m well aware of that. To some extent, not only his voice, but all his iconography got so Metal related. Just remember that he was – don’t tell this to Mr. Gene ‘Longtongued’ Simmons.’ He’ll sue you – the first to use the malocchio or the sing of the horns.

Ok, now about the albums. It’s not fair to say the four albums comprehended here are lesser Dio’s works. Of course, they are not his masterpieces, but lesser albums is one thing they are not either. They are Dio’s albums and that’s enough. One thing I noticed about 2000’s “Magica” is that it’s a mix of Dio’s Rainbow’s sonancy and the classic Dio’s sonancy. By the way, “Magica” was supposed to be a trilogy where 2004’s “Master of the Moon” is the sequel, but, unfortunately the man was not able to record the last album of the trilogy. I’m writing here about “Magica” because it was one of the albums that I did listen with 2002’s “Killing the Dragon” which is next. Interestingly, there are lots of modern features in the album. Most of them I got used to listen in Black Metal bands albums. There is also a very strong influence of classical music in some tracks. It seems that Dio drank from the inspiration he left on Power Metal bands.

Now about 2002’s “Killing the Dragon,” the other album I remember to have listened. By the way, I have it on CD. From where I’m standing, the album recreates the mythical atmosphere of the initial albums. Tracks as “Better in the Dark” and “Cold Feet” reinforce this feeling. Here Dio left all the features he introduced in “Magica” maybe because the album was planned to be part of a trilogy, maybe because it was planned to be a concept album. Dio’s hardcore fans will like “Killing the Dragon” better than “Magica” I suppose even though they are pretty different albums in concept. It’s the first album with guitarist Doug Aldrich and the last with bassist Jimmy Bain, other longtime Dio’s colaborator who cowrote many of Dio’s golden era songs. He died in 2016 of lung cancer.

Alright, this box is a fine homage to the man in the first place. Any homage to him I guess won’t be enough to show how we care about him and his marvelous music.

Dio “The Studio Albums 1996 – 2004” will be released on September 22nd via BMG Records.

Track Listing:

Magica