celebrating a heavy metal classic: Dio - Holy Diver

On The Metal Archives the reviewer Xyrth gives this classic album a perfect rating of 100%. Xyrth says, in part, "Catchiness is the name of Holy Diver’s game. This release is teeming with classic cuts played and listened ad nauseam by metalhead’s spanning generational and territorial barriers. The power and dynamism of opener 'Stand Up and Shout' recalls the energy of Heaven and Hell’s 'Neon Knights', a sound which Dio himself brought to Sabbath from Rainbow. But also, both band’s epicness wasn’t forgotten, as the iconic title-track demonstrates right away, with its atmospheric intro and mid-paced heaviness, flawlessly elegant. Dio’s softer side is experienced on the timeless power ballad 'Don’t Talk to Strangers', a hymn I wasn’t able to experience live from Dio himself, rather, a great rendition by the late Steve Grimmett, when his Grim Reaper played here in Guadalajara at the once-in-a-lifetime Force Metal Fest in 2015, may he rest in peace too. But there’s enough heaviness in each and every track as to rival anything Dio had done with Sabbath at the time. Side B openers 'Straight to the Heart' and 'Invisible' (psychedelic intro notwithstanding) are a great one-two punch example of this. Dio employs a gruffier intonation amidst great heavy riffs by Campbell. Arena favorite 'Rainbow in the Dark' might be the most iconic track in Dio’s career ever, with those immediately recognizable keyboard melodies that border on the cheesy side of metal."

Dio

Holy Diver

Mercury Records

May 23, 1983

Ronnie James Dio (R.I.P. 2010) Vocals, Keyboards, Lyrics, Songwriting (tracks 1-9)

Vinny Appice Drums, Songwriting (tracks 4, 7-9)

Jimmy Bain (R.I.P. 2016) Bass, Keyboards, Songwriting (tracks 1, 6, 8, 9)

Vivian Campbell Guitars, Songwriting (tracks 3, 4, 7, 8)

1. Stand Up and Shout 03:15; 2. Holy Diver 05:52; 3. Gypsy 03:37; 4. Caught in the Middle 04:13; 5. Don't Talk to Strangers 04:49; 6. Straight Through the Heart 04:31; 7. Invisible 05:23; 8. Rainbow in the Dark 04:13; 9. Shame on the Night 05:16; total time 41:09.

Dio - Don't Talk to Strangers (2016 Remaster)