Dio - Holy Diver
This is Dio's first solo effort and it is still today his best. These songs are simply classics.

Stand Up And Shout opens with a fast "right in your face" guitar riff, and quickly develops into a powerful and very intense track. The drums are bursting with energy and detail, and as always when Dio sings the vocals are filled with great feeling and balance. The guitar leads are fitting and of high technical level.

Holy Diver is a Metal classic. The great melodic riff, the slow genius vocal parts, the solid bass, the varied drums, the mystical lyric and a melodic chorus. The wildly played guitar leads are really working well with the main rhythm.

The cool grooving sound of Gypsy really rocks and creates a cool feeling. The huge chorus rules and Dio sings perfectly, this man has an extreme level of power in his voice. The main rhythm is a bit on the simple side, but it sure sounds solid anyway.

Caught In The Middle has some brilliant varied guitar work, and a fantastic melodic chorus.
A mid-tempo songs which is pretty reliant on the basic rhythm, but I think that it is very saying for the record that even with a song like this which is not totally genius, the musical performance still lifts it up to a high level. The detailed drums, grooving bass and the splendid melodic vocals makes it just that more interesting.

Don't Talk To Strangers on the other hand is a pure classic. The slow atmospheric acoustic beginning, joined by some great vocal lines is magic. The song really goes into pace with a monster guitar riff, and an intense and solid rhythm. The chorus is huge and fits perfectly into the flow. The cool extensive guitar leads brings a lot of power into the song.
The different instruments are weighed perfectly between each other and overall the production on the album is in one word perfect for the year 1983. Lots of power and still the sound comes out very clear.

Straight Through The Heart is another genius song. The riff is stunning and the grooving drums and pounding bass creates an extremely solid rhythm. The melodic vocal break in the middle of the song makes a cool contrast to the hardness of the track. The drums are fantastic on this one, full of detail and technical passages.

Invisible features a fantastic melodic start with a dreaming atmosphere. A tight guitar riff breaks the calmness. The fast and well-played guitar solo is a big plus, as well is the solid chorus. Not the best song on the album, but still filled with exiting elements that makes it very good.

Rainbow In The Dark. Well what can I say, I simply love this song. The flow of the perfect keyboard melody, the hard riff, the grooving bass, powerful drums and the fitting vocals, it just all comes together. The solo is a stunning example of Vivian Campbell's abilities. A perfect live song that really get you going.

Shame On The Night has a very raw, slow and tight rhythm. The different guitar effects and background keyboard creates a fantastic feeling. The bass has a very important part in the song; it works as a solid fundament and displays some cool detailed contributions. A tight and solid ending track that ends this excellent record.

The lyrics on the album are as always when written by Dio, mystical and symbolic. The perspective is most of the time seen from within. Feelings of being lost and confused, but also elements of religious meaning and more positive aspects of feeling alive and well as in Stand Up And Shout.

I am amazed by the musical performance of the record, and that is also the reason that I must give it such a high rating. First of Dio is sounding fantastic and full of energy and life. Vivian Campbell offers some of the best guitar playing ever, wild and detailed. Vinny Appice drumming is of an extremely high technical level. I find I cool when a more straight style is made more interesting with such great drums. The bass from Jimmy Bain is very much in front which is a great; it is grooving and working in perfect harmony with the rhythm.

A 9 must be giving for this timeless performance.

Written by Tommy
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Show all reviews by Tommy

Ratings

Tommy: 9/10

Members: 9.25/10 - Average of 2 ratings.



Member ratings

RevelationZ StaffAlanna (Staff)

Rating: 9/10
This is absolutely *classic*. Not one song sounds out of place, the running order is smoo... · Read more ·
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Rating: 9.5/10
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RevelationZ Comments


Comment by Morten Hansen (Anonymous) - Monday, April 7, 2003
absolutely the best "DIO" album ever.

He made many classic albums like "Dream Evil" and "Lock up the Wolves"

How can so many classic songs appear on one album, I have to ask him that question somewhere in time.

Seen him in Copenhagen "great show DIO"

Dio is one of the best metal singers.

If you like Black Sabbath you cant miss DIO (or else you dont deserve it)

Dio deserve more credit for his work.


Comment by Ronnie Gamboa (Anonymous) - Sunday, April 13, 2003
Hear hear!


Comment by Deane Moore (Anonymous) - Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Legendary Album top to bottom.

Dio is insanely under-rated and deserves way more credit in the Metal/Rock world then he gets.

Thanks so much Ronnie James!


Comment by Banan (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Well, not quite that good album, but the best songs are so incredibly freaking good.
Don´t talk to strangers, Holy diver and Shame on the night are some of the best rocks song ever.
His voice is among the best 5.
The others might be James Hetfield, Layne Staley, Ozzy and Bon Scott.


Comment by Pete (Anonymous) - Wednesday, August 6, 2003
The last in line is a much better
album...
Holy diver.. I'll give it 7 out
of 10.


Comment by Lord_Evil (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 6, 2004
Who are you to give to such a masterpiece only 7 "Pete"? And "Banan" you ignorant, add Bruce Dickinson in your list... As number one perhaps..


Comment by i.Ron S. (Anonymous) - Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Is like a best of.
All songs are classics.


Comment by GABO (Anonymous) - Sunday, January 30, 2005
DIO´s best album, a Heavy Metal masterpiece, all the songs are great with an incredible perfomance by the king of metal. 9.5 out of 10


Comment by Matt (Anonymous) - Sunday, April 10, 2005
Dio is the greatest singer ever, Russell Allan being second. Lock Up the Wolves and Last in Line are awesome.


Comment by Ed (Anonymous) - Wednesday, July 11, 2007
This cd sets the bar for all other bands to aspire to, period!!!!!!!!

Thanks Ronnie for the VOICE and the MAGIC !!!


Comment by HOLY DIO :-) (Anonymous) - Thursday, July 12, 2007
THIS IS A CD WHICH WORTHS TO BUY IT AND IT IS A PIECE OF WORK WHICH WORTHS A PRIZE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAIL TO DIO HAIL HAIL


REMEMBER NEVER LISTEN TO MANY KINDS OF MUSIC JUST ONE ONLY ONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Comment by ThraX (Member) - Sunday, September 2, 2007
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Comments: 135
Ratings: 0
Dio one of my favorite bands of all-time, He has so many classic albums that I can't even tell you what one is my absolute favorite, This album is a 10/10 for me, the songs "Don't Talk To Strangers" & "Rainbow In The Dark" are just amazing....And Vivian Campbell is simply one of the greatest underrated guitar players ever, he shines on this album!!!!

Posted by ThraX
Sunday, September 2, 2007

Comment by notrap (Member) - Friday, September 19, 2008
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Comments: 55
Ratings: 66
Well...Mr Ronnie James Dio..A true Heavy Metal Icon. I really respect this gentleman.
Holy Diver was a really important release in 83...Ronnie had a really great band those days. Holy Diver, Don't Talk To Strangers and Rainbow In The Dark are eternal Hard/Heavy Rock statements.

9.5/10

Posted by notrap
Friday, September 19, 2008

Review by Alanna (Staff) - Monday, January 5, 2009
RevelationZ Staff

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Comments: 245
This is absolutely *classic*. Not one song sounds out of place, the running order is smooth with nary a hiccup of disinterest along the way. Dio's commanding voice along with the catchy, powerful songs make for an enchanting album. "Caught In the Middle", "Straight Through the Heart" and "Invisible" are tracks that often get overlooked, but shame on those that skip them in favor of the popular pieces. Certainly the title track and "Rainbow in the Dark" are awesome examples of classy, hook laden metal, but they are not the only great songs that abound on this disc. The lyrics are also of special note, lyrical, fantastical and bordering on strange at times, their imagery burns into your mind as vividly as the music that accompanies them.

Rating: 9/10

Posted by Alanna (Staff)
Monday, January 5, 2009










Review by Tommy
None

Released by
Phonogram - 1983

Tracklisting
1. Stand Up And Shout
2. Holy Diver
3. Gypsy
4. Caught In The Middle
5. Don't Talk To Strangers
6. Straight Through The Heart
7. Invisible
8. Rainbow In The Dark
9. Shame On The Night


Style
Heavy Metal

Related links
Visit the band page

Dio - Official Website

Other articles
Band information - (Mads)

Stand up and Shout - The Anthology - (Hashman)

Live At Lille Vega, Copenhagen - July 2th, 2003 - (Tommy)

Evil or Divine - (Hashman)

Master Of The Moon - (Tommy)

Strange Highways - (Morten)

RevelationZ Top 20 Dio Tracks - A Tribute - (Stuart)



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