Album review: DIO – The Studio Albums 1996–2004

September 23rd, 2023 by jason

BMG [Release date 22.09.23]

Ronnie James Dio’s eponymous band have quite a legacy, released a long string of solid and well received metal albums, from their formation in 1982 (following Dio’s departure from Black Sabbath) until his death in 2010. There were, of course, breaks while Dio rejoined Sabbath, but that doesn’t detract from the quality.

Ronnie James Dio had been recorded since 1957, but came to world-wide prominence when his band Elf became the vehicle for guitarist Ritchie Blackmore to form Rainbow. Between Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his own band, he remains one of rock’s finest vocalists to this day.

There’s a good chance anyone reading this will have the band’s first two albums, Holy Diver and The Last In Line, and it’s too easy to forget just how good the later albums are. And this set does exactly what it says on the tin. Well, box. Four studio albums (there was an interim live set in that period), all in digipaks with booklets as per the original releases. Nothing extra, just quality music.

The first disc here is 1996’s Angry Machines, with the band featuring guitarist Tracy G, bassist Jeff Pilson, drummer Vinny Appice and keyboard player Scott Warren. Opener Institutional Man is a heavy crunchy doomy number, a definite Sabbath feel, then things pick up for Don’t Tell The Kids.

The album mixes the atmospheric doom of Sabbath, trad Dio upbeat metal and 90s metal, there was some move with the times, it wasn’t the 80s any more. Some great riffs, Dio’s usual clear bright wide ranging vocals, great metal of the era.

2000’s Magica saw the return of guitarist Craig Goldy and bassist Jimmy Bain, and were joined by drummer Simon Wright. Magica was a concept album (the band were working on a follow up when Ronnie passed), the concept being (very simply) a battle between good and evil, written from the villain’s point of view.

There is a modern feel with an 80s nod, a hint of 80s prog in places, and the odd spoken word intro. Goldy’s guitar is standout and helps give that more trad feel. An album to instantly love. The album’s closing track is an 18 minute epic. And here there is an uncredited bonus track in Electra, the only track released from the unfinished follow on.

2002’s Killing The Dragon, with guitarist Doug Aldrich, is another fine set that I’d forgotten how good it was. The Dragon of the album is a metaphor for technology which Dio saw as a threat to future society.

Another heavy number but less doomy than some of the 90s albums, and the hit of background keyboards adds a depth. There’s some bright solos from Aldrich. This is no criticism, but like many Dio albums it’s hard to pull out a favourite, but the feel that runs throughout makes this an album that’s easy to listen to beginning to end.

2004’s Master Of The Moon saw guitarist Craig Goldy and bassist Jeff Pilson return, for what would be the band’s final studio album. And it has to be said that the sound and quality across these four albums is fantastic, high and consistent. Ronnie might have run his band with an iron fist but the results speak for themselves. There is not a weak moment across this album, or indeed any of these.

There are one or two bonuses, but certainly nothing compared to some of the 2disc reissues we’ve seen. This is the original albums, booklets with lyrics, digipaks, in a box. As I said, it does what it says on the tin.

The set also comes as a deluxe 4LP set, and this is truly magnificent.

Angry Machines comes on sandy orange vinyl, a heavy (but I don’t think 180g) vinyl, inner sleeve, likewise Angry Machines (yellow vinyl), Master Of The Moon (blue vinyl), while Magic is a double LP, gatefold sleeve, inner sleeves and dark red vinyl, and a bonus 7” 45 of Electra, p/s, blue vinyl. No polylined inner, but the records aren’t tight enough to cause damage on removal. All in a sturdy box. A quality heavy box for quality heavy music. ****

Review by Joe Geesin

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