DIO - MASTER OF THE MOON
SPV Records - Out Now

Ronnie James Dio returns with Dio studio album number 10. The solid Magica and even better Killing The Dragon saw the band rejuvenated and hitting the heights that were much in evidence on the first couple of Dio releases (Holy Diver, The Last In Line), and then sporadically throughout the bands history (Lock Up The Wolves, Strange Highways).
Ronnie James Dio is the best vocalist in the metal genre bar none! Despite having a career spanning over 30 years the guys pipes are as good now as they have ever been - his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath are also amongst the best rock/metal purchases you will ever buy.

Which brings us to Master Of The Moon. Coming off the back of Killing The Dragon expectations are extremely high. Sadly David Coverdale poached guitarist Doug Aldrich for the reformed Whitesnake, so Ronnie decided to get back Craig Goldy (who played on the aforementioned Magica and Dream Evil). Goldy is certainly a competent player, in the Blackmore mold, yet Aldrich kicked serious life into Killing The Dragon and was always destined to be a hard act to follow.

The up tempo opener One More For The Road gets things off to a very positive start with a strong riff which could well have been penned by Blackmore in his prime. Ronnie's vocals are superb, full of the expected projection and drama, lyrically the track is about a witch-hunt. Goldy's solo certainly has fire in it and is well executed. A good opener and album highlight.

Master Of The Moon (the track) was the first track penned for the album, possessing a slow tempo with a Dehumanizer gothic edge for the verse before moving into more melodic pastures for the chorus. The track does take several spins to allow it to grow on you. The bridge works well and moves nicely into a moody solo from Goldy, the track again sounds as if it could have fitted well on Magica.

End Of The World initially had me thinking that there had been a mistake at the CD pressing plant and AC/DC had replaced Dio! The main riff is certainly reminiscent of Back In Black, however the verse blows away any such comparisons. The tempo of the track is again in the mid tempo bracket, yet Goldy ups the heat on the solo, a track that takes a few spins to fully establish itself.

Shivers harks back somewhat to the Strange Highways sound with its dark vibe, the riff isn't quite so negative as a lot of the music there but Dio's lyrics of rats, bats and spiders. The chorus sees more melody injected into the track over which Scott Warren lays down a simple yet effective keyboard motif. Goldy's solo is effective, quite moody and in keeping with the feel of the track.

The Man Who Would Be King is another track that takes a few spins to fully reveal itself, however, the time put in is well worth it as it ends up being a highlight of the album. An eloquent restraint almost classical feel pervades through the track. Scott Warren's highly effective church organ lines create a great hook that really adds to the atmosphere of the track. Ronnie's vocals are very animated here, great feel in the swooping melody lines. Craig Goldy delivers another good moody solo that is perfectly in keeping with the melody of the track, and overall the track with its dark tones stands out.

The Eyes is another highlight. Once again mid paced, yet the simple chugging riff allows Ronnie's vocal melodrama to shine. The chorus sees a little more movement enter the track before the eerie constant pound returns. Lyrically the track is about a paranoiac who feels persecuted and hence believes eyes are following him everywhere. This feel is perfectly conveyed from both Ronnie and band, the sound effects used in the track also yield an even more sinister edge. At just over the 4 minute mark the track sees a new melody enter over the basic chugging riff and its with this the track resolves to some sort of final resolution that sees the track out.

Living The Lie sees the tempo pick up (not drastically so), for another trademark Goldy riff. The track is likely to work well live, and on record it performs equally well. Again the vocal delivery is top notch, swooping and diving between the words with accents in just the right spots - the sound of a vocalist at the top of their craft. The middle section of the track sees a more straight-ahead feel for the Goldy solo that builds nicely. Living The Lie is one of the most immediate tracks on the album.

I Am begins with some sound effects similar to those found in places on Magica before leading into another mid tempo feel albeit with a more upbeat lyrical slant. The verse is relatively mediocre in comparison to other material on offer, yet the chorus more than makes up for this.

Death By Love is another solid enough rocker home to some classic Dio lyrics. The track again takes a few spins to fully unravel its true character yet ultimately is worth it. Goldy's solos here are very tasty working well with the music framework beneath them, perhaps not as flashy as what Aldrich may have contributed they are more than competent in their own right.

In Dreams closes the album with a nice dark tinged almost medieval flare to the riff which reminds me a little of Black Sabbath's Country Girl (from The Mob Rules). The production here is very good, with a crisp sound and the guitar bite well. Dio layers some vocals to excellent effect that sound terrific on the bridge. Goldy delivers a very melodic solo that is well suited to the track and brings back the verse well. This track is another highlight and a good way to end the album.

Master Of The Moon (the album) is perhaps not the Dio album you would expect on first listen. Its not as immediate as Killing The Dragon, yet repeated spins yield rewards and perhaps this goes to show the depth this album has. My initial review was one quite mediocre, and well this isn't up in legendary status it is a very dependable Dio album given time. There is definitely a Dio/Goldy sound much in evidence on Master Of The Moon which hopefully will be further extended on the next album as I feel a year touring behind this album then straight into the studio will yield even stronger results.

Ultimately Dio fans new and old will like Master Of The Moon, just be prepared to give it time.

Hot Spots : One More For The Road, The Man Who Would Be King, The Eyes, In Dreams.
Rating : 88%
 

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DIO - INFERNO: LAST IN LIVE
SPV Records - Out Now

Ok so its been out since 1998 but I've only just recently picked it up and thought it deserved some column space.

This is the Tracy G line up from the Angry Machines tour, this album is generally not well liked by the Dio masses it would seem due to Mr G's contributions, well I say ignore them coz there is some real good stuff here. For the most part this is a good collection of live recording from this tour, the guitar is well up in the mix, Ronnie's vocals are quite a bit rougher than those on the recent live DVD but its still got a great vibe to it.

Whilst Doug Aldrich (Dio's most recent guitarist until the return of Craig Goldy) stuck pretty closely to Viv Campbell, Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore's solos, Tracy G has really gone his own route (due to the fact he can't play them? maybe? but who really cares), what he has done is given many of the tracks here a fresh face and his tone is dirty, and in yer face. Some work some don't but its nice to hear a fresh slant to the majority.

The band is extremely tight throughout and really kick some ass on the likes of Mob Rules, Straight Through The Heart (great to hear that gem live) on which Tracy G throws in a great solo that my none metal liking friend commented as being "tasty". The material from the Tracy G Dio albums (Strange Highways & Angry Machines) also work well in this context.

Overall this album is pretty darn cool, Dio fans get it, look past the fact you are not going to get Campbell etc etc. solos note for note as there is a lot of good stuff here.

Rating - 85%