Holy Diver- - Dio

Holy Diver is Dio's debut album, an album released in 1983 on various labels having been recorded at Sound City Studios in Fortuna, California. The album is a classic album by the outfit formed by ex Sabbath and Rainbow singer Ronny James Dio also featured fellow ex Sabbath drummer Vincent Appice as well as ex Sweet Savage guitarist Vivian Campbell and ex Rainbow bass player Jimmy Bain. Despite the music being the very definition of plain heavy metal, the vocals hold quite a hard rock sound, in my opinion. The tracks are incredibly catchy and easy to remember, full of superb rythm with bursts of thick heavy sound softened with quieter parts as well as both ...  Read the complete review

Like Ozzy Osbourne before him, Ronnie James Dio departed Black Sabbath and achieved great success with his solo career - also similar to Osbourne, Dio's debut album remains his most well-known, commonly regarded as one of the heavy metal classics. While this legendary status isn't entirely deserved, there really is not better album to encapsulate American heavy metal of the eighties, even if the British bands tended to be more impressive. Dio's trademark wailing and soaring vocals combined with Vivian Campbell's creative and irresistible guitar riffs make songs like the title track instant favourites, and this album is also notable for containing one of Dio's ...  Read the complete review