The 1983 release Holy Diver was the first album by Dio, a band formed by legendary singer Ronnie James Dio immediately following his abrupt departure from Black Sabbath the previous year. An immediate multi-platinum success, it is an album that has stood the test of time and is now recognized as a classic metal masterpiece.
THE PACKAGING: The first thing you'll notice when you pick up Holy Diver is the terrific cover art featuring a demon (nicknamed Murray) drowning a priest. This created a great deal of controversy when it appeared in 1983, a time when concern over alleged satanism in rock music was beginning to run rampant. Murray would go on to be featured on a number of other Dio album jackets. The liner notes are pretty much just bare essentials, including a tracklist, credits, and a printing of the introductory lyrics to the song "Invisible".
THE BAND: To record Holy Diver Dio enlisted a group of stellar performers, including several he had worked with in the past. Virtuoso drummer Vinnie Appice came over from Black Sabbath with him, and bassist Jimmy Bain had been a member of the incredible lineup that recorded Rainbow's Rising. The lineup was rounded out by a young guitarist named Vivian Campbell, previously of an Irish hard rock band called Sweet Savage.
THE SOUND: If you're familiar with RJD's previous work you'll notice right off that this doesn't sound much like the music he recorded with Black Sabbath or Rainbow. It lacks the dark, brooding heaviness of the Sabbath recordings and the thoughtful classicism of early Rainbow. This album is characterized by energy and vitality, due in large part to the contributions of Vivian Campbell. Campbell's playing on this album is pure fire and passion, augmented by a great sense of melody. The rhythm section is equally impressive, featuring virtuoso drumming courtesy of skinsman Vinnie Appice and tight, in-the-pocket bass provided by Jimmy Bain. RJD is as wailing strong as ever, turning in a vocal performance both passionate and powerful. Keyboards are featured in a few places, played reasonably well by Bain and RJD. RJD himself produced the album with remarkable results for a first attempt. Although slightly lacking in bottom, the recording is very crisp with every instrument clearly audible and there's a certain shimmer to the top end that augments the album's aura of vitality. The vocals and guitars in particular are very well recorded. A lot of reviewers seem to think a remaster would be a great idea, but I really don't see what they think is wrong. All a remaster is going to do is increase the levels and squash all the dynamic range out of the recording. Why would you want to do that?
THE SONGS: The album kicks off in rip-roaring fashion with the scorching rocker "Stand Up And Shout". This is followed by the atmospheric title track which I believe is a carefully veiled attack on organized religion, nicely in keeping with the jacket art. This tune has gone on to become one of Dio's great classics and a concert standard. "Gypsy" is next, and although my least favorite track on the record is STILL a great tune, a hard rocker that's lyrically reminiscent of "Lady Evil" from the Black Sabbath days. After this comes two of my personal favorites, first the melodic rocker "Caught In The Middle" and then "Don't Talk To Strangers", which starts out like a ballad before kicking into overdrive. Two great heavy rock tunes are next, "Straight Through The Heart" and Invisible". Then comes arguably the most identifiable Dio song, the timeless "Rainbow In the Dark" with it's insistent keyboard melody and catchy chorus. The album closes with the slow, stately "Shame On The Night", another of my favorites from this album.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Ten of ten... this album has absolutely no weak spots and stands today as one of Ronnie James Dio's finest moments. If you like heavy metal, get this album. If you don't like heavy metal, get this album anyway. Gene Kodadek
THE PACKAGING: The first thing you'll notice when you pick up Holy Diver is the terrific cover art featuring a demon (nicknamed Murray) drowning a priest. This created a great deal of controversy when it appeared in 1983, a time when concern over alleged satanism in rock music was beginning to run rampant. Murray would go on to be featured on a number of other Dio album jackets. The liner notes are pretty much just bare essentials, including a tracklist, credits, and a printing of the introductory lyrics to the song "Invisible".
THE BAND: To record Holy Diver Dio enlisted a group of stellar performers, including several he had worked with in the past. Virtuoso drummer Vinnie Appice came over from Black Sabbath with him, and bassist Jimmy Bain had been a member of the incredible lineup that recorded Rainbow's Rising. The lineup was rounded out by a young guitarist named Vivian Campbell, previously of an Irish hard rock band called Sweet Savage.
THE SOUND: If you're familiar with RJD's previous work you'll notice right off that this doesn't sound much like the music he recorded with Black Sabbath or Rainbow. It lacks the dark, brooding heaviness of the Sabbath recordings and the thoughtful classicism of early Rainbow. This album is characterized by energy and vitality, due in large part to the contributions of Vivian Campbell. Campbell's playing on this album is pure fire and passion, augmented by a great sense of melody. The rhythm section is equally impressive, featuring virtuoso drumming courtesy of skinsman Vinnie Appice and tight, in-the-pocket bass provided by Jimmy Bain. RJD is as wailing strong as ever, turning in a vocal performance both passionate and powerful. Keyboards are featured in a few places, played reasonably well by Bain and RJD. RJD himself produced the album with remarkable results for a first attempt. Although slightly lacking in bottom, the recording is very crisp with every instrument clearly audible and there's a certain shimmer to the top end that augments the album's aura of vitality. The vocals and guitars in particular are very well recorded. A lot of reviewers seem to think a remaster would be a great idea, but I really don't see what they think is wrong. All a remaster is going to do is increase the levels and squash all the dynamic range out of the recording. Why would you want to do that?
THE SONGS: The album kicks off in rip-roaring fashion with the scorching rocker "Stand Up And Shout". This is followed by the atmospheric title track which I believe is a carefully veiled attack on organized religion, nicely in keeping with the jacket art. This tune has gone on to become one of Dio's great classics and a concert standard. "Gypsy" is next, and although my least favorite track on the record is STILL a great tune, a hard rocker that's lyrically reminiscent of "Lady Evil" from the Black Sabbath days. After this comes two of my personal favorites, first the melodic rocker "Caught In The Middle" and then "Don't Talk To Strangers", which starts out like a ballad before kicking into overdrive. Two great heavy rock tunes are next, "Straight Through The Heart" and Invisible". Then comes arguably the most identifiable Dio song, the timeless "Rainbow In the Dark" with it's insistent keyboard melody and catchy chorus. The album closes with the slow, stately "Shame On The Night", another of my favorites from this album.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Ten of ten... this album has absolutely no weak spots and stands today as one of Ronnie James Dio's finest moments. If you like heavy metal, get this album. If you don't like heavy metal, get this album anyway. Gene Kodadek
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