Rocktober Album #17: Dio – Holy Diver

The more that I have come to learn about Ronnie James Dio, the more I like him.  By all accounts, he was one of the nicest, classiest guys in rock.  And, of course, he invented the devil horns, which are now are universally thrown up at just about ever rock concert in the world.

After his stints as the lead singer of Rainbow and Black Sabbath, Dio formed his own band in 1982, continuing to provide hard-hitting, well-written hard rock and metal.  He was a short man, probably 5'5" or so, but he had such a powerful voice for such a small guy.  His band members weren't exactly slouches either.  The guitars are handled by future Whitesnake and Def Leppard member Vivian Campbell.  Drums were handled by the legendary Vinny Appice, who has previously been the drummer for several Rick Derringer albums and for a few Dio-era Black Sabbath albums.  The bass and keyboard player was Jimmy Bain, who had been in Rainbow and played on former Thin Lizzy lead singer Phil Lynott's solo albums.

Holy Diver was the band's first album, and it is a good one, full of catchy hard rock songs with heavy riffs, great lyrics, and a thunderous rhythm section.  The cover of the album features the devil apparently attempting to smite a priest, or maybe a priest breaking away from the devil and diving into the water, making him a holy diver.

1.  "Stand Up and Shout"

The album starts of with power.  This song starts off with a hellacious, fast-paced guitar riff, and then the drums and bass kick in to add bottom.  Of course, Dio's vocals are predictably potent.  Campbell has a white hot guitar solo halfway through.  Good shit.

2.  "Holy Diver"

This is probably Dio's most well-known song, with the possible exception of "Rainbow in the Dark."  It starts off with some howling wind sound effects, and then the heavy, thumping bass and guitar riff.  For me, the bass sticks out on this song.

3.  "Gypsy"

Dio was of Italian descent.  He even took the famed devil horns from his Italian grandmother, who, if she was anything like my Italian grandmother, loved everyone.  Except gypsies.  Given the wrath with which Dio sings in this song, it is safe to say he feels the same way.

4.  "Caught in the Middle"

This is a solid, early '80s hard rock song.

5.  "Don't Talk to Strangers"

Back in the early '80s, stranger danger was at the forefront.  I, for one, was terrified of being kidnapped, so I appreciate that Dio was trying to spread the good word.  This song is a dark rocker, so it provides the perfect medium for the message.

6.  "Straight Through the Heart"

This is another great hard rock song.

7.  "Invisible"

This one is kind of slower, with a snarling riff and a bit of nastiness to it.

8.  "Rainbow in the Dark"

This song is just plain awesome.  From its opening synthesizer riff to Dio's controlled howl.  It's a catchy song that rocks, which is always a nice combination.  Campbell has a nice solo in this one, and the drums are nice as well.

9.  "Shame on the Night"

The album ends with another slower song.  This one relies on Appice to keep the song plodding along.