Label: Rhino Records (Germany), R2 653887
Style: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Country: Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S. (July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010)
Time: 44:24, 41:36, 73:14, 44:09
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 305, 308, 531, 307 Mb
Charts: US #56, GER #52, JPN #176, SWE #18, UK #13. UK: Silver; US: 2x Platinum.
Imagine being a metalhead in May 1983. Iron Maiden’s fourth LP has just been dropped, and less than a week later, across the Atlantic, you go to the local music store and you see this demon-guy Murray for the first time, on a colorful sleeve with a red, badass, three-lettered logo that reads DIO, and below, next to the chained, drowning priest, the also all-red title that reads Holy Diver. I mean… DAMN! Those crazy 80s were, and still are, THE SHIT! No wonder why there’s all this revival thing going on hard, all the way from Stranger Things to Enforcer. The golden classic era of heavy metal will always be unparalleled. One second it was underground and the next one, all these masterpieces were sold out, topping the charts in many places of the globe, and more importantly, eternally imprinting their sonic potency upon mankind's collective consciousness and art heritage. It was only logical and natural that Black Sabbath’s second frontman first solo endeavor ended up basking in all that glory, and exponentially making it even brighter.
Up to that moment, Ronald James Padavona’s career had been nothing but a constant ascent into the upper echelons of hard rock and heavy metal stardom, due to his gigantic persona (musically speaking) and tremendous talent behind the mic, which led some of the greatest musicians of the genre to seek his services. But with massive success, also came great tension, until Ronnie finally had enough of other people’s egos. Ergo, Dio the band was formed, and the original line up ended up being one of the greatest heavy metal acts of all time, albeit for a shorter time compared to other titans of that category. The replacement of guitarist Jake E. Lee by then virtually unknown and 21-year old Vivian Campbell proved to be one of the defining aspects of the band. His refined riffs and potent solos greatly contributed to the top quality Holy Diver and subsequent releases possessed, another forte of the band’s sound, aside from Dio’s voice. The precise drumming of Vinny Appice and the versatility of Jimmy Bain’s bass and keys completed the first, and for most, best incarnation of Dio’s namesake band.
Catchiness is the name of Holy Diver’s game. This release is teeming with classic cuts played and listened ad nauseam by metalhead’s spanning generational and territorial barriers. The power and dynamism of opener “Stand Up and Shout” recalls the energy of Heaven and Hell’s “Neon Knights”, a sound which Dio himself brought to Sabbath from Rainbow. But also, both band’s epicness wasn’t forgotten, as the iconic title-track demonstrates right away, with its atmospheric intro and mid-paced heaviness, flawlessly elegant. Dio’s softer side is experienced on the timeless power ballad “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, a hymn I wasn’t able to experience live from Dio himself, rather, a great rendition by the late Steve Grimmett, when his Grim Reaper played here in Guadalajara at the once-in-a-lifetime Force Metal Fest in 2015, may he rest in peace too. But there’s enough heaviness in each and every track as to rival anything Dio had done with Sabbath at the time. Side B openers “Straight to the Heart” and “Invisible” (psychedelic intro notwithstanding) are a great one-two punch example of this. Dio employs a gruffier intonation amidst great heavy riffs by Campbell. Arena favorite “Rainbow in the Dark” might be the most iconic track in Dio’s career ever, with those immediately recognizable keyboard melodies that border on the cheesy side of metal.
Dio finally got his wish in not having to compete with any bandmate to create and release his musical vision. The production is crisp and organic, and despite former bandmates claims that Dio always wanted to mix his vocals louder than the rest of the instruments, on his first solo record, there’s a perfect balance between his majestic vocals and potent heavy metal music, just as he wanted. The results were magical, and 40 years later, we celebrate Holy Diver as one of heavy metal’s greatest works, a monumental triumph for the ages to which millions will throw the horns and bang their heads. Though future material would prove to be more ambitious musically, I wouldn’t hesitate to call this one his best. It certainly is his most popular, and with good reason. HOLY DIO!
(metal-archives.com/reviews/Dio/Holy_Diver/452344/) Review by Xyrth. May 27th, 2023
CD1 Holy Diver (2022 Joe Barresi Remix):
01. Stand Up And Shout (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (03:18)
02. Holy Diver (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (06:10)
03. Gypsy (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (03:52)
04. Caught In The Middle (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (04:51)
05. Don’t Talk To Strangers (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (04:54)
06. Straight Through The Heart (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (04:47)
07. Invisible (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (06:15)
08. Rainbow In The Dark (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (04:31)
09. Shame On The Night (Mixed by Joe Barresi) (05:42)
CD2 Holy Diver (2022 Remaster):
01. Stand Up and Shout (03:18)
02. Holy Diver (05:54)
03. Gypsy (03:40)
04. Caught in the Middle (04:15)
05. Don’t Talk to Strangers (04:54)
06. Straight Through the Heart (04:33)
07. Invisible (05:25)
08. Rainbow in the Dark (04:14)
09. Shame on the Night (05:18)
CD3 (Live At Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983):
01. Intro (02:20)
02. Stand Up And Shout (03:18)
03. Straight Through The Heart (04:45)
04. Shame On The Night (05:05)
05. Children Of The Sea (07:03)
06. Holy Diver (09:41)
07. Heaven And Hell (Including Guitar Solo) (20:11)
08. Rainbow In The Dark (05:25)
09. Man On The Silver Mountain (04:03)
10. Startruck (00:47)
11. Man On The Silver Mountain (Reprise) (04:29)
12. Don't Talk To Strangers (06:01)
CD4 (Outtakes, Singles & B-Sides):
01. Evil Eyes (Wyn Davis Remix) (04:24)
02. Don’t Talk To Strangers (Outtake Version 1) (05:03)
03. Invisible (Outtake Version 1) (04:14)
04. Invisible (Outtake Version 2) (05:26)
05. Rainbow In The Dark (Alternative Guitar Solo Version) (04:32)
06. Straight Through The Heart (Outtake Version 1) (04:59)
07. Straight Through The Heart (Outtake Version 2) (04:58)
08. Rainbow In The Dark (7” Mono Edit) (03:24)
09. Evil Eyes (1983 Version - B-Side Of 'Holy Diver') (03:44)
10. Rainbow In The Dark (7” Stereo Edit) (03:22)
Download CD1: TurboBit KatFile FikPer FreeDlink UpLoady
Download CD2: TurboBit KatFile FikPer FreeDlink UpLoady
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