If
Ronnie James Dio was my childhood Hero (
“The Butterfly Ball”) he also converted me to the demonic sound
BLACK SABBATH, he was also the main responsible for my love of Heavy Metal and he change the DNA for the Metal music forever…Well, last month, the highly controversy but truly magnificent
“The Purple Album” by
WHITESNAKE was an amazing tribute to
Richie Blackmore/Jon Lord/Tommy Bolin and to the magical music of
DEEP PURPLE era mark III/IV, the whole concept was mistaken by a big part of the community…A big misunderstanding, as the early vision was to make a real honorific demonstration toward those great musicians and their creations…Anyway, in similarity today my review is based upon the superb dual CD published by Massacre Records in order to pay tribute to the late
Ronnie James Dio (R.I.P.) and his different bands, as the legendary
RAINBOW, the Mythical
BLACK SABBATH and the famous
DIO…This is our legacy for us all the orphan Rock ‘n’ Roll children.
The cast of bands who were chosen for this dangerous exercise is almost perfect,
CRYSTAL BALL/
IRON FATE/
THE ORDER and
MESSENGER are among the best, providing some amazing renditions of those classics in a ultra respectful method and some new sonic perspective still in coherence with the original sound and most of all perfectly executed notably concerning the ultra difficult and renowned challenging vocal parts…That’s the first triumph of this compilation, the second accomplishment is that each outfit found its own to interpret those prestigious songs…
CRYSTAL BALL is the most unexpected sensation, the Swiss combo is playing maybe my favorite
SABBATH track ever
“The Sign Of The Southern Cross” in a sublime manner, their opening cover of
“Sacred Heart” was marvellous but
“The Sign Of The Southern Cross” is truly jaw-dropping…Now I have to get their new album
“Liferider” soon, as the band won a new recognition status in my Metal mind!
IRON FATE was ultra convincing in 2010 with their first full length, recommended and ranked in my top 30 album
“Cast In Iron”, their version of
“Light In Black” (
RAINBOW) is clearly one of the highlight of the whole disc!
THE ORDER surprised me with those two
DIO’s tracks namely
“I Could Have Been A Dreamer” & most of all the legendary
“The Last In Line” crafted in full quality and in a superb Heavy way…Impressive!
http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/t_2/the-order-1986.htmMESSENGER used their cover-song already available in the good
“Captain’s Loot” album…
”Don't Talk To Strangers” and the
RAINBOW’s classic
“Kill The King” are reproduced in the most beautiful style…Kudos!
http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/m_2/messenger-captain.htmMichael Ehre’
s LOVE.MIGHT.KILL are maybe a step slightly behind but the superb voice of
Jan Manenti is enough to secured their place in this retrospective report…Indeed, the ultra renowned
“Stand Up And Shout” is fulminant but the choice of
“Hungry For Heaven” is an acquired taste!
If
GLORYFUL has opted for the obvious
“Holy Diver” but they had taken some risk in recording
“Heavy Metal Will Never Die” that was originally recorded with
Ronnie’s cousin
David Rock Feinstein from
THE RODS fame as a single for his solo carrer…It will remains as one of last song recorded by Mr
Ronnie James Dio, also available on the posthumous album
“The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2”.The other groups involved are all still cool or at least fun, most are very meritorious and their covers are always interesting, from ok (
GUN BARREL "Evil Eyes"/
METAL INQUISITOR “King of Rock 'n' Roll”) to very good (
"One Night In The City” by
CIRCLE OF SILENCE or
“I” by
REBELLION) even the gruff vocals of
BURDEN OF GRIEF with
“Neon Nights” are acceptable…The best way to honor the memory of the greatest Metal Singer ever and one of the most influential composer of our time …Shows the devil’s horns
\\,,/!