Metal Reviews

After reading interviews with Ronnie saying he can't really make a long term commitment to Heaven & Hell because he has to finish the Magica triology with Dio (the band) I was left a bit disappointed. I think it's a shame considering the great success they are having touring as H&H at the moment, and I would love to see another album with them. On the other hand they have had troubles cooperating past a few years in the past so maybe it's for the best to keep this as a single year of touring and then be done with it.

I got Magica myself just recently and I haven't had a chance to really form an opinion on it yet. It seems like an ambitious story, I'm not instantly loving the songs though but they'll probably grow on me.

I'm curious to hear what you people think of the album.

Magica is classic Sacred Heart era Dio. Good, but not as good as Holy Diver or Last in line

Very good album. The first half is simply brilliant. Awesome guitar work and Dio is superb as ever. "As Long As It's Not About Love" is one of my all time fav tracks. It's so emotional, it almost brought me to tears. I was a touch disappointed with the last few tracks. Don't remember which ones they were though since it's been quite sometime since I've listened to it. Speaking about that, thanks for reminding me of this album. Will listen to it while having some beer tonite. Mind you, not hear, but listen to it. It will transport me to another world. Although the narration is interesting, the most I could listen to it is twice. That was pretty unnecessary IMHO, he could've just put in some more killer tracks instead of that. From the above post, think I should get Sacred Heart and Last In Line too. Seen it in stores. Howz Lock Up The Wolves and that machine album. Don't remember the name, Killing Machines, Angry Machines? Oh hell, that album by Dio that has machines in it. And Hi Asgardlord.

Ha! I made a Dio CDR yesterday. I ripped all my Dio CDs for some traveling tunes. Magica is a great album. It does kind of crash and burn at the end with the two reprises and the long narrated track, but the actual songs—tracks 3 through 11—are pretty awesome.

I can understand Dio not wanting to commit to Heaven And Hell. He's getting older and I'm sure he wants to complete these Magica albums—there's to be three of them, right?—and commiting long-term to Heaven And Hell is potentially a risk if he wants to acheive whatever goals he may still have set for himself. I would like for him to tour with Heaven And Hell for now. Then complete his next solo album and tour, and then do a studio album with Heaven And Hell. Tour a bit, again, and then finish up whatever solo stuff he has lined up.

At some point in the near future, Dio is bound to just hit that age where he's not going to be able to perform at such a high level, even in the studio. He was supposedly born in 1942, but that's not even confirmed. He's never said how old he is; some people think he's actually older. Even if 1942 is correct, simple logic tells you he doesn't have much time left to be doing what he's doing now.

I find the album contains a lot of strong slow/mid tempo songs (I can listen to it from start to finish), but it's lacking energy, and that's its main downfall. Magica is a bit of a comeback album, it's probably his best release this decade, especially in terms of song writting and emitting the kind of dark, mystical atmosphere that's been missing on certain albums. Honestly, if you're were looking forward to Dio releasing another Black Sabbath album, Magica is a respectable substitute, they have a fair bit in common.

Dio addressed the speed and intensity concern with the release of Killing the Dragon, but lost that dark haunting sound which made Magica so good. I guess it depands on what atmosphere/style you prefer.

Check out this track called "An Angel is Missing" by Ronnie and the Red Caps, which was recorded in 1958, of course with Dio behind the mic. This was a band that Dio formed in high school. Doing the math, you can gather that a birth year of 1942 is about right for RJD.

http://theearlyyears.angen.net/music/An ... issing.mp3

Here's another from Ronnie and the Prophets called "Make it Alone" which was recorded in 1963:

http://theearlyyears.angen.net/music/Go ... _Alone.mp3

There are some other interesting sound bits (Dio doing doo-wop, LOL! from Dio's past at this site:

http://www.dimwhit.com/dio/mp3/index.html

This is a great site; one of the best documentations of RJD's early years I've seen.

Yeah, I've heard all those early tunes. They're interesting, if nothing else. Kind of amazing to listen to those and know it's the same Dio.

Another excellent Dio site is http://www.dio.net. Just a fan site, but you couldn't ask for more Dio info (no audio, though).

EDIT: Wow! I've never heard that many early tunes. Damn. That's a cool site.

Lock up the Wolces is quite good. I think its pretty ok!

DO NOT buy Angry Machines, your sanity depends on this.

Magica - I think its pretty good, but the lack of speed makes it something of a protracted listen. Its certainly full of good songs (love Feed My Head in spite of the silly title) and has a certain atmosphere to it, but it doesn't make it into my CD player very often at all.