Review by Sonny for Dio - Holy Diver (1983)

One guy who will need no introduction here is the diminutive legend that is Ronnie James Dio. After his stint as frontman for Rainbow and being one of the very few guys who could replace the irreplaceable Ozzy in Sabbath, RJD decided he had had enough of being told what to do and say by other people and so launched his own "solo" band. The first fruits of Ronnie's new-found independence was Holy Diver and I think it is fair to say it is a classic of 80s heavy metal. With fist-pumping, horns-raising riffs and infectious choruses this is anthemic stuff that has become synonymous with RJD, alongside fantasy lyrics about gypsies, rainbows and low-level occultism.

Even though this is undoubtedly Dio's show, he also surrounded himself with very talented musicians, who crucially wouldn't steal his thunder, in fellow former Sabbath bandmate Vinnie Appice, ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain and young guitarist Vivian Campbell. If you enjoy Ronnie's larger-than-life version of heavy metal (and who doesn't) then there are some belters on here; "Stand Up and Shout", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Rainbow in the Dark" and the title track are all bona fide, horns-raising eighties' metal staples guaranteed to lift the heart and bring a smile to the face of any old metalhead.