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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Angry Machines - it's not that bad,
By Jim (OH) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Angry Machines (Audio CD)
Ahh, Angry Machines (1996), the album that is widely regarded to be at the bottom of the Dio barrel. This was the last studio album I needed to finish my Dio collection a little over two years ago; I had held off buying it for as long as possible as a result of the reviews, however it is just not possible to say no to Dio, so I plunked down the $15 to order up a brand new copy.
Imagine my surprise on my first listen when I found myself enjoying the album. I had prepared myself to be bummed out by the album, but what I found is that it is actually worth listening to (which at times is more then I can say about 90% of Lock up the Wolves.) I find Strange Highways to be one of Dio's stronger works, and while this is not necessarily the best way to follow it up, it certainly isn't the worst. In fact, just looking at the lyrics, it's easy to see Dio has actually progressed, embraced the 90's, and tried something new. Granted, the lyrics are still laced with Dioisms ("another burning by the devil") they still are a cut above, I would say, most of the Dio solo lyrics, and frankly, just about all the lyrics that followed this album (Magica - terrible, Killing the Dragon - embarassing, Master of the Moon - we're getting better, sorta). Of course, lyrics are not really a Dio srongsuit - his strength lies in songwriting. Unfortunately for Angry Machines, its major weakness is it's songwriting. To be sure, there are some good songs here, but most are average, or worse. They suffer from odd arrangements, poor mixes, and a general sense of "What the hell is going on here?" The album kicks off with "Institutional Man", which is actually a damn good song. It starts with a thudding Tracy G riff (with some eerie clean work in the background.) Dio sounds as creepy as ever here. In fact, this song really evokes some darkness from Dio - and he sometimes actually sounds like he is insane. I like Tracy G's work here a lot. Pounding riffs, thudding riffs, and frantic solos lay the foundation for a track that sounds incredibly out of place with 95% of Dio's catalog. "Don't Tell The Kids" starts of great. Vinnie actually realizes he has feet, and G kicks in with a rockin' riff. This song is fast and furious. I don't really care for the voice (I hate to say it, but Dio is the weakest linke here...) - that said, it's still not bad. The rest of the song never matches up to the intro. Unfortunately this song is forgettable. We started off great, but we're losing steam already... does "Black" pick things back up? Sorta. I like the riffing here, but I don't like the Dio... he's just not cut out for screaming. That said, this song isn't all bad... but still, it's not moving the album forward enough. Fortunately "Hunter of the Heart", with a slick little bass intro, kicks the proceedings back up a notch. I love the main riff in this song. This is a good song, but suffers from the production. Listen to the live version of this song on Last in Live - much better. That's due to the mix. It just lacks teeth here. "Stay Out Of My Mind" is the longest song here, clocking in at 7:11 (no, really). I like this song too. Good intro, good chorus (Dio's doin' nice here). It is a bit too long though. "Big Sister" is weird. The last song evoked some 1984's sentiments, and this sorta does in its title. I like the keyboards on this song. They add a nice touch, without going overboard. I don't like the chorus on this track though. "Double Monday" is a short, fast-paced tune. I can't say I really like it, but it's pretty good (I think the title is pretty stupid though...) The last three songs represent the highlight of the album for me. We start off with "Golden Rules". I love this song. It's a mid-tempo rocker. Dio sounds good here, so does G. Then we have "Dying In America" - another good one. Maybe even the best song of the album. Starts of slow and quiet and builds from there. I think this song captures the overall style Dio was shooting for with this album. It really works here. Dio modernizes his sound and maintains the songwriting. "This Is Your Life" sounds nothing like the rest of the album. It's extremely out of place. On this song we find Dio backed by piano. It's overly dramatic, features some damn good vocals from Dio, and, well hell, is damn good. The lyrics drip with Dioisms, but who cares, the words just SOUND good coming from Dio. There's also some synths that add another layer of acessibility to the song. Props to Dio on this song Overall, I find Angry Machines to be a misguided effort. Dio's worst? No. Best? No. A little help in the production and songwriting departments would've gone a long way to making this album better. I think if Dio would've worked at it, and taken the best elements of Dehumanizer, Strange Highways, and Angry Machines he could've had an awesome album on his hands. Unfortunately after Angry Machines, he regressed back into slow, overly keyboardic, fantasy, diatribe.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who Controls Dio's Mind?,
By
This review is from: Angry Machines (Audio CD)
Angry Machines is not a hit with Dio fans, you'll be reading quite a bit of that here. I'm not about to tell you to go out and buy it coz you just might not care for it yourself. Majority rules, right? I'm just telling my Angry Machines tale. I like it, yessiree Bob, I do! Most are pointing out that this album moves very slow. That is true, but doesn't Killing The Dragon? Magica? Dio has had some up tempo songs throughout his career, but usually his songs are a bit on the mid-paced/slower side. Angry Machines is no exception to that rule though the guitars are a little more on the heavier side, making this sound a little like a cd full of Dehumanizer tunes minus the faster ones. Ironically enough this cd has probably one of the fastest(if not the fastest) Dio songs I've ever heard(Don't Tell The Kids). I figure most folks don't like this coz of the heavier sound and slower pacing. I can't say I agree with people saying that Dio was going for a more modern sound with this one. Like Dio's suddenly gonna win over all the Linkin Park fans out there. Heavier for sure, but I don't think Dio was going for a chart topping album here. Besides, this is Dio. He's the oldest and most respected metal singer in history, he's paid his dues time and again. I'd think the guy's earned the right to put out just about anything he damn well pleases. Not that he would, but I wouldn't give the guy grief if he put out a rap album(that would be weird!). I was like most people when I first heard this-I thought it was boring. In fact I thought it was boring the next two times I listened to it. Persistence paid off however and I realized that I really liked this. Took quite a few listens, but I can now identify one song from another and I like it quite a bit. Appice's drumming is very good here(not that anyone cares coz we don't listen to Dio for the drumming) and Dio's singing is.....Dio's singing. So in closing, I'm not saying to run out and buy Angry Machines, but at least give it the time of day. Dio deserves it, doesn't he?
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Rainbow in the dark for all true Dio fans,
By
This review is from: Angry Machines (Audio CD)
Whan you're a Dio fan you have to expect a number of things. Lyrics of medieval fantasy and mystic variety, repatition of curtain phrases from past albums such as Rainbow's, eyes and my all time favourite line Digital Dreams. But the main point to this, is that as Dio fans, you come to expect constantly altinating line-up's and album styles. It is this reason that I consider Angry Machines to be nothing more than a triumph.
If you have a day with nothing to do and you own all or nearly all of Dio's albums I recomend that you listen to them all back to back in order and you will hear how his sound has changed and progressed since Holy Diver. The album itself is yet more proof that Ronnie refuses to be tied down to one style of music. I am fed up of hearing people say "I'm Dio's biggest fan but every album after Last in Line is crap." If they were truely Dio fans then they would recognise the greatness of albums such as Dream Evil, Strange Highways and my personal favourite Lock up the Wolves. Angry Machines is a heavier album even than Strange Highways and it does not exactly have what people would consider 'structured' songs. The songs convay the exact feeling of the album, its angry, careless attitude is brought out perfectly in songs like Stay Out of My Mind. The album thunders along becoming steadily angrier until it seems that Dio has exausted all his rage and ends the album with the beautiful track This is Your Life. This consists only of a piano and Ronnie singing some of the most powerful lyrics I have ever heard. this is the best song of the album along with Hunter of the Heart. If you're one of those 'so-called' Dio fans who hate everything that doesn't start with 'Holy' and end with 'Diver' then it's pointless you even buying it. but for you real fans of the greatest band and the greatest singer of all time, then if you buy this album you will be treated to a album of character and power. Dio Rocks. It's a fact.
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