Customer Reviews

Holy Diver

5 star:		(134)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

More than any other singer in rock and roll and/or heavy metal, Ronnie James Dio has had the longest, most prolific career. His career has lasted for more than 40 years and has gone through more ups and downs than anyone can imagine. It's a shame that Dio doesn't get enough acclaim, because he was around before bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple forged the heavy hard rock revolution, so that alone makes him the true pioneer. Anyway, enough of me ranting.

HOLY DIVER is an all-time heavy metal classic. It was the debut of Dio's self-moniker band, featuring Jimmy Bain on bass, Vinny Appice on drums, and a talented young guitarist named Vivian Campbell. This was also Dio's comeback release. After a stint with Elf in the early '70s, he joined Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow later in the decade. Soon he left, and became the new lead singer of Black Sabbath, replacing Ozzy. After a fallout with Tony Iommi during the making of Sabbath's first live album (LIVE EVIL), Dio had a lot to prove. Thus, he embarked on his solo career and made a searing impression with HOLY DIVER.

With his own band, Dio basically combined the epic, medevial imagery of Rainbow with the blistering heaviness of Sabbath to forge his own sound. Needless to say, this combo works extremely well. Every song on here is a winner. "Stand Up and Shout" is a fiery opener with great energy and speedy riffs. The mini-epic title track is a masterpiece, starting out slowly with an extended, lush keyboard intro and never letting up once the heaviness kicks in. Great drumming from Vinny on this song. "Don't Talk to Strangers" starts out as a power ballad-type track with some nice acoustic work, but it segues into becoming another hard rocker. Dio's vocals and lyrics are especially great in this track.

Both "Gypsy" and "Straight Through the Heart" are crunchy, melodic rockers with more great riffs and catchy choruses. My absolute favorite song on the album is the powerful "Invisible." This song has a spacey, atmospheric guitar intro from Vivian (very similar to Iron Maiden's "Strange World"), but stops suddenly and turns into an explosive metal feast. And let's not forget "Rainbow in the Dark," one of the best metal singles ever released in the '80s, with an awesome guitar solo from Campbell. Vivian is such a good player. What happened to him? Have you heard his stuff with Def Leppard? He sounds horrendous with them. Oh, well. That's what he gets for leaving Dio.

I have nothing else to say. HOLY DIVER is an unforgettable metal masterpiece, and it won't be leaving my CD player (or yours for that matter) anytime soon.

Dio left Rainbow and left Sabbath, but brought the best of three worlds with him. His first solo album, Holy Diver, is a magnificent encomium to metal pioneers like Ritchie Blackmore and the Sabs. But Dio does not imitate--he creates and his creation of great driving loud songs combined with strange mystifying lyrics have propelled him into stardom, as well as the album, which remains one of Warner Brothers top selling albums of all time. Dio had worked with the leaders of the established metal tradition and, not only followed it, but added a greater amount of focus and intelligence. A metal classic and one that will be played until the very end.

How can you not call this album a classic? Personally, Rainbow in the Dark is my favorite song on here, but every single track is great in it's own right. One of the top 10 metal albums of all-time, from one of the greatest singers to ever rock the mic. Rest In Peace Ronnie James Dio, you will be missed. \m/

Released in the same year as Iron Maiden's "Piece of Mind" and Metallica's "Kill em All", "Holy Diver" had the great honor of being placed at the forefront of the juggernaut that was (and still is) the 80's metal scene. When I say "metal", I ain't talkin about no Korn or Limp Bizkit, this is REAL metal! Back in the days where "metal" had a good connotation (if you don't look at the big hair stuff, anyways). It's not hard to see why this album is considered a classic. It's full of heavy riffs, good musicianship, and plentiful melody. And, of course, there's Ronnie's killer vocals. This is considerably slower than his stuff with Sabbath, and the musicians aren't quite as good, but it's still great music. Songs like "Rainbow in the Dark" and the title track are metal classics, but it doesn't stop there. Check out "Don't Talk to Strangers", and the excellent "Invisible" (what a riff!). But, the whole album is good. If you like metal (and I mean REAL metal!), you need to buy this. Also buy "Rising", by Rainbow and "Heaven & Hell", by Black Sabbath. HAIL METAL!!!!!

I can remember hearing the song Holy Diver on the Friday night radio show Metal Shop back in 83. I didn't take to it right away but after I got the album I played it over and over. Ronnie is of course one of the greatest singers period. His vocals on this album are superb as always. The lyrics to Holy Diver and Don't Talk To Strangers are classic Dio. But the main feature was this new guy on guitar named Vivian Campbell. His guitar tone was crisp and cut like a knife. The solos to Holy Diver, Rainbow In The Dark, and Invisible are some of the best ever! The riffs to Caught In The Middle and Stand Up And Shout crush. I still think this is the best Dio album ever with Last In Line a close second. I may even have to put it over other classic albums featuring Dio like Sabbath's Heaven & Hell (blasphemy!) and Rainbow Rising (gasp!). The latest DVD is great. Ronnie sounds as good as ever and Doug's playing is on fire. Keep rocking Ronnie!

This is about as close to a perfect album as you can get. With Ronnie's voice, Vivian Campbells guitars, and awesome drum work Vinnie Appice (the bass [playing is good also, but I can't remember his name although I believe it is Jimmy Bain). I truly believe Vivian Campbell is one of the best guitarist around and that Vinnie Appice is one of the best drummers you never hear about (just listen to The Last In Line cd and you'll understand). Holy Diver, Stand Up And Shout, and Gypsy are awesome songs, but I believe the cream of the crop is Rainbow in the Dark. Everything comes together on this song as it explodes with power and intensity. An incredible debut album. A must for any metal fan.

I would atleast put it in the top three.

A good album has songs that stick in your head and that are memorable, this is one of them. I listened to this all the time way back when i was a young teenager, but have not listened to it in years since then, but i still remember all of the songs and how effing good they were. Simply put, this thing is timeless, can't say that about too many of todays bands/music.

Ronnie's first solo effort was his best IMHO, 'Last in Line' was great too, but it seemed like it was trying to copy what this album already did. Everybody knows the tune "Rainbow in the Dark", but i think it is one of the weaker tracks on this fine platter of metal, the title track is in my book the definative heavy metal song by which all others should be judged. My favorite track though is "Strait Through The Heart", the guitar work is very angry and emotional to match Dio's heartfelt singing.

Why on gods green earth did Vivian Campbell leave RDJ to have a career playing in clished hair metal bands like WhiteSnake and Def Leppard? I saw footage of a old Dio show when Vivian was still the guitarist, and i could not belive how awesome this guy was with the 6-string, now he's playing back-up guitar to such trash as "Photograph" and "Foolin". This is very sad, kind of like how Mickey Dee used to play in this amazingly talented and original band called KING DIAMOND, and is now playing for this glorified bar-band called Motorhead. There should be laws against wasting talent like this.

Every track on this albums is perfect, there is no filler at all. "Stand Up And Shout" is the first and fastest song, it kicks off the album and really gets you pumped up. The song "Gypse" is another one of my favs, it's got groove and a catchy riff. Listen to the lyrics in "Don't Talk To Stangers", you will find a lot of truth in them, as i did. Even though the cover of this album looks evil, the music is really about good triumping over evil. Don't be fooled by Dio's devil mascot "Muray", this is really motivational metal, unlike some metal bands (i.e. Slayer, Mercyful Fate) that take pleasure in worshipping satan and have a negative and downbeat feeling to the music. When people talk about the best metal album that came out in 83, Iron Maiden's "Piece of Mind" often gets alot of nods and many belive that it is, but i personaly think HOLY DIVER utterly destroys "Piece". There were a lot of great metals albums back then, but this by far had more feeling and personality then anything put out back then.

HOLY DIVER should get 10 stars instead of 5, but they won't let me go that far so it will have to do for now. This album simply slays everything else out there, with the exception of maybe Sabbath's "Heaven & Hell" (another Dio masterwork)and the Scorpions "Blackout" record. If you have any interest in this gendre at all, i would recommend this album be your first.

If you dont buy Holy Diver you should die (like the priest on the cover). If you are a metal fan you might even worship this album. And its Sung by "RONNIE JAMES DIO" one of the greatest metal vocalists ever.
Below is the review i give for each song on the album.

1. Stand up and Shout: Standing up and shouting is what you will be doing after listening to this metal anthem. This song really draws you into the rest of the album.
I give it 10/10

2. Holy Diver: (Hint the cover picture,which i think is hilarious with the title of the album). This song scared me at first. I was getting ready to fall asleep one night, and i thought the wave effects at the beg. of the track were soothing. Then very abruptly came a gut wrenching guitar riff. I didnt fall asleep for another 2 hours!
I give it 10/10

3. Gypsy: This song has great lyrics and an awesome beat. (Not to mention dio's vocals on this track). Another great song.
I give it 10/10

4. Caught in the Middle: A really great song. I dont want to write a review for this song it would take a really long time. Seeing that it is an amazing song.
I give it 10/10

5. Don't Talk To Strangers: My favorite song on the album! The only drawback is that it has a really lame intro. But just like Holy Diver it jumps into a hellish feeling song(which i love). THE HEAVIEST SONG ON THE ALBUM!
I give it 10/10 and beyond.

6. Straight Through the Heart: Another awesome song!
I give it 9/10

7. Invisible: This song has a very touching poem as an intro written by dio. The rest of the song is kick @$$
I give it 10/10

8. Rainbow in the Dark: Another awesome song on the album.
I give it 9.5/10

9. Shame on the Night: Classic!
I give it 10/10

Just buy it! And make all of your friends buy it. We need to get rap music out of our world lets start HERE!

Perhaps the best metal recording of my youth. Song for song one of the greatest metal/rock and roll albums you will find. From the first note of Stand Up and Shout, DIO demands your attention...now, 20 some odd years later, it holds up, and then some. The title track was our Southern Comfort "shot" song.
Don't pass this one by...

This is the first Dio album i bought and it absolutly blew me away. I bought it because I had heard Holy Diver, and Rainbow in the dark on the radio and they were just awsome. I put it in expecting to not like much else but the first song Stand Up and Shout really blew me away. Don't talk to Strangers, Strait through the Heart, and Shame on the Night accompany those other great songs to make this album a classic. AS ussual dio's lyrics are beutiful and really make you think. It's well known Dio loves to use Midevil type lyrics but thats not really the case on this album, they very a lot but seems overall to be a sad and lonely theme that dio uses his great singing voice to maximize. This might be the best rock album ever