Customer Reviews

Holy Diver Live

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This fall performance of the 2005 (that's right...2005!) Holy Diver tour was captured live at London's Astoria. Holy Diver Live features the Holy Diver album in its entirety, from start to finish, recorded live with other Dio, Rainbow and Black Sabbath classics.

Even better....this show will be released on DVD May 30, 2006 in the US according to the band's website. So why buy this CD? Well, one could argue that the performance is a refreshing, revitalized collection of some of the best Dio material making it worthy of having in your car or wherever it is you listen to your music.

I, on the other hand, love Dio's studio work and would much prefer it to the versions on this Live collection. Most of the songs that you want in a Dio collection are here on this CD, and they are all performed superbly (for a guy that's been pumping out screaming Heavy Metal for more than 30 years). But in my opinion the release of the DVD performance of this show replaces entirely the need for ANOTHER Dio live CD.

HOWEVER, the upcoming DVD release is some of the best, most exciting Metal news to come out this year so far.

As I said in my Amazon review of Dio's "We Rock" DVD (a 2005 release of a couple of shows circa 1983), I was hoping that the boys would reunite and record a show with high quality audio/video...Wish granted!!!....Almost.

Missing are Jimmy Bain, Vinnie Appice and Viv Cambell. In are a group of guys with some impressive resumes: Rudy Sarzo on Bass, Simon Wright on Drums, Doug Aldrich on guitar (Craig Goldy was out on injured reserve) and Scott Warren on keyboards.

Regardless, based on how well the songs sound on this CD, the ability to watch Dio do the classics recorded with today's technology (versus the 1983 junk audio/video on We Rock) will be nothing short of a front row seat to the actual performance.

So I'd say if you're a die-hard Dio fan and must have everything he releases then go ahead and hit the buy button for this CD...it's very good. But if you can wait for the true live performance experience of actually seeing what you're hearing and you don't need (more) live versions to listen to on the go, then wait for the DVD on May 30....I have my calendar marked!

I got this a day early and paid a premium price, but I guess it was worth it:) The inner sleeve tries to tell a tale of when this was performed but it is hard to follow, it was written so poorly making it appear to either be '95 or '05.

The band:

Best I can figure this was recorded with Doug on guitar in 2005, (though no pics of the guitarist... petty) and it really shines. He really hits the little Viv nuances (I agree, he is VERY Randy Rhoads) and Ronnie sounds like he is devouring the songs whole. Rudy is in there pumping away, sadly he isn't as loud as Jimmy Bain once was, though he's thrice the bassist. I never cared a lot for Simon on drums but he surely gets the job done. I would have preferred all the original members be on board as opposed to ONE member, though when that one member is RJD... whose complaining? :)

The songs:

Hard to go wrong with the flagship Dio disc, not too mention all in order and live with '05 production. I could have done without the opening intro dialogue bits and though Gypsy starts with a howl (what's that all about?) that would make Mike Tramp cringe all in all the songs are great. The second disc was hit or miss for me. It was amazing to hear 'Babylon' live (may be the best here) and of course who would have thought 'One Night in the City' (LiL's hidden gem) would rear its lovely head? Not I! Sadly, we are treated to 'Heaven and Hell' for the umpteenth time while 'Lonely is the Word' and 'Wishing Well' once again wait in the wings. Maybe next time on 'Last in Line Live':)

The conclusion:

I wish I could give this 5 stars but some of the songs aren't as fluent as Viv would have played'em and the song selection isn't all it could have been. The pics are puzzling but after all is said you MUST have this Dio cd for your collection, it is far superior to the shredfest of 'Last in Live' and it gives a little glimpse into what Doug can do, I for one miss his potential even if Killing the Dragon didn't reveal it all. This disc was worth the purchase just to hear 'Invisible' live for the first time since... 1983. I had contemplated just getting the DVD and not this, however... HOLY DIVER + played while driving = Holy Driver:)

Well, I am a big fan of RJD's music, but this is not a great album. I'm disappointed in a couple of things: the first is the mix. The vocals are mixed way up front and are much more dominant than the music. Of course, with Dio, people love his voice, so it may not be a problem for most listeners. However, this leads to my second disappointment - his voice does NOT sound good here. It sounds hoarse, tired and old. Now, RJD has had recent live releases that sound much better, like Evil or Divine. Because of this, I think RJD just had an off night or was not 100% healthy. At least I like to think this instead of thinking that the great one is losing it. I saw Dio a couple of years ago and Ronnie sounded very good then - so that's another reason for me to think he was just off his game the night this was recorded. Otherwise, good music here, good guitar solo in Shame On The Night and a good song selection from the non-Holy Diver tracks (Disc 2) - although my personal peeve is that both "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll" and "We Rock" were included. I thought it was unnecessary to include both of these, especially since I don't like either one, but that's my personal opinion. Anyway, I would recommend one of his other live albums over this.

Very happy to see "Tarot Woman", which is my favorite Rainbow song of all time. The band sounds great, and so does RJD, though they are playing these songs in lower kets to accomodate his aging voice. If you are a Dio fan, this will not disappoint.

In 2005, Dio toured Europe, and as part of that tour, they played some dates called "An Evening with Dio". These shows were unique in that it has been the only time ever that Dio has played the whole of the Holy Diver album live. The show was longer than a usual set it appeared, as in addition to Holy Diver, a collection of songs from the rest of his career were played.

This double live CD is a recording of one of these shows, and while there's starting to be a lot of live Dio albums, this is definitely worthy, because of the live Holy Diver, and some rare live songs (Gates of Babylon leaps to mind).

If you're a fan of older Dio and especially his work in Rainbow and Black Sabbath, then you should check this one out.

Granted, Ronnie James Dio and his namesake band have pretty much flooded the market with live albums in the last 10 years or so (first came "Inferno: Last in Live", then "Evil or Devine", and now this), and while you may or may not be a big fan of these kind of albums (I am...for the most part...), the truth is that this one should be analyzed and judged in a totally different light from its predecessors.

"Inferno: Last in Live" was Dio's first full length live album (previously we've only had the "Intermission" EP, which incidentally is out of print in the US and a few live tracks included on import greatest hits cds), so it made perfect sense after almost 20 years of career. "Evil or Devine" was mostly a record company afterthought, culled from a DVD release of the same name, in an effort to cash in just a little more.

Thus, "Holy Diver Live" is only Dio's second "real" live album (at least the second truly intended to be released in that form). And once again, there was fair justification for it: it was recorded on the heels of the re-release of the remastered, original first outing by the band, "Holy Diver" (outside the US, that is). So the timing was right for Ronnie and his gang to do something different, something unexpected, something fun. And so they did. In the final leg of their British tour, they performed the "Holy Diver" album in its entirety for the first time, some of its song having NEVER been performed live. This performance makes for the first CD of this package, and it is meant for Dio (the band) fanatics. In addition to that, they played a selection of tracks spanning all of Ronnie's legendary career (well, almost all...no Elf tracks here...) and those songs are included here as the second CD, a true treat to Ronnie's fans.

Lets take a look at them separately: according to the liner notes included with the release (which erroneously place the performance in the year 1995, when the it actually took place in 2005), the show began with a trio of songs that were placed on the second CD, with the "Holy Diver Live" segment taking place "in the middle" of the show. CD one starts then with a spoken intro by the man himself. The first thing that I wish to say about this album is a note for newcomers: if this is your first try at the live Dio experience, you might (and probably will) be surprised by the downtuning of the guitars (one whole step down). Dio (the band) have in fact downtuned for some songs ever since their very first tour (I never really understood why...), but the usual was to go down ½ a step. Unfortunately, time passes by and it takes its toll.

Don't get me wrong, Ronnie can still outsing most singers in their 20's (if I can sing ½ as much as him by the time I'm his age, I'd be satisfied...), but the reality is that he can no longer manage a 2 hour show in standard tuning. That means that if your only references to Dio are the studio albums, you might find yourself a bit disappointed by this fact. But for the longtime fan, those who've been to the shows over the years, this is just matter of fact. Once you get past that detail, the band fires up with great intensity: Simon Wright on drums (AC/DC, Rhino Bucket, UFO), Scott Warren (Berlin, Warrant) on keyboards, Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, etc) on bass and the (provisionally) reinstated Doug Aldrich on guitars (Lion, Whitesnake) filling in for the injured Craig Goldy. And of course, RDJ, the finest voice in hard rock. Ever. This band really kicked arse!

I had the chance to witness a Dio show less than a year after the release of this album, where they performed the bulk of the songs herein. But I have to say, for the record, that I liked the sound of this CD better, and that is due in no small part to the presence of Aldrich: the show I saw featured Goldy, and I must say that at least in my modest opinion, Aldrich is the superior choice, being more lyrical and loose, while Goldy seemed to be a little too rigid for my taste.

So, just as the original studio CD, this one opens with a powerful "Stand up and Shout", which runs you over in a blink of an eye and sets the tone for the rest of the performance, fusing at the end with the immortal title track, which brilliantly brings the pace down for a true classic in the vein of Sabbath's "Heaven & Hell". Next up is "Gypsy", another fast and heavy track that quickly gets the blood rushing. It includes Simon Wright's drum solo, not exactly a highlight for me, but hey, if you like drums... "Caught in the Middle" is MY personal favorite of the original album (I guess it's `cos it's the one that sounds somewhat out of place...) and while this version is quite potent, it didn't really do it for me. "Don't Talk to Strangers", on the other hand, is a masterpiece in any context, and here it's no exception, slowly building up momentum and then shifting gears...brilliant!

"Straight through the Heart" is another highlight, just as powerful as its studio counterpart, really shinning in the live setting. "Invisible" is another one of my favorites, following a similar formula as "Don't talk...", starting slow and quiet and then slamming you right in the face, this is another winner. And without a moment's respite, the classic "Rainbow in the Dark" proves that 20 some odd years haven't taken any of its glory away. Finally, the first CD closes with the slow burning "Shame on the Night"; for the record, I must say this: initially, I didn't like this song, I didn't get it, I thought it was out on place on the album. But eventually I got it, and it became one of my favorites. This live version is awesome, also featuring and extended guitar solo spot that totally cooks and "Holy Diver Revisited".

And on to the second CD: if the first one was a treat for Dio devotees, this one is a true treasure for RJD fans: it includes some of the finest tunes ever to be graced with the man's voice, and the performances are truly awesome: the band is absolutely killer throughout, even going as far as stealing some of the spotlight. Rainbow's "Tarot Woman" makes what might very well be its very first ever live appearance, only some 29 odd years after being originally recorded, and it is fantastic! "The Sign of the Southern Cross", while only partially performed, is a nice addition, and it meshes seamlessly with Dio's own "One night in the City".

Rainbow's "Gates of Babylon", one of the band's greatest moments, is presented in all of its glory, the crown jewel of the show in my humble opinion. The timeless "Heaven & Hell" is another triumph, even superior to the version included in the live album by the band of the same name. "Man on the Silver Mountain" begins the final stretch on the show in great fashion, including a snippet of "Catch the Rainbow" which quickly mutates into set closer "Long Live Rn'R". But before the lights come up, the band returns to finally bid farewell with Dio's own "We Rock", a powerful song and one of my favorites from the Dio catalog, but this version doesn't really do it for me for some reason. But the end result is unchanged: disc 2 is, without a doubt, a treat in and by itself, worthy of the price of admission on its own. The band manages to reproduce the sound of the originals with great success, giving the perfect backup for RJD to really, REALLY shine, dare I say that even more so than on disc 1. This is a weird statement to make, I know, but the truth is that Ronnie shines because the band shines: they complement AND compliment each other, they don't take away from each other and in the end, they are the perfect blend, plain and simple. And I have to say it one more time for the record: Doug Aldrich's playing deserves special commendation: he manages to convincingly play those Tony Iommi/Ritchie Blackmore/Vivian Campbell riffs, licks and solos, but with a style of his own. Impressive!

If you're looking for a first taste of live Dio, I honestly think this is a great place to start: you get a live rendition of Dio's finest album AND a bonus retrospective of RJD's whole career. What more could you ask for? Any hard rock/metal fan should be able to enjoy this, but I think that this set is a real treat for the diehards: those who have followed RJD's entire career. If you, like me, are among those, you will be delighted by this CD. This is a terrific set, one that no Dio fan should do without.

I have got to say that this double CD may not be what a lot of people wanted, but I think that it is awesome! DIO's voice is still amazing! Sure, it has its weak moments, but he pushes it to the limit with every song, and this concert is pretty long! Let's see anyone else do this good!

As for the band, just let me say that Doug Aldrich kicks major ass!!!!!!! He totally Rocked in Whitesnake's 'live' DVD, and this is nothing short of amazing! I can't wait to see the DVD version! The rest of the band allow for a strong rhythm section. I am really happy with this release and I think that Ronnie should do "The Last In Line" the same way. That would be really good! As long as Doug is the guitarist. I am not that pleased with Craig Goldy. He's good, but not as good as Doug. Doug reminds me so much of Randy Rhoads.
Highlights are pretty much every song, except for "Gypsy".

Give this a listen! You can't go wrong with this double CD set!

As other reviewers have noted, Holy Diver Live shows good firepower and enthusiam however falls short of the mark mainly because of Ronnie's vocals. I have seen RJD live several times in 2000 and 2001 and can honestly say he is capable of giving a much better performance than can be found on HD Live. It's pretty obvious that he has sang himself hoarse leading up to this show, and can barely muster the vibrato that he's become so famous for. Having said that, it is kinda cool to hear HD being rerecorded live in its entirety. Best songs are the ones coming across most forceful: Gypsy, Don't Talk to Strangers and especially (and perhaps surprisingly) Invisible! Also, from the "bonus disc," it is great to hear some of the lesser played Rainbow faves like Long Live Rock and Roll and Gates of Babylon (with awesome, true-to-original keyboard intro). To sum this one up: interesting, hard-hitting in spots and flat in others. Ultimately good fun but less than urgent.

Holy Diver played in its entirety in concert should be enough incentive to buy this record. Then again, if you already have this classic 1983 album, you might wonder why you'll need the exact replica in concert. Well, the differences are minimal. We have the crowd participation, Dio expanding his lines & choruses thus making songs longer, plus if you love Dio you know you must have this. A bonus disc is offered with songs from Dio's career with the godly Rainbow and, of course, Black Sabbath. The only complain I guess is that sometimes Dio oversings some of the songs unnecessarily, like on "Heaven and Hell". Otherwise, this is a great live record and Dio proves again that he may very well have the finest voice in Heavy metal.

He does a great job of rocking through Holy Diver on disc 1. Disc 2 he includes some nice, rare songs from the various phases of his career. Great combination of older songs. You all read the track listing before you bought it...so you (and me) knew what we were getting---and enjoying every song of it!! Great to hear all those songs from Diver!!!