Dio

The first domestically available Dio anthology (following the 1994 German import Diamonds), Rhino's The Very Beast of Dio is jam-packed with 16 tracks taken from the band's seven Warner and Reprise albums (spanning the years 1983-1994)…

Dio's rock-solid 2000 concept album Magica would have better fit the musical climate 15-25 years beforehand, but a good album is a good album. Ronnie James Dio's band's previous studio effort, 1996's Angry Machines, admirably addressed modern, non-traditional heavy metal topics. But the musically superior Magica is rooted in the dark, mystical themes he perfected on Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and early Dio albums. One important factor is the solid lineup, particularly the return of Craig Goldy, the best guitarist Dio's had in his band besides Vivian Campbell. Bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Simon Wright also return. Dio seems inspired, and his vocals are more textured than usual. Magica is a detailed fantasy epic about the struggle between good and evil. Several elements are similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved Lord of the Rings novels, which themselves rely on traditional literary archetypes such as heroes, villains, and mythic quests…

Sanctuary’s Ronnie James Dio Story: Mightier than the Sword collects 27 tracks culled from the legendary rocker’s entire career, including his work with Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Heaven & Hell, as well as his numerous solo outings.

The early '80s finally saw singer Ronnie James Dio launch a solo career, after making a name for himself with such renowned metal bands as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and Black Sabbath…