Medieval stage sets. Elevated drum & keyboard risers. Copious pyrotechnic & visual FX: lasers, fireworks, holograms and prerecorded footage. Animatronic mythical creatures and anthropomorphic guardians that "engaged" in battle with a band member (usually the singer). That's what a metal fan could enjoy in any given amphitheater or arena throughout the 1980s, before the musical landscape would heed the birth pains of grunge. Having already forged a storied career as a singer and songwriter with Elf, Rainbow, and Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio pressed on to find continued success with his eponymous group. Along with his friend and fellow Sabbath bandmate, drummer Vinny Appice, Ronnie enlisted bassist Jimmy Bain, keyboardist Claude Schnell, and an excellent lead guitar player in Vivian Campbell. This quintet recorded two consecutive masterpieces of melodic metal in Holy Diver (1983) and The Last In Line (1984). The tour for Dio's 3rd album, Sacred Heart, saw ex-Angel/Giuffria guitarist Craig Goldy comfortably assume Vivian's role. The official live video of the tour is finally immortalized on DVD, thanks to the fine folks at Rhino, rechristened Sacred Heart—"The DVD"…
Hailed by by many as the "voice of metal," Dio's acrobatic, somewhat chameleonic vocal style undulates between the mellow croon of an angel, the mischievous cackle of a deranged elf, and the sinister shriek of an enraged hellion. And nobody sounds quite like him. The band puts on an enthusiastic performance and establishes an immediate rapport with the audience, from Dio's emergent silhouette before a backlit panel, to his appreciative exhibition of fanmade banners and portrait art tossed to the foot of the stage. The Intermission EP is represented by the AOR-tinged "Time To Burn," and the rest of the program adds up to a "classics" package with blazing versions of "The Last In Line," "Heaven and Hell," "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll," and the signature tune, "Rainbow In The Dark." Bain and Appice make a fine rhythm section, while Schnell adds icy shades of synthetic texture where required, as well as the synth melody to "Rainbow." The DVD features a present-day interview with Dio and Goldy — circa Magica, as the last Dio album, Killing The Dragon, featured Doug Aldrich on guitar.
Sacred Heart—"The DVD" might skimp on the extras, but offers all the panache of a headbanging extravaganza. The transfer could've been a little better — the picture quality doesn't appear to be remastered — but its affordable price tag and gaze backward to the glory days of metal make this an owner.
Track Listing:
1. Draco Ignis
2. King Of Rock And Roll
3. Time To Burn
4. The Last In Line/Holy Diver
5. Heaven And Hell
6. Sacred Heart
7. Rock 'N' Roll Children
8. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
9. Man On The Silver Mountain
10. Rock 'N' Roll Children
11. Rainbow In The Dark
12. Hungry For Heaven
*Extra Feature: Interview with Ronnie James Dio & Craig Goldy
Total time: ±60:00
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