Search - Dio :: Inferno: Last in Live

Four things I want to mention...

Chris Jordan | Surrey, B.C. Canada | 12/09/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This review will encompass four topics: sound production, Tracey G on guitar, set list and Ronnie James Dio himself. There is quite a bit to say about this package.



The sound production of this CD set is really top-notch. You would be hard-pressed to find a live CD that sounds better than this. All the musicians are mixed well together, too.



Tracey G is a relative unknown. Dio is good at bringing on board guitarists of which the public has little knowledge (remember Vivian Campbell). I have read a lot about what people think of Tracey and that fans overall felt that he was not a good fit for playing older Dio material. I would have to agree with them in a way. He takes a lot of personal license, and in fact, completely changes the solos on virtually all the old Vivian Campbell pieces and makes them his own. Tracey has an awesome tone to his guitar. I'm not sure of his set-up or his pickups, but I am almost certain he's using one of the higher output Seymour Duncan's. I will find out. Also, he uses an extreme amount of Vibrato/Tremelo action, which is his signature. Some might say it butchers the melody of some of the songs. I would agree. Nevertheless, he is no "rank amateur" as someone said. He is very good, but chooses to use a ton of screaching pinch harmonics everywhere. He also doesn't play the open "E" chords that fill in the "Rainbow in the Dark" riff... Why? It kind of retracts.



The overall set list of the CD's is lacking on "Last in Line" material. Where is "Evil Eyes" or "Egypt The Chains Are On"? Why always play Black Sabbath tunes? Leave that to Black Sabbath.



Although I don't share Dio's worldview at all (I feel sorry for his troubled youth but that's no excuse), he is still a very classy individual. Here's what he says in one instance: "I know it's really hot out there (audience) and it's hard to get enthusiastic as you have been for every song, and I apologize for this, but still we need to do this song: THE MOB RUUUUULES!!". I had to laugh. Good show."

Great Live Album

Steven Sly | Kalamazoo, MI United States | 01/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a sprawling two disc live set that if nothing else proves that at the end of the century Ronnie James Dio still has some of the best set of pipes in the business. The album was recorded on the "Angry Machines" tour, but looks back on his career with Rainbow, Sabbath and Dio. In fact he even throws in a cover of Deep Purple's "Mistreated", a song that he used to sing with Rainbow although it was not a Rainbow original. Probably my all time favorite Dio related disc is Rainbow's live "On Stage" album in which Ronnie totally won me over as a vocalist. This is not on a par with "On Stage", but it is a very strong live album. Most of the tracks are classic Dio with only one song from the "Angry Machines" album. In addition he performs Sabbath tunes "Heaven And Hell", and "The Mob Rules". There is also a surprising amount of Rainbow material with "Long Live Rock N Roll", "Catch The Rainbow", and "Man On The Silver Mountain" all represented here. On the down side there is a rather lame drum solo by Vinnie Appice, and a guitar solo by Tracy G. that is overly long, but for the most part the Dio band is tight and on the mark. The sound quality is also very good. All in all this is a very nice live album from Mr. Dio and company."