Search - Various Artists :: Holy Dio - A Tribute To the Voice Of Metal : Ronnie-James Dio

Hail to the King!

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 07/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I know tribute albums are a dime a dozen these days, and most of them are just not worth it, but every once in a while you come across a real winner. Holy Dio is perhaps the best tribute album ever. Instead of the usual cast of unemployed 80's metallers giving halfhearted performances (Paul Di'Anno and Steve Grimmet, I'm talking to you!), Holy Dio is chock full of A-list metal bands paying tribute to the mighty Ronnie James Dio.



Most of the bands on this album are traditional metal and power metal bands, but that is a given considering Dio's influence on that genre. The bands cover classic songs from Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Dio, and do so with lots of style and energy. I'm sure it's blasphemous to say this, but Blind Guardian's version of "Don't Talk to Strangers" might just be better than the original!



This excellent (and much deserved) tribute to Dio is a must-have for Dio fans, power metal fans, and just metal fans in general. Some of these covers have appeared elsewhere, but having them all collected in one package (with terrific cover artwork, too) makes Holy Dio a great compilation.



Edition Notes: The single-disc version of Holy Dio features covers by Steel Prophet, Hammerfall, Destiny's End, Fates Warning, Gamma Ray, Doro, Jag Panzer, Blind Guardian, Axel Rudi Pell, Primal Fear, Solitude Aeturnus, Enola Gay, Angel Dust and Catch the Rainbow. There is also a 2-disc version that adds covers by Dan Swano, Yngwie Malmsteen, Grave Digger, Holy Mother and Stratovarius. If at all possible, you should try and track down the 2-disc version."

DIO - THE SACRED MAN

Martin C. | 06/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dio's tribute is one of all best tribute in the world.Holy Dio may be compared to Nativity in Black - Sabbath's tribute.This double cd album have the actually best band's in world: Blind Guardian, Yngwie Malmsteem,Stratovarious and Gamma Ray.Every Heavy Metal fan's may buy this tribute. Nothing more to say: Holy Dio is simply the best."

5-star for sure

Martin C. | Boston, MA, USA | 04/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection is about the clearest 5-star rater I have seen in years.



Top artists, top recording. There are guitar sounds on here that I haven't heard anywhere else. Fates Warning, Swino/Tgtgren and Primal Fear particularly shine.



Be sure to get the 2-CD version! It seems there is a 1-CD version floating around where we Americans get protected from music we won't like. But it is missing "Country Girl" which is one of the best works on here."